Many homeowners face the problem of a toilet leaking from base. Signs of this are water pooling around your bubble bath or a puddle of water near your toilet. Leaky toilets can be quite troublesome to deal with. Not to mention, toilets can leak from the tank, cracks in the bowl or the water supply line or the base. In this article, we’ll focus on toilets leaking from the base and five reasons why it happens.
Reasons Why Toilets Leak from the Base
1. Clogged Drain Line
The usual cause of water leaking from the base of a toilet, especially if the toilet is getting clogged easily, is a clogged drain line. The drain line holds the responsibility of moving the flushed water away from your home
A clogged drain line applies pressure on the wax ring at the base of your toilet. This breaks the ring and causes toilet leaks. Contact Crucial Plumbing if you suspect that you have a clogged drain line for an evaluation. A professional plumber will unclog the drain line and revive your toilet.
2. Old Wax Ring
Wax rings are delicate parts of a toilet because as their name indicates, they are made of wax. Wax is used to create a ring because it’s easy to use, mould, and shape to create a part of your toilet. If the wax ring that’s at the base of your toilet is loose, it won’t prevent water from leaking out. This causes the toilet to leak from the base. If you have faith in your DIY skills, you can replace your wax ring using DIY guides. But we suggest you call a professional to ensure the wax ring is replaced properly.
3. Loose Flange Bolts or Floor Flange
The floor flange bolts are mate to keep your toilet secured to the ground. If you notice that your toilet is rocking or leaking at the base, it could indicate that you have loose flange bolts that spring a leak.
Luckily, loose flange bolts can easily be fixed only with a good pair of pliers or a crescent wrench. You simply need to take off the plastic caps at the bottom of the toilet as the first step. Then, all you need to do is twist the bolts in a clockwise position until they are firmly secured in place. If you cannot tighten flange bolts, you may need to use some oil or replace them. If the flange bolts keep spinning forever, they may need replacing, in which case, contact a plumber.
4. Cracked Toilet Bowl
Toilet bowls surely are sturdy, but sometimes, they can crack, especially due to accidents. Hairline cracks are usually on the surface but in case they go deep enough they can cause leaks from the toilet base. A hidden bathroom leak can significantly increase your monthly water bill. Leaks from toilet bases can also cause damage to your floors. Crucial Plumbing is here to help and take resolving this issue off your hands.
If you have a cracked toilet bowl, the only thing you can do is buy a new one. Lots of professionals suggest switching to a High-Efficiency Toilet. This can save you up to 25,000 gallons of water usage. Not to mention, HETs last longer and are of a comfortable height and include a soft-close seat. You’ll need a professional lumber to help you install your new HET.
5. Leaking Water Supply Line
If your water supply line is leaking, water can collect at the base of your toilet. This is because the hose runs from the bottom of the toilet tank to the water supply valve on the floor or wall. You can try turning off the water by twisting the valve on the water supply which may be on the floor or wall. Simply use a wrench to gently tighten the nut on hose connecting to the hank and the nut on the valve. The last step is to turn the water back on, and check for leaks after flushing the toilet.
Conclusion
A leaky toilet can cause flooding in your home, an expensive monthly water bill, and floor damage. We hope this blog helped you understand why your toilet is leaking from the base. Here at Crucial Plumbing, we are here to provide plumbing services to ensure your water systems are maintained.
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