3 Reasons Your Toilet Leaks When You Flush It

5/16/2022 (Permalink)

Replace your cracked wax ring with a plastic one to avoid a future bathroom leak.

Why Does a Toilet Leak When I Flush It?

A leaking toilet is a nuisance. While you might hope to ignore it and hope to repair it at a later date, the longer you let the toilet leak, the more potential you have for immense damage to the bathroom flooring in your Johnstown, PA, home. Here are three reasons your toilet could be leaking when you flush it.

1. Leaking Toilet Flange
The toilet flange is a pipe fitting that secures your toilet to the floor and keeps your seal in place. One common sign of a problem with the flange is that your toilet rocks too much, regardless of how much you tighten the bolts. The type of replacement flange you need will depend on your toilet and what type of flooring you have. You want to choose a flange that allows your toilet to sit flush with the floor.

2. Cracked Wax Ring
Wax rings are designed to last for many years, but they can easily deteriorate and start to crack. Many water damage mitigation specialists recommend replacing your cracked wax ring with a plastic one to avoid a future bathroom leak. The plastic seal lasts much longer than a wax one and isn't as susceptible to cracking.
When you remove the old wax ring, ensure that you completely clean the bottom of the toilet and scrape all traces of wax off of the toilet flange. You want a clean area to ensure nothing interferes with the seal.

3. Loose Tank Bolts
Over time, it's common for the bolts holding the toilet to the floor to wiggle themselves loose. When this happens, the gasket seal isn't as strong as it could be, which can be the cause of your leaking toilet. Verify that the bolts on your toilet have washers on them. While tightening the bolts, have someone else push down on the toilet to ensure you get a tight, secure seal.
Dealing with a toilet leak is an annoyance, but with a few minor fixes, you will find your bathroom back in good working condition in no time.