A broken toilet can leak in five places, and each one means something different. Some are a five-minute fix. Others soak the subfloor or the slab under your tile for weeks before you notice. This guide shows how to find the leak, what to do first and when to call. Call (951) 299-3473 any time.
If you can't tell where the water is coming from, our leak detection Murrieta CA team can trace it without tearing up the floor.
Where does a broken toilet leak?
Most toilet leaks come from one of five spots: the wax ring under the base, the bolts that hold the tank to the bowl, the supply line and its plastic nut, a crack in the tank or bowl, or the flapper and fill valve inside the tank. The first four put water on the floor. The last one wastes water silently into the bowl.
- Base. Water seeps out from under the toilet when you flush. Usually a failed wax ring or a toilet that rocks.
- Tank bolts. Drips form under the tank, between the tank and bowl. The rubber washers have worn out.
- Supply line. Water beads on the hose or the shutoff valve. Plastic coupling nuts can crack with age.
- Cracked porcelain. A hairline crack in the tank or bowl drips all the time, even between flushes.
- Inside the tank. A worn flapper or bad fill valve lets water run into the bowl. Your toilet leak test guide shows the dye test for this.
