There are a few common reasons that a toilet might leak. The most common cause is an ineffective flush valve. A tight seal is required for a toilet to flush effectively; however, deterioration may occur over time, causing a leak. To determine if this is the cause, you’ll want to locate the flush valve ball and determine if the seal is still intact. If everything looks good with the flush valve, your next step would be to check the fill valve. This needs to close to stop the flow of water. If the valve is rusted or damaged, the tank may overflow. If this does occur, start by shutting off the water flow and determine if the valve needs to be repaired or replaced entirely. Notice a crack in your toilet tank or bowl? You will want to fix this immediately. Often, cracks appear very small but can quickly get larger and turn into a serious leak. A seal may work to fix the crack, but often the toilet will need to be replaced completely. If the water appears at the base of your toilet, the problem may result from a broken wax seal. Additionally, you could experience a bad odor coming from the bathroom. Both signs that the wax seal needs to be replaced. This part is covered but will experience some general wear and tear that could cause it to deteriorate or dry out. The replacement process is more complicated than other issues, so we recommend calling a plumber immediately. The best scenario for a leaky toilet is simply condensation. Often, bathrooms are humid places, and condensation can form on surfaces, including the toilet. If you do notice water, monitor it first to ensure it is something other than condensation.

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Below are some of the most common toilet problems and fixes; so that your toilet runs properly and efficiently.

Clogged Drain A force-cup plunger works for most clogged drains. For stubborn clogs, a closet auger may be necessary.

Phantom Flushes This occurs when your toilet runs periodically “by itself”. Usually this is caused by a slow leak from the tank into the bowl. To fix this problem, clean the flapper seat and replace the damaged flapper if needed.

A Snake in Your Tank Reports of a “hissing” sound is usually due to water seeping through the inlet valve. Adjusting the float and refill tube sometimes fixes this problem. If not, you may need to replace the ballcock or inlet-valve assembly.

A Weak Flush Often this is the outcome of stopped up holes beneath the rim of the bowl. Clearing each flush hole should remedy the problem.

Leaky Seals A leaky seal needs to be identified, tightened or replaced if malfunctioning. A break can sometimes initiate a sizeable leak depending which seal is broken and how badly. Call us immediately to remedy this problem before it causes further damage.

Putman & Son’s Plumbing professional, master plumbers are here to take care of all of your plumbing needs. Give us a call. We are available 24/7.

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