You walk into your bathroom and find yourself standing in a puddle of water near the toilet bowl. You throw your hands up in the air because the first thing that comes to mind is that you're going to have to call a plumber and pay an expensive bill.
Before you get frustrated, take a deep breath, because you don't necessarily have to make a call to the plumber. There are actually some very common issues that can cause water to leak from your toilet; and believe it or not, you may be able to fix them on your own – even if you don't have any plumbing experience.
Here's a look at some simple troubleshooting tips for a leaking toilet.
Check for Tank Sweating
A sweating tank refers to the buildup of condensation on the outside of your toilet tank. This is not an uncommon problem, and happens when the water on the inside of the tank is colder than the temperature in the bathroom. When there is a lot of condensation buildup, the water will leak down onto the floor, causing the troubling puddle.
Tank sweating can happen when you take a steamy shower, and it also happens when the air temperature inside your home rises in the summer months.
There are some simple fixes for this problem, including:
Check for a Leaky Supply Line
If the water is dripping from the nuts that are located on the end of the supply line (the line that attaches the inlet valve and the shut-off valve, or the water's access point), then you have a leaking supply line.
To fix this problem, replace the washers that seal these points with new stainless steel washers. Make sure that the washers are tight and the leak should be repaired.
Check for a Leak in the Shank Gasket
The fill valve allows water to enter back into the tank once the toilet has been flushed. The shank gasket is the point where the fill valve attaches to the tank. If water is leaking from this point, simply tightening the gasket should stop the leak. If you need a new gasket, you may need to contact a place like FB Wright of Cincinnati.
Water leaking from the toilet doesn't always mean a big, expensive problem. The issue could be caused by one of these problems, which can be repaired with simple fixes.
Share14 February 2015
Planning a large construction project can be stressful as the project leader. As a consultant for large construction companies, I see project planners buckle under pressure all the time – usually because the right support systems and resources are not put into place. It takes more than a good plan to pull together an effective and stress-free construction project. Finding the right service providers, laborers, and plan developers is just as important. This blog was designed to provide those in the construction world with tips and tricks for getting a job done in a straight forward and profitable manner. From project supply ideas to support service options, hopefully you can find some answers to your pressing questions here.
