Dealing with a leaky toilet isn’t any fun, but there are some simple steps you can take to try to fix it.
A leaky toilet can throw a wrench in your plans, whether you’re gearing up to host family for Thanksgiving or headed to the office in the morning. The good news is that there are a few simple ways to fix a toilet that is leaking without needing to pick up the phone and call us right away.
If Your Toilet Is Leaking Around the Base
When your toilet is leaking water around the base, it can be tempting to panic. However, this can be a relatively straightforward repair. Check to see if your toilet is tightly secured to the floor or if it’s loose. The fix for this problem might be as simple as tightening the bolts at the base of your toilet.
Another common cause of this type of leaky toilet is damage to the wax toilet seal that ensures a seal between the closet flange and the toilet base. One way to fix the issue is by taking off the toilet, cleaning the flange area, and installing a new seal. If possible, invest in a silicone seal that will be less prone to degrading instead of a wax seal.
If Your Toilet Tank is Leaking
Another common cause of a leaky toilet is a leaking toilet tank. Before you troubleshoot this problem, you should turn off the water to the toilet. Next, mark the water level inside the toilet tank so that you know where the water is currently sitting. This provides you with a watermark so you can tell if the leak is getting worse or better.
Next, add a few drops of food coloring to the inside of the toilet tank. After 10-15 minutes, take a look inside the toilet bowl. If the water has been tinted, it’s a sign that you have a leaky toilet due to the tank. You can also check to see if the water level has changed. In most cases, replacing the flush valve will do the trick.
Fix Your Leaky Toilet With Help from Mahon Plumbing
If you still have more questions regarding your plumbing, we here at Mahon Plumbing are here to help. We have been serving the wider Baltimore area since 1994, so we have 25 years of experience to back up our fantastic service! Call us at our Baltimore location at 410-766-8566 or our Pasadena location at 410-636-7944. Be sure to keep up with us on social media by following us on Facebook or Twitter.