5 Reasons Why Your Toilet is Leaking at The Base and How to Fix It

Read Time: 6 minutes

Nothing is worse than walking into your bathroom and seeing standing water pooling on the floor around your toilet base. Not only is it uncomfortable and unsightly, but it can damage your flooring material and belongings, in addition to increasing your energy bills. The good news is that this problem can be fixed relatively quickly by any homeowner with the right tools and know-how.

In this blog, we’ll discuss five reasons why your toilet might be leaking at the base, where to check for leaks, and what you can do to fix them. Keep reading to learn more about solving one of the most common plumbing problems we see here at Ally Plumbing & Restoration: a leaky toilet!

Areas To Check When Your Toilet is Leaking

After noticing water pooling around the base of your toilet, there are a few key areas to check to sort out where the water is potentially coming from. If you can see where the water is coming from, that could help to indicate the cause of the leak. Make sure to check the following areas:

 

• • Your toilet tank
  • The base of your toilet
  • Bolts around the base of the toilet
  • Wax ring around the base of the toilet

5 Reasons Your Toilet is Leaking at The Base

 

#1. Excess Toilet Bowl Condensation

First and foremost, let’s go through the first reason your toilet may be leaking at the base. The first reason is that it could not be water at all – it could be condensation from moisture in your bathroom. Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and what you think is standing water is simply just condensation pooling down from the toilet onto the floor. If what you thought was water turns out to be accumulated condensation, it is likely due to two reasons.

 

1. Your toilet is running.
2. The difference in temperature between your toilet water and the bathroom.

 

If you find that your problem is condensation, the fix is fairly simple. Just install a new exhaust fan or place a drip tray underneath your toilet. The exhaust fan should help to prevent excess moisture from forming in the room, and the tray will collect excess water droplets. You can also attempt to take shorter, colder showers to minimize condensation in your bathroom. If you find that this is not the case and that it is, in fact, water, keep reading.

 

#2. Loose Toilet Bowl

Generally speaking, toilet bowls are usually attached to the floor with bolts. Over time, these bolts can loosen, causing the toilet bowl to become affixed to the floor, allowing water to leak out from the toilet. Plastic covers typically cover these bolts, so you’ll need some tools to remove the coverings and adjust the bolts if this is that cause of your leak.

 

#3. Loose Water Supply Hose

You might not have noticed small hoses coming out of your wall, connecting to your toilet. These hoses carry water from your plumbing system into your toilet – but not if they are damaged or worn out. Your hose could be the culprit of your water puddle if there is a small hole, causing water to drip continuously onto your floor.

 

#4. Wax Ring Needs To Be Replaced

Many people don’t know that there is a wax ring underneath the base of the toilet, sealing the toilet together with the drain pipes. If left for too long, the wax ring can harden or loosen, losing its ability to keep water trapped in place. This often results in water leaking around the toilet base.

 

#5. Tank Lid Overflowing

Last but not least, a fifth reason that water may leak at the base is that your toilet is continuously running and thus overflowing from the tank. Take a look inside the tank and see if the water is all the way at the top and running over the sides. If it is, you might have a possible water leak and should contact a professional plumber at Ally Plumbing & Restoration.

 

Your Toilet Leak Repair Options

 

Install a Bathroom Fan or Tank Drip Tray

As previously mentioned above, if the water on the floor is just a result of excess condensation, you can install a new bathroom fan or tank drip tray (or both!).

 

Tighten The Tank Bolts

If you suspect loose bolts are causing the toilet leak, you can attempt to tighten your tank bolts.

1. 1. Remove Bolt Covers: First, remove the plastic cover from the bolts on your toilet bowl. You may have to use a wrench or screwdriver for this step.
   2. Tighten Bolts: If you can move the toilet side to side or notice a gap in between the floor, the bolts will need to be tightened. Use a wrench to grip the bolt and turn it clockwise. Make sure you do not over-tighten the bolt, as it can damage your toilet.
   3. Test Toilet: Try to move your toilet side to side and see it wiggles. If it doesn’t, that means that tightening worked. If you cannot tighten the bolts or your toilet is still loose, you need to contact a professional plumber.

 

Install a New Wax Ring

If your wax ring is old or worn out, you can install a new one yourself.

1. 1. Turn Off Water Supply: First, turn off your water supply and flush your toilet.
   2. Drain Your Toilet: Next, completely drain your toilet by soaking up excess water in the bowl. You do this by using either a sponge or a cup to remove the water.
   3. Remove Bolts: Take the plastic coverings off of the toilet bolts. Then unscrew the bolts with either a wrench or plier.
   4. Move Toilet Aside: Pick up your toilet off the floor and lay it carefully to the side.
   5. Scrape Off Old Wax Ring: Now, you must remove the old wax ring from the ground by scraping it with a putty knife. Dispose of the old wax carefully into a trash bag.
   6. Apply New Wax Ring: Place the new wax ring around the drain hole. The plastic cone should be directly facing the drain.
   7. Reinstall Toilet: Lastly, lift up your toilet, position it atop the drain, and line up the T bolts. Then, push the toilet down into the wax ring, ensuring it is tightly stuck together.

 

How To Prevent Future Toilet Leaks

Maintaining your toilet’s health can help prevent water leaks around the base. Avoid putting items that are not waste or toilet paper, such as cotton balls, feminine products, and facial tissues, in the toilet bowl, as these can clog or damage the drain. Additionally, consider using a gentle toilet cleaner instead of chemical drain cleaners. This can help to prevent unnecessary damage to your toilet and piping system.

Finally, if you notice any signs of a leak (no matter how small), such as water seeping from the base of the toilet, a running toilet, or a drop in water pressure, be sure to fix the issue as soon as possible. Delaying minor repairs only leads to more water leakage, higher utility bills, and expensive, large-scale repairs.

 

When To Call A Professional Plumber

While it is good to know all the reasons your toilet may be leaking, as well as a few simple fixes, don’t feel like you have to attempt this all on your own. There may be several reasons why you would want to call a professional plumber to assist with your water leak issue, including:

 

1. 1. If you want a proper diagnosis
   2. If you feel uncomfortable taking apart or moving your toilet
   3. If you need to replace your toilet

 

You can’t go wrong by contacting a professional plumber at Ally Plumbing & Restoration. We have all the tools and experience necessary to properly diagnose and repair the leakage problem. No matter if you have attempted all these repair tactics or simply want to call an expert from the start, our professional plumbers are an invaluable resource.