What Causes a Toilet to Leak? | Cambridge Plumber

Toilets are remarkably simple and for the most part really easy to take care of. However, over time they can still develop leaks which can lead to serious headaches. A simple leak can lead to constant running, spilled water, and perhaps worst of all, a sharp increase in your water bill. Knowing what makes a toilet leak is the first step towards figuring out why your own is having an issue and then getting down to fixing it. Here are a few of the most common causes of toilet leaks and how to identify them.

Leaking Supply Line

Your toilet is connected to your main water supply through a small nozzle, usually located on the wall fairly close to the fixture. A hose connects this fixture to your toilet. Over time, the joints in this hose can wear out, allowing water to seep through and start puddling onto your floor. You may be able to seal your hose off with some rubber or plumbers tape, but odds are you should probably just replace it (they’re not that expensive anyway).

Warped or Worn Flapper

The flapper is a small rubber piece located in the bottom of your toilet tank that allows water to flow down out of the tank and into the bowl. These small pieces gradually get old, wear out, and develop leaks. Often these leaks are so slow and small that it’s hard to detect them, but if your toilet somewhat regularly keeps turning on, it’s probably because there’s a slight leak in the flapper. You can test this by letting the water in the tank fill up and then dropping just a few drops of food dye into it and then waiting to see if any of this water appears in the bowl without flushing.

Faulty Float

The float is a hollow ball that floats on the water in your toilet’s tank. When the float is misaligned or cracks, your toilet will probably run continuously, resulting leaks and increased water bills. If your toilet doesn’t seem to want to turn off, take the lid of your tank and check to make sure the float is reaching its shut-off point. If it doesn’t, you need to adjust it or replace it.

Cracked Tank

Toilets are made from porcelain. While this material is extremely easy to maintain and fairly durable, it’s still brittle and solid impacts could cause it to crack and break. An impact to a sensitive spot in your tank could cause a leak. If you notice water dripping onto your bathroom floor that’s near your toilet but not by the supply line, your tank may have a small leak.

Need a leaky toilet repaired? Call a Boston plumber from Winters® Home Services at 617-221-5899 today!