Why Is My Toilet Leaking at the Base?

Do you notice water puddled at the base of the toilet? Don’t put your head in the sand. Left unaddressed, your toilet will continue leaking a little bit with each flush, allowing toilet water to pool on the bathroom floor and potentially causing expensive mold damage and rot in the subfloor. 

A toilet leaking at the base often signifies a bad wax ring. This component is supposed to make a tight seal between the toilet base and the drainpipe. When it breaks, water may escape every time you flush. Fortunately, it’s simple to test the source of the leak and pinpoint the problem. If you decide the wax ring needs to be replaced, we suggest reaching out to a plumber for professional toilet repair. 

Test Your Leaky Toilet 

Sometimes, a nearby leak can make the toilet look like it is leaking at the base. Follow these steps to find out precisely where the water is coming from. 

Check for Condensation 

The “leak” around your toilet may not be a leak at all. Rather, water vapor could be condensing on the bowl or tank and dripping onto the floor. To check for this, soak up any standing water with a rag and flush the toilet. Look carefully —if there are no new water pools around the base, condensation is the likely cause. Running the exhaust fan when you shower is an easy solution. 

Examine the Toilet Tank 

Run your hands around the exterior of the tank for any dampness. To rule out condensation, dry up any droplets with a dry washcloth. Then, check again, searching for loose bolts or cracked porcelain leaking water onto the floor. Tighten any loose bolts you notice. If the tank is broken, you’ll need to replace your toilet. 

Inspect the Water Hose 

Look at the cold-water supply line on the backside of the toilet. A loose connection, defective hose or worn out shut-off valve may cause a leak. If tightening the fittings doesn’t fix the problem, you may need a plumber to replace the water supply hose. 

Tighten the Tee Bolts 

If these troubleshooting tips don’t help, your toilet is most likely leaking at the base like you suspected. Before contacting a plumber, try tightening the tee bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. You may need to take off the decorative plastic caps with a putty knife or flathead screwdriver to get to the bolt at the bottom of. Be careful not to screw the bolt too tight, as this could crack the porcelain. If the bolts spin freely, you could need to get new ones. 

Look for Signs of a Worn-Out Wax Ring 

If bolting the toilet tighter to the floor doesn’t fix the problem, a damaged wax ring could be the culprit after all. Besides water soaking the floor around the toilet, you may notice a sewage stink, indicating a broken sewer line seal. And if the toilet moves from side to side, this might mean it’s sitting on a broken flange, the part that connects the flush system to the plumbing line. A rocking toilet might also indicate a soft subfloor resulting from the leak, which needs immediate attention to prevent the problem from getting worse. 

Hire a Plumber to Replace the Wax Ring 

If you find that a faulty wax ring is indeed the problem, fixing it involves removing the toilet, replacing the ring and reinstalling the toilet. While it’s possible to attempt the fix without a plumbing license, DIY toilet removal is not recommended. Here’s why you should leave the issue to a experienced plumber: 

• Porcelain is a surprisingly delicate material. If you drop the toilet on the floor or hit it too hard with a plumbing tool, it could chip, forcing you to pay for a toilet replacement on top of everything else. 

• Lifting and lowering the large plumbing fixture is a two-person task. Even then, poor lifting techniques could leave you with an hurt back. 
• Checking for water-damaged subflooring requires a Expert eye. And if any damage has been done, it should be addressed before reinstalling the toilet, something a plumber can help coordinate. 
• If you detect that the entire flange underneath the toilet is damaged, it will need to be replaced. This is even more difficult than swapping out the wax ring. 
• Removing the toilet, making the necessary repair and reinstalling it can take a few hours, if not longer. You most likely have better ways to spend your time, giving you yet another reason to leave the task to a plumber. 

Schedule Toilet Repair with an Expert Plumber 

At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, repairing toilet leaks is one of our specialties. Whether you complete the troubleshooting tips outlined above before reaching out, or you want us to handle the whole job from start to finish, we’ve got you covered. Every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee,* so sit back, relax, and let us take care of the problem. To schedule superior toilet repair in your area, please contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today! 

*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.