Along with your air conditioner and shower leaking, toilet leaks are one of the most common reasons for water leaks in the home. We’ve all dealt with a leaky toilet at some point and if left unattended, can cause major issues and damage to your home. By having general knowledge about what causes a toilet to leak and how to troubleshoot the issue will save you a lot of money, headaches, and damage.
Cracked Toilet Tank
The tank of your toilet holds the water that flows into your toilet’s bowl and when it cracks, it can cause a large amount of damage. Regardless of a crack, the tank will continue to fill via the fill valve and cause ongoing leakage.
In this case, replacing the entire tank is your best bet to avoid leaks in the future. Sometimes the crack in the tank can be as thin as a single strand of hair and hard to detect, so you’ll want to look carefully.
Leaking Supply Line
The supply line connects the toilet to the water supply and can become loose and/or wear out over time, causing the water supply to leak. A trip to your local hardware store and $10 will get this issue fixed fast and easy. If you have perpetual leakage from the supply line, even after replacing it, give A+ Plumbing, Heating & Cooling a call to further troubleshoot the issue!
Faulty Valve
The fill valve is located within your toilet tank and is worn down over time from regular usage and mineral deposits causing less-effienct water supply and ongoing leaks. It’s best to have your fill valve replaced by a plumber to ensure it’s installed correctly to prevent futher leaks.
Faulty Float
Has your toilet ever ran for an extended period of time and you resort to jiggling the toilet handle? This issue is causd by the hollow ball that floats in your toilets tank becoming faulty. Replacing this float will stop your toilet from continuously running, will stop any leaks, and help with water efficiency.
Corrosion
Corrosion of the toilet and pipes happens over time from age, water, and chemicals. This type of leak can cause the most damage and be the most expensive to fix, so catching it sooner rather than later is going to make a huge difference in the steps that will follow. If you suspect corrosion of your toilet and pipes are the cause of water leakage, call your plumber right away to troubleshoot the problem.
Warped Flapper
Over time your flapper will become worn out due to the chemicals added to water to clean and purify it, causing what is known a silent leak. This type of leak can be hard to detect and can cause an excessive amount of water leakage as it allows water to flow in and out of your toilet’s tank.
Damaged Tank Bowl Gasket
The tank bowl gasket attaches the tank to the toilet bowl in conjunction with nuts, bolts, and washers and when installed properly, stops water from leaking. Over time, the gasket, nuts, bolts, and washers will get warn down and even corroded. If you notice water leaking from the area between your tank and bowl, simply replacing the gasket will fix the issue.
Obstructed Overflow Tube
The overfull tube displaces the water in your toilet bowl in order to stop it from overflowing. When this tube is obstructed, water will flow onto your floor if it gets to high. When the overflow tube becomes obstructed, it’s best to call a plumber to unblock it. If you notice the water in your toilet getting high for any number of reasons (including a clog), it’s best to turn the water off via the valve on your water supply line until you can troubleshoot the issue and call a plumber in.
If you’re experiencing a leaky toilet and are unsure of the cause or don’t feel comfortable fixing it, give us a call 24/7 at (603) 518-4777.
