How do I know if my toilet is leaking? Many want to find the answers to this question, as a slow water leak in the toilet bowl can go unnoticed and lead to severe issues later on.
As you know, dripping water is a common thing in the bathroom. But you can do tests using food coloring, a Leaky Loo strip, a pencil, and a water leak sensor. Read on to learn the easy steps.
Table of Contents
How to Test Toilet for Leaks
You can choose from these four simple ways to test a toilet for leaks. You can do them regularly for early detection of toilet leaks and handle the problems quickly.
Do you know how to find undetectable leaks? Any shade of food coloring will help you out!
- Put 15 to 20 drops of food coloring of any type into the tank.
- To check for toilet leaks with food coloring, you need to give it 20 minutes to half an hour.
- Then, check the bowl. If the color appears, you have to deal with a toilet bowl leaking.
Confirm the silent trickling of water on the back part of the toilet plan through this toilet leak test. You can make this test a habit if you are concerned about issues occurring hidden from plain sight.
You’ll need: Leaky Loo strip, toilet paper.
- Use toilet paper when wiping the back side of the bowl’s interior dry.
- Then, you can put the Leaky Loo strip in the same area.
- This test needs 3 – 4 hours to see if there’s a leaky toilet, so you should patiently wait for it to work.
- If the strip is dry, there’s no dripping toilet. On the other hand, there’s a leak if it’s wet and a different color appears.
Another easy test that will let you know the cause of the leak inside the tank is using a mere pencil.
- Get a pencil and draw a line on the tank’s interior.
- Turn off the water supply and wait for 20 minutes to half an hour.
- Now, open the tank to check the water level. If you notice that the water is below the line that you made, the flush valve causes the leak. On the other hands, the refill valve has some issues if the water level remains on the line.
A water leak sensor prompts you with a red light and beeping sound when there’s a leak. The green light stays on if this kind of issue doesn’t exist. Thus, you can invest in it if you don’t have time to check for leaks.
Causes of Toilet Leak
Leaks can happen after every flush but a leak from the bottom of the toilet may surprise you. Expect various symptoms as there are different causes of toilet leaks.
1. A Misplaced Float
A misplaced float that drops an inch lower is incapable of stopping the pump from continuous refills. This issue is also known as phantom flushes, as your toilet quickly flushes by itself.
2. A Misaligned Flapper
Excess water in every flush is caused by a misaligned flapper. You’ll notice that the release of water is longer than usual.
3. Base Leak
There are many posible causes if there is a toilet base leak, therefore, you should immediately inspect the following parts:
- Tee Bolts – A puddle around the toilet is caused by water coming out of the toilet base. Leaking on the floor takes place when the tee bolts need tightening. However, the leak can also start at the flange, and wax ring replacement is a must to stop the leaking underneath.
- Wax Ring –Blame it on the worn-out wax ring or gasket if your toilet is leaking under the tile. Just imagine if it happens to an upstairs toile The mess that it creates can affect the room below it.
- Supply Line – The water supply line can also cause a toilet base leak. Some components, like nuts and rubber seals, need tightening. In connection, a leaky shut-off valve is another reason.
4. Toilet Bowl Cracks
Cracks are tiny, so you can’t immediately detect toilet leak. You’ll know once you discover that the bowl has lost water.
How to Stop Toilet From Leaking
Once you determine the cause, you can apply the appropriate solution. Here are the things that you may need to do.
Necessary tools as you go along with every step : rubber gloves, hack saw, microfiber towel, wrench, screwdriver, caulk
Working on the Tank
When there’s a toilet leaking from the tank, you should handle the issue as follows:
- As mentioned, the float and flapper can cause the problem. You’ll need to put the float in the right position so the pump won’t keep on refilling.
- In the case of the flapper, a quick fix can be done by juggling the flush handle. It’s a way to place the flapper on the opening properly.
- If it doesn’t resolve the issue, you’ll need to open the tank and adjust the chain. When the troubleshooting doesn’t work, it’s time for flapper replacement.
Working on the Base
When the toilet wobbles, a toilet leaking through the floor when flushed will likely happen. One cause of the leaking on the base is the wax ring. It leaves you with no choice but to replace it.
- Remove the bowl by loosening the bolts. You may need a hacksaw for corroded ones. After lifting the bowl, you can put on the new wax ring.
- When you finish the wax ring replacement, press down the toilet on the wax ring. The wax compression is crucial to make a tight seal for leak prevention.
- The toilet needs to be stable by adding the bolts. Make sure that they’re in the right position. It’s also your chance to ensure the necessary tightness with the help of a wrench. As mentioned, loose bolts cause leaks as well.
- Use a wrench to tighten, but not too much, as excessive force can cause cracks on porcelain.
- Once you complete the assembly of the whole toilet, connect it to the supply line. Just make sure that the nut and rubber seal are tight.
- Then, tighten the shut-off valve.
- Turn the water on after you’re sure the supply line is well connected to the tank.
- Flush the toilet to ensure there’s no leak, and you can add caulk around the base. It’s bad news if the toilet seal is leaking so don’t miss this last step.
Can a Toilet Leak Without You Knowing
A toilet can leak without you knowing since there’s a silent leak toilet that takes place between the tank and bowl. It’s caused by a misaligned flapper. When this component is not seated well at the bottom of the tank, the leak proceeds to the toilet bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do toilets normally leak from?
Toilets normally leak from the tank into the bowl and at their base. As you identify the location of the leak, you can know the cause and fix the issue immediately.
Is a leaking toilet an emergency?
Water leaks in households don’t need urgent attention all the time. However, you can consider a leaking toilet an emergency when it causes damage to the building or property.
How long does the toilet last before leaking?
Some components, like a flapper and wax ring, cause a toilet leak. A flapper or flush valve needs replacement every 6 or 7 years.
In the case of a wax ring, it can serve for 20 years. So, keep an eye on these parts as you need to replace them from time to time while the bowl serves you well.
Depending on quality and maintenance, toilets can last 15 to 30 years. Some may crack, so a leak appears, and you have to buy a new toilet.
Conclusion
How do I know if my toilet is leaking? You don’t have to look high and low for the answers as this article presents them. It also reminds you that flapper and wax ring replacements are necessary. So, you can try to troubleshoot before you call the plumber.
I’m Paulk Webb, and I work as a writer for Saveourwaterrebates. I’m happy to put in the time and effort to conduct market research to identify the most pressing issues faced by households concerning their plumbing. Feel free to check out our guides to get the most informed recommendations for how to solve your problems.