Toilet leaks can cause homeowners hundreds or thousands of dollars in high water bills and property damage, yet they can easily go unnoticed. Most toilet leaks don’t make a sound, but they can waste 200+ gallons daily.
Ignoring small leaks can lead to costly repairs and expensive utility bills, but if you detect them in time, you can avoid these hassles. In this article, we’ll discuss how to spot toilet leaks, what causes them, and how you can fix them or prevent them from happening.
Key Takeaways
• Leaky toilets can lead to problems like high water bills, mold growth, and damage to walls and flooring that can diminish your quality of life.
• Spotting the warning signs of a leaking toilet can help you nip the problem in the bud.
• A toilet leak test will help you find out if you need to take action.
• Knowing the most common causes of toilet leaks can help you diagnose your issue.
• Discovering how to prevent toilet leaks, when to fix them yourself, and when to call a pro can give you peace of mind.
Is Your Toilet Leaking? Spot These 5 Warning Signs
Leaky toilets can easily go unnoticed, but if you notice any of these five warning signs, there’s a good chance you have a problem:
• You see water pooling around the base of the toilet.
• You notice phantom flushing (the toilet refills randomly).
• You hear the sound of running water when the toilet is not in use.
• You have an unexplained spike in your water bill.
• You discover damp or discolored flooring near the toilet.
How a DIY Test (The Food Coloring Trick) Can Uncover Your Leak
If you suspect you have a leaky toilet, an at-home dye test can help you know for sure. To do this test, you’ll need to get some food coloring or dye tablets and follow the steps below.
Testing Your Toilet for Leaks
• Leave the toilet’s water supply on (don’t shut off the water).
• Remove the lid from the toilet tank and add a dye tablet or 5–10 drops of food coloring to the water inside.
• Wait 15–30 minutes. Don’t flush the toilet during this time.
• After the waiting period, look at the water in the toilet bowl.
• If you see dye seeping into the toilet bowl, or if the bowl contains colored water that matches your dye, you’ve got a leak.
Why This Works:
Leaks that flow from the toilet tank to the bowl don’t stay inside the toilet. The dye reveals invisible seepage.
6 Common Causes of Toilet Leaks
Although all toilet leaks involve water flowing to places it shouldn’t, there are many possible reasons these situations may occur. The six most common causes of toilet leaks include:
You Have a Worn-Out or Warped Flapper Valve
A toilet flapper valve is a piece of rubber that seals the flush valve opening in your toilet tank. It keeps water in the tank until you flush. This valve is the number one cause of silent leaks, which occur when the flapper gets worn out, warped, or misaligned.
To diagnose a problem flapper valve, you can:
• Do a dye test.
• Look to see if the rubber part looks bent, rough, or otherwise decayed in a way that creates a poor seal between the tank and the bowl.
If you notice these signs, you should replace the flapper.
You Have a Cracked or Loose Flush Valve
A flush valve is a part that controls how water flows from the toilet tank to the bowl when you flush the toilet. It includes an overflow tube and a device that lifts the flapper to let water flow into the bowl. If water still leaks from your tank after you replace the flapper, you may have a cracked or loose flush valve.
To diagnose a faulty flush valve, you can:
• Look to see if water is entering the overflow tube.
• Check to see if the toilet refills or runs constantly without being flushed.
• Take note of weak flushes.
If you have a bad flush valve, replacing it is usually the best way to fix the issue.
The Toilet’s Water Level Is Set Too High
If the water level in your toilet tank is too high, it can prevent the fill valve from shutting off or cause water to leak from valves or connections that aren’t properly sealed.
Your tank’s water level may be too high if:
• Your toilet runs constantly.
• The water level in the toilet bowl rises to its rim.
• Your toilet overflows after flushing.
• Water regularly spills into the overflow tube.
Adjusting the float or fill valve is a simple way to normalize your toilet’s water level.
You Have a Leaking Supply Line or Shut-Off Valve
A toilet supply line is a plastic or metal pipe that channels water from the main water supply to the toilet tank so the toilet can flush. A toilet’s shut-off valve is a device on the supply line (usually found near the bottom of the tank) that can be turned to quickly cut off the flow of water supply to the toilet. When a supply line or shut-off valve leaks, it can disrupt the water flow into the tank. This can cause water to pool around or overflow the tank or drip onto the floor.
To uncover signs of a leaking supply line or shut-off valve, you can:
• Look for visible water around the bottom of the toilet.
• Check for dripping water or damp spots behind the toilet.
If you think your supply line or shut-off valve is faulty, you may be able to fix the issue by tightening its fittings or installing a new part.
You Have Loose Tee Bolts or a Rocking Toilet
Tee bolts are metal fasteners that secure your toilet to the floor to prevent it from moving. If these bolts loosen, the toilet may shift or rock, which can break the wax ring seal between the toilet and the drainpipe and allow water to escape.
To diagnose leaks caused by loose tee bolts, you can:
• Look for a broken wax ring seal or water leaking from the base.
• Check if the toilet wobbles when you sit on it.
• Take notice of foul odors emerging from the drainpipe.
Tightening loose tee bolts, ensuring your floor is level, and replacing a broken wax seal can often prevent water from escaping from the toilet and mitigate leaks.
Yo Have a Cracked Toilet Bowl or Tank
Sometimes, manufacturing defects, improper installations, age, falling objects, and sudden temperature changes can cause your toilet bowl or tank to crack. Though these cracks may be nearly invisible, they can still cause water to seep out of the toilet and sometimes lead to catastrophic failure.
You should check for cracks if:
• You notice beads of condensation on the outside of your toilet.
• You hear a slow, continuous trickle of water after flushing.
• You see a brown stain around the base of the toilet.
If you find a crack in your toilet bowl or tank after a visual inspection, you will probably need to replace your toilet to prevent further damage.
How to Fix a Leaky Toilet
If your toilet is leaking, some inexpensive DIY repairs include:
• fixing a flapper leak by installing a new flapper.
• adjusting the fill valve or float to lower the water level.
• tightening the tee bolts at your toilet’s base to seal off a leak.
• tightening the fittings of the supply line or shut-off valve to prevent water from escaping.
How to Prevent Toilet Leaks Before They Start
The best way to avoid toilet leaks is to prevent them from happening in the first place. You can lower your risk of leaks by:
• inspecting your flapper valve every 6–12 months.
• avoiding drop-in tank cleaners made with chemicals that can wear out rubber parts.
• checking the fill valve and shut-off valves every 12 months.
• fixing loose or wobbling toilets immediately.
Still Leaking? When to Call a Plumber
If your DIY fixes don’t stop your toilet from leaking or you see evidence of cracked porcelain, mold, warped flooring, or water-damaged subfloor, it’s time to call a pro. Hiring a skilled contractor can prevent you from making mistakes that can cost you large amounts of time and money now and in the future.
Choose Benjamin Franklin for Toilet Repairs in Bradenton, FL
Silent toilet leaks can waste water and damage your property, but fortunately, they are easy to detect if you know where to look. While most fixes are simple, there are times when you’ll need help from a licensed plumber.
If you’re a Bradenton, FL homeowner, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing will provide the fast, professional service you need to fix your leak fast. Our punctual plumbers can repair your toilet or install a new model in a jiffy, so if you need help, call us today.