There are several reasons a toilet may leak. Troubleshoot the problem by first adjusting the water level and replacing the toilet's flapper. If the leak is coming from around the base of the toilet, a faulty wax ring may be to blame. If none of the above works, you have a leaky toilet tank that needs repair.
If the rubber of the flapper is old and cracked, it will be unable to seal the flow of water into the tank. In this case, you'll need to replace the flapper. Or, you can replace the entire flush valve/flapper assembly with a convenient repair kit.
If you've tried replacing the toilet flapper but the toilet still runs, the flush valve seat is probably rough or pitted. You can replace the entire flush toilet flapper valve, but it's a big job.
The wax ring usually needs to be replaced because the toilet is loose. The other reason why a wax ring may need to be replaced is that it has been worn down over the years and is no longer pliable. This means the seal is no longer intact. Therefore, it causes water to seep through the base.
A faulty wax ring, or one that is going bad, may produce any number of telltale signs. These include leaks, bad smells, or a wobbly toilet.
A damaged wax ring doesn't seal the connection between the toilet and sewer line. This causes water to leak out and pool around your toilet. If you catch this issue quickly, then it may not damage your subfloor and require additional repairs. Some leaks are constant, while others only occur when you flush the toilet.
Adjust the chain
You don't want the chain too short or it will constantly pull the flapper up and allow water to leak into the bowl. You also don't want to leave the chain too long or it will not be able to pull the flapper open all the way when you flush. You may need to adjust it several times to get it JUST right.
Forget about using Vaseline, (it's not needed) and make sure that the water level in the tank is adjusted just right. Double check the flush valve seat face, (where the flapper sits) to make sure that there are no imperfections in the plastic.
The flapper, floater, lever arm, chain, wax seal, and other toilet parts may need to be replaced long before the basin itself will ever be damaged. For example, the toilet wax seal may give out at about the 20-year mark. The toilet's flush valve will typically last 6-7 years.
Some drop-in bowl cleaners are also hard on the rubber component of a flapper. As the flapper deteriorates it allows leakage. Although it is not something many of us think of as needing replacement on a routine basis, in general, a toilet flapper should be replaced every three to five years.
When you flush the toilet, the flapper opens to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl. The flapper, over time, can become loose or damaged, and it will need to be replaced. The total average cost of this repair is also between $70 and $200.
The only-when-flushed toilet leak could be caused by loose mounting bolts or a worn-out wax gasket while the all-the-time leak could be caused by a loose water supply line connection, a problematic water shutoff valve, or a faulty seal between the toilet tank and its base.
Toilets Flush on Their Own Due to a Leaky Seal
If no one is pushing the flush lever, a flapper seal closes the water into the tank and stops it from going into the bowl.
The average toilet flapper lasts about 4 to 5 years. It is important that you replace your toilet flapper when needed to prevent damaging leaks.
Slide the metal washers onto the bolts and then add the rubber gaskets onto them. Put the bolts thread side down through the tank and into the toilet bowl rim. Carefully tighten the washers and hex nuts from the underside until a seal forms. Move from tightening one to the other repeatedly to keep the tank level.
or certainly 20 to 30 years.
Besides leaking, signs that the wax ring may need replacing could be an odd odor seemingly stemming from the area where the toilet meets the floor, or if the toilet itself feels wobbly.
The most common toilet leak is caused by a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) at the bottom of the toilet tank. If the flapper does not seat properly, water will leak into the toilet bowl. Often this leak will occur without being heard.
Flex Glue can be used for an assortment of bathroom repairs. Customers often use the waterproof glue to fix toilet tanks, shower tiles, sink pipes, and other bathroom needs.