What Happens When a Toilet's Leaking?
If your toilet is leaking, your home is constantly wasting water. For every day that a leak is not fixed, you could be losing hundreds of gallons of water — several times the water the average American uses daily. When leaks aren't identified, a high water bill can be a clear sign that something may be wrong with a leaky toilet or another part of your home's plumbing.
Identify Toilet Leaks
The normal wear and tear on a toilet requires periodic maintenance. One of the biggest bathroom issues is a toilet that keeps running after you flush it, or runs by itself without being flushed. If left untreated, this problem can run up your water bill, so you should fix it as soon as possible.
These problems are typically rooted in the fill tank. The first issue could be the water level. If the water level is above the overflow pipe, then the fill valve or ball cock isn't working properly or is set to the wrong height. Make sure that the water level is adjusted according to the manufacturer's instructions — the appropriate level is usually stamped inside the tank.
If the internal fill valve diaphragm seal is worn, you may be able to disassemble the fill valve and replace it. Some fill valves can't be repaired — in that case, the entire fill valve must be replaced.
Also check the flapper. If the flapper is leaking, it'll keep triggering the fill valve to refill the tank. To see if the flapper is leaking, here’s a simple test:
- Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank as a toilet leak detector.
- Wait for 25 minutes.
- If the color spreads into the toilet bowl, there's a leak.
Check for any sediment or debris that may have built up around the flapper. Cleaning it may fix the leak. If there's no sediment or the leak persists after cleaning, replace the leaking toilet flapper. This is typically much cheaper and easier to replace than the fill valve.
Do you have any damage to your floors from a leaking toilet? Depending on the type of flooring you have, learn how to:
Fixing Toilet Leaks From the Tank Bolts
Two-piece toilets have a pair of bolts that fasten the tank to the toilet bowl. In some scenarios, you might see water pooling on the floor near the tank. This can be caused by one of these scenarios:
- The bolts are screwed in too loosely or have become loose.
- The bolts are screwed in too tight and have damaged the tank.
- The bolts are cracked.
- The washers that seal the bolts are broken.
If the tank isn't damaged, the problem should be an easy fix, as you'll only need a wrench to replace these fasteners with new parts. You can get new washers and bolts in a toilet hardware kit. If possible, have an assistant help you hold the toilet tank as you work on re-fastening.
Here's a rundown of this process:
Step 1: Turn off the supply valve to the toilet.
Step 2: Drain the tank, then remove the toilet's nuts, bolts and washers from below the bowl and inside the tank using a wrench.
Step 3: Fasten the tank to the bowl with the new washers in place, followed by the bolts on top and nuts underneath.
Step 4: Tighten each nut using your hands, then tighten only slightly more with a wrench.
Step 5: Turn the water supply back on and flush the toilet to test.
If you see rust or cracks inside your toilet bowl, consider a tank replacement as well.
Conclusion
Toilet leaks need to be fixed quickly to avoid damage to your home and high water bills.
Many leaks stem from the fill tank. Check the water level because the fill valve or ball cock may need to be adjusted or replaced. Another issue may be a leaking flapper. Try cleaning or replacing it.
Water pooling on the floor near the tank could be caused by bolts that are loose, screwed in too tight or cracked. The washers that seal the bolts could also be broken. If the tank isn't damaged, you can simply replace the bolts or washers.
If the tank is damaged or it's simply time for a new toilet, shop Lowe's large assortment at your local store or online. Then replace the toilet yourself or have one of our Lowe's installers do it for you.