Guys,
I had a plumber install the piping for a full bath in my remodeled basement about 3 years ago. The floor was out of level, but my professional tile installer was able to get things more or less level.
For whatever reason, I’ve fought with a toilet that wants to seep for about the same amount of time. The floor is slightly out of level, so I’ve shimmed the base. I’ve also tried both wax rings and extended rubber gaskets/tubes with no luck.
I’m beginning to think there may be something else wrong. . I’m no pro, but I have installed and reinstalled the other toliets in my house with no problems, so I’m really at a loss for the problem. I tightened the base bolts tight and the base seems tight.
I’d greatly appreciate any tips, as it will promote marital harmony. (Do bad house things only happen when wives’ friends are coming to visit?).
Thanks!!
Edited 8/31/2009 11:49 pm ET by Corrib
Replies
Seeping? If the wax ring is at fault the toilet would leak around the base next to the floor.
It sounds like you have a bad flapper or water fill valve.
Slightly out of level will not effect either.
Comb
I put one in a couple of years ago that began seeping some months after being installed. After wasting time on a lot of things, I pulled it out and then I could see that the glaze on the pottery had small flaws that let the water in the bowl through. The source of the leak was quite obvious from the bottom. Yours might not be.
Ron
I've had the same thing. After taking up a toilet and putting it back in several times, finally came to the conclusion it was the toilet itself that was leaking. Likely either a crack in the bowl S bend or poor glaze in that same area. Anyway, I replaced the toilet and VIOLA no more leak.
Seems like everytime I fix something, its always the last thing I try that works but then again everytime I lose something its always in the last place I look. HMMMMM.
You can buy a dye (or just use some food coloring) that you drop into the back of the tank. It makes it easier to detect a slow leak coming from the upper tank/lower bowl assembly seal.
-t
Had a toilet that would never sit properly on a wax ring. Problem was the closet ring was 10" not 12" from the wall, so the toilet would lean on the back wall. I cut back the drywall.
Also, the toilet base always needs to be chalked to the floor, cause the bolts are never strong enough to keep the toilet from rocking and breaking the wax ring seal.
Seeping where?? Is it seeping onto the floor, onto the ceiling below, or simply seeping from tank into bowl? How much "seepage"?
I guess the best way to describe it would be sort of oozing water (at the base). It's never very much, it sort of looks like someone "missed" the toilet a little.
I'm currently using the rubber tube rather than a wax ring. Although it leaked with the wax ring too.
I appreciate all the advice, looks I've got a project...
First I would suspect condensation. Next, I'd suspect a poor connection at the cold water connection, or the spud gasket between bowl and tank. Also, the bolts between bowl and tank can leak.I find that pieces of dry facial tissue are good for finding leaks, since they'll show wet very readily. Use one to "feel" around the cold water connection and the base of the tank. "Feel" down the outside edges of the bowl all around to detect anything dripping from above that you maybe missed while checking the tank. If you still have a dry tissue after doing this then the leak's in the flange gasket or in the bowl proper.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
First I would suspect condensation
Yep, especially in humid weather. I've got a Kohler Rialto one-piece, that sweats worse than if I sprayed a garden hose all over it. Thought I had a leaky valve or sumthin, a few weeks ago when it was incredibly humid here.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Position the shims before you install the wax ring.
Tape them temporarily so they don't move.
Remove toilet.
Install wax ring.
Press toilet down into position with out rocking too much.
Tighten bolts,
Cut shims.
Caulk after a few days so you know the ring is sealing.
DanH is obviously experiencd with this.
I would check to see if the "tank mounting bolts" have nuts that capture them, onto the tank, before the tank is mounted onto the bowl.
Without these nuts the tank will leak. I have found this to be the source of elusive leaks in more than one case.
Larry B
True, and it's amazing that some bolt kits don't come with the extra nuts.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Most don't come with nuts. I only really install Kohler toilets, and i can tell you that they don't come with extra nuts. The new ones, "class 5" I believe have a metal plate that holds the bolts on so they don't have to go through the tank. I haven't had any problems with this type of system yet.
I just installed one of these Koehler toilets. Upon first seeing it my reaction was something like this "what the heck?... oh, slick". I like it.
I was afraid the tank would rock as the plate flexed, but it seems pretty sturdy.
I've found that tile grout around a toilet will show darkness with only a small amount of moisture -- what might come just from toilet bowl condensation. It looks like a leak, but isn't really. As others have suggested, I would look for actual leakage, not just a visual clue.