Toilet leaks are one of those pesky household problems that usually happen when you least expect them to. Many issues can cause your toilet to leak, such as cracked tanks and loose bases. These problems occur as a result of years of everyday wear and tear, or the breakages of key components. If you’re experiencing a leak and don’t know what to do, our expert plumbers have put together this handy guide on leaky toilet issues and their causes.
Tee bolts
One of the most common causes of leaky toilets comes from loose tee bolts on either side of the toilet. To tighten them, remove the little plastic covers that protect the bolts, get out a wrench and remember: righty tighty, lefty loosey! If this fails to seal off the leak, it may be that you need to replace the tee bolts and the wax rings around them altogether. Our team at Expert Plumbing & Solar Services Bathurst is on hand to help with this.
Condensation
Puddling usually occurs due to constant running and can be an indicator of condensation. To solve this, you need to check that there isn’t an issue with the flapper; if there is, this means that water will be running into the toilet tank non-stop and will need to be replaced.
A flapper is a piece of semi-circular rubber with a peg that connects to the flusher and a peg that sits on either side of the overflow valve. Our plumbers at EPSSB are skilled in replacing flappers, so if you have purchased a new one, it may be best to allow a member of our team to install it correctly. Extended exposure to hard water can cause some components to become brittle, causing further damage, so call in the experts as soon as you can.
Flush valves
Faulty flush valves may be the cause of your leaky toilet. To determine this, first disconnect the water supply by using a wrench on the shut-off valve at the back of the toilet. Next, use a sharpie to make a mark showing where the water level is currently at so you can keep track of whether the level increases or decreases.
To be able to see if it’s the tank leaking, add some ordinary food colouring to the water currently in the tank, and wait for around 10-15 to see where the water seeps to. A faulty flush valve is indicated by the presence of any of this coloured water appearing in the bowl. If this is the case, contact our expert plumbers in Bathurst to make any necessary repairs. It is better to utilise our expert know-how than to tinker with parts yourself if you do not possess plumbing knowledge to prevent further damage.
If any of these problems persist, you may need the help of an emergency plumber. A fast response will ensure you don’t make things worse, so contact the friendly and professional team at EPSSB today on 02 6332 4992.
