Toilet is leaking at the bottom?

Question

How can I fix it?

Anthony---thank you so much for your step by step instructions. Sounds easy! TY

Answer 1

You wax seal is old and leaking!

#1 Take off the bolts at the bottom of the toilet. Remove caulking
#2 Shut off, and remove the water pipe going into the upper tank.
#3 Go to the hardware store and buy a new wax seal
#4 Remove toilet off the floor
#5 With a small puddy knife remove the old seal.
#6 Place new seal on top of the drain
#7 Make sure the bolts are straight for reinstallation
#8 Carefully put back your toilet! Tighten bolts.
#9 Recaulk the bottom of toilet.
#10 Reinstall water pipe to the upper tank!

This is the way to do it! It'll work. I'm a maintence supervisor, your cute too!

Answer 2

Is it leaking around the base? Where the toilet contacts the floor?

That's an easy fix. There is a wax ring that makes a seal between the toilet and the pipe below it. Get a new one at the hardware store or home improvement store. To install it:

1) turn the water off at the wall. There should be a shutoff valve behind or under the toilet tank.

2) Flush the toilet. The tank should not refill. If it does, you didn't turn the water off completely. Go back to step 1.

3) bail the water out of the toilet, as much as possible. A little left won't be too bad, though.

4) Disconnect the water supply line from the valve. Loosen the bolts on the sides at the base of the toilet that hold it to the floor.

5) put a big towel or piece of cardboard on the floor nearby, to protect the flooring from the bottom of the old toilet.

6) pick up the toilet, and set it on the cardboard. This is a 2 person job, if possible. Toilets are heavy and awkward.

7) clean the old wax off the pipe in the floor, and off the bottom of the toilet. It doesn't have to be sparkling clean, just reasonably neat. Don't drop wax down the pipe, though - a lot of it could cause clogs. Wipe any extra off with a paper towel or old rag.

8) put the new wax seal on the pipe on the floor. If it has a flange, this will probably do down. Read the box directions to be sure.

9) set the toilet down on top of the ring, and be sure to get the bolts aligned so that they go through the holes in the base of the toilet. You'll want someone to help you with this.

10) sit on the toilet to press it into the wax and seal it.

11) refasten the bolts, reconnect the water supply.

12) turn the water on slowly, checking for leaks. Tighten carefully if you see any. Don't automatically crank down on the fitting as hard as you can - you may damage the valve, and cause a flood!

13) when the tank is full, flush the toilet, and watch for leaks. You shouldn't have any.

14) celebrate that you saved a $50 plumbing bill!

Answer 3

Ralfcoder, anthonyinkc and biker have good answers but I would like to add 1 When reseating the toilet twist it an inch or so (against one side of the bolts to the other side) helps create a better seal. 2 Be careful when tightening the nuts on the porcelain its east to break. Just enough to keep it from and twisting. 3 I like the wax rings with the plastic flange. 4 Check that your floor is not to high above the metal flange on the sewer pipe (the part that holds the bolts) If so you may need a double seal which can find at some stores. If not you can buy two regular ones and stack them. 5 Make sure the wax rings are at room temperature, cold ones do not seal/flow well.

Good luck

Answer 4

You simply need to take it up and install a new wax ring. Shut the water off to it, flush it, take the two bolts loose that hold it to the floor, lift the toilet up, clean the old seal from the bottom and from around the soil pipe. When I buy the seals I like to get the ones with the rubber cone in them. Set the seal in place and set the toilet in place. Tighten it down and you are back in business.

Answer 5

Sounds like you need a new wax ring! You need to unbolt the toilet from the floor and replace the wax ring that is in the inside of the plumbing going into the floor.

You can get the wax ring for like $2.00 at Home Depot or Lowe's.

SHUT THE TOILET WATER OFF at the wall or you will destroy your flooring and subfloor until you get it fixed!!

Answer 6

you need to go get a new wax ring.
then you shut the water off and drain the toilet.
after that you remove the toilet from the floor and get a putty knife and take the old wax ring out and discard it.
seat the new on in and reassemble the toilet.

Answer 7

more than likely the wax ring under the stool has went bad

Answer 8

Wax ring is shot.Email me for details

Answer 9

let's assume that the cistern is leaking , thereby you probably need a new flushertte valve . good luck .

Answer 10

YOU are leaking at the bottom.