Toilets are usually highly dependable. It is not uncommon for one to keep working for more than 30 years with only the most basic of care. However, water may periodically seep out from beneath the toilet and pour over the floor, causing major water damage. What can you do when this happens?
Water accumulating around the toilet’s base indicates that the wax seal beneath the toilet has failed. However, in certain circumstances, the issue is elsewhere. Soak up any remaining water on the floor with a cloth and dry the toilet. Wait until a fresh puddle emerges on the floor before checking to ensure that the water is coming from beneath the toilet and not from a loose supply tube, defective cutoff valve, damaged tank, or bowl.
If water is seeping underneath the toilet, you may be able to stop it by adjusting the closet bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. Pry off the caps that cover the bolts using a putty blade or slotted screwdriver. Then, gradually tighten each bolt a bit at a time using a wrench. Applying too much pressure may cause the toilet’s base to crack.
If you’re fortunate, the leak will eventually cease. If tightening the bolts does not solve the problem, you will need to dismantle the toilet and change the wax gasket.
At this point, the job becomes a much larger one than you might have anticipated, and to save you stress and potential issues, it’s best to call in the experts.
