How To Respond to a Leaking Toilet

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Trust the Professionals. They can help you with your Leaking Toilet.

Most of the time toilets work regularly and dependably without many issues, so it's easy to neglect them. When you notice that you have a leaking toilet, it's important to take quick action. There are two options: complete the toilet repair or replacement on your own or hire a professional in Bountiful, UT.

Identify the Cause of Your Leaking Toilet

Before you get started, you need to know why your toilet is leaking. Naturally, your first steps should include inspecting the toilet to find out where the leak originates. After you've identified the problem, turn off the water and complete the necessary repairs or contact an expert.

There are several possible issues to look out for:

Check the flapper for one of two common problems. First, the rubber or plastic flapper may break or crack because of wear and tear. Second, the flapper may get stuck in an open position, causing the toilet to flow continuously.

A faulty float could be cracked, or the float chain may be loose. In either case, repairing the float is pretty easy and can usually be accomplished within a few minutes.

There are several pieces of the fill valve that could cause trouble when damaged. If you haven't worked with this type of repair before, contacting a professional for help could be your best bet.

Anywhere the toilet is connected to the floor, to the supply line, and to other components of the plumbing system could be a problem. Look for worn seals or damaged connections.

A crack along the supply line can cause pools of water on the floor, leading to severe damage that requires the services of water damage recovery professionals. Damage along the supply line generally calls for the services of a plumber.

A broken tank requires a complete toilet replacement. Cracks or breaks can be temporarily sealed with putty, but this step only provides a short-term solution. However, it may be possible for you to replace the toilet yourself.

As always, if you aren't confident in your ability to complete repairs or replacements, contact professionals. The costs related to making mistakes are often much higher than the initial cost of hiring an expert would have been.

Replace the Toilet

Replacing a toilet requires several pieces of equipment, including a putty knife, hacksaw blade, adjustable wrench, and some pliers. You'll also need the new toilet, a wax ring, and silicone caulk. Carefully read the installation instructions for any other supplies you might need and then follow these steps:

• After turning off the water, drain the water from the tank by flushing.
• The next step is disconnecting all of the places where the toilet is connected to the supply line and plumbing system.
• Remove mounting nuts, the tank, and the toilet.
• Remove and replace the old wax ring and flange with a new ring and flange.
• Test the toilet to be sure everything is in the correct position. This is often a two-person job to ensure a proper fit and seal. When tightening the bolts and nuts, don't use too much pressure, and work from side to side to keep equal amounts of pressure on each side.

An old toilet can lead to a lot of problems. Don't wait for a leaking toilet to cause significant water damage before you take action to correct the situation.