A leaky toilet can be an annoying problem. It can also damage flooring and if on an upper floor, can leak on lower floors causing damage. A toilet can leak from several places. The more common ones are a bad water supply hose and a bad seal. But there can be other causes. Repairing these problems can be handled by the homeowner thereby saving money in repair costs.

  • A leaky toilet can be an annoying problem.
  • A toilet can leak from several places.

Determine the source of the leak by examining the area. Inspect the water supply hose and feel to to see if it is wet. If it is wet or dripping, then it may need to be replaced. If water is seeping around the base of the toilet, then the wax seal is probably bad.

Shut off the water supply to the toilet by turning the water shutoff handle under the toilet all the way to the right. Flush the toilet to remove as much of the water as possible. Any remaining water in the bowl and tank can be removed with a sponge and a bucket.

  • Shut off the water supply to the toilet by turning the water shutoff handle under the toilet all the way to the right.
  • Flush the toilet to remove as much of the water as possible.

Use an adjustable wrench to remove the water supply hose if it was determined that the hose was the source of the leak. Unscrew the hose from the shutoff and from the bottom of the flush valve in the toilet. Install the new hose by reversing the process. Turn on the water supply.

Remove the toilet tank from the bowl if it was determined that the wax seal was the cause of the leak. There should be bolts on either side of the tank securing it to the bowl. These bolts can be removed with an adjustable wrench. On wall mount units, the tank is usually mounted to the wall and then secured to the bowl. Some wall mounted toilets have the tank mounted in a different fashion and may need closer examination to determine how it comes apart.

Use an adjustable wrench to remove the bolts on either side of the bowl which secure it to the floor and remove the bowl and set it upside down on a dust sheet or old piece of carpet.

  • Remove the toilet tank from the bowl if it was determined that the wax seal was the cause of the leak.
  • Use an adjustable wrench to remove the bolts on either side of the bowl which secure it to the floor and remove the bowl and set it upside down on a dust sheet or old piece of carpet.

Remove the old wax ring which can be scraped off the bottom of the toilet with a putty knife. Make sure to clean the area around the flange in the floor completely.

Set in place the new wax ring and make sure it is centred around the hole in the bottom of the toilet. Replace the bowl and the tank by reversing the process used to remove them. Turn on the water supply.