3 Reasons Your Toilet May Leak When Flushed

3/27/2018 (Permalink)

A leaking toilet in your Stillwater, OK home can be troublesome, especially if it leaks each time you flush. Over time, your bathroom floor can suffer water damage or mold may start to grow around the tank if the area is constantly wet. There may be several reasons for the leak; however, some may be surprisingly simple to fix on your own.

1. Failed Seal

If the base of your toilet is consistently damp or if new puddles form when you flush it, this is usually the result of a failed wax seal at the bottom of the unit. This can be a common cause of leaks in older toilets, but you may be able to fix it by using a wrench to tighten the bolts at the base of your bowl. If the toilet leaks again when you perform a test flush, the wax gasket may need to be replaced.

2. Broken Flange

A bathroom leak can be caused by a broken flange underneath your toilet. This repair can be challenging, as you will have to remove the entire toilet to change the flange, but careful preparation can simplify it. The flange is located underneath the wax ring, which you will have to remove as well. A new flange and ring can be purchased at your local plumbing or home hardware outlet.

3. Loose Unit

Sometimes the fix for a leaking toilet can be quite simple. For example, if the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor have loosened over the years, it may leak when flushed. To repair this issue, loosen the bolts the rest of the way, press down on the unit to make a tighter seal with the wax gasket, then bolt the unit down securely. You may want to call in a flood cleanup and mold remediation company to have your bathroom checked and treated for mold.

A leaking toilet in your Stillwater, OK home is cause for concern. However, the problem may not be as severe as you think, and knowing why these leaks are happening can help you repair them as quickly as possible. Visit http://www.SERVPROstillwaterguthrie.com for more information on water damage.