The carpet around the toilet is wet. No water damage on the walls or ceiling. Also, we've had a peculiar smell coming from this bathroom for a month or so. The plumber thought the smell was from the p trap and he plunged it and poured some bleach down the drain. That helped (for the most part) with the smell, but now the area around the toilet (in the same bathroom) is soaking wet.
We used to have a problem with the A/C not draining properly and this would cause the same problem, but I checked the closet, and it's dry in there, so I don't think that's the problem. Any thoughts???
2007-05-21 09:57:53 · 7 answers · asked by Taneal B 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yup. I checked all the connections and the shut-off valve and couldn't find anything. The tank's not leaking either. I felt all around and behind the toilet and couldn't find anything.
I didn't even have the plumber check the toilet because I didn't notice the wet carpet until today. Could this "seal" at the base be the cause of the smell as well? Smell's been here for a couple of months, but I didn't feel anything wet until today.
2007-05-21 10:48:17 · update #1
There are three possible sources of water around a toilet:
- Leakage from the supply. Careful inspection with a flashlight, and wiping the plumbing with a dry tissue should turn up any problem.
- Leakage from the bowl seal. The bowl is sealed to the drain head with a wax ring, and any motion of the bowl on the head (due to loose hold-down bolts or otherwise) will break the seal. More on this later.
- Condensation on the tank. The tank will refill with cold water, and if the termperature is below the dew point in the bathroom, water will condense on the tank and drip on the floor. The tissue test will identify this; check the tank five minutes after flushing the toilet.
Carpeting around a toilet is a bad idea. Any sort of leakage will render it wet and disgusting; only vinyl or tile should be used on a bathroom floor. Remove the carpeting, and let things dry out for several hours. Then flush the toilet, and see if a tissue test turns up any mosture between the bottom of the bowl and the floor. If so, remove the toilet and replace the wax seal. To remove a toilet: shut off the water at the angle stop. Flush the toilet. Bail any remaining water from the tank, and dry it with a sponge. Bail any water from the bowl. Disconnect the supply line at the angle stop. Remove the hold-down nuts (these may be under plastic or porcelain caps). Lift the toilet straight up, and set it down nearby on newspaper. Inspect the seal for damage or obvious signs of leakage. If new flooring is to be installed, do so now. Install a new seal. Tilt the toilet over partway to inspect the bottom for seal damage or cracks. Re-install the toilet by setting it carefully on the new seal, installing the hold-down nuts, and reconnecting the supply line.
2007-05-21 10:46:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pull the carpet back from the toilet and dry the floor. Come back a little later and see if there is any more leaking. Also, check the shutoff valve that sends water to the toilet - feel around it and if it is wet then your leak is there. Also, check around the outside of the toilet - if the tank is leaking there will be moisture around the area where the different connections are made. Check around the connection between the tank and the seat. Sometimes it will leak there.
Check the corner of the wall and floor - is there any water coming from that area. If there is a leak in the wall it may show up there.
Suggestion: a plumber worth his salt should be able to find a leak in a bathroom. Also, get rid of the carpet. It will always be a problem!
2007-05-21 10:16:57 · answer #2 · answered by ilovetopharm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to replace the wax bowl ring your toilet fixture is sitting on. If you want to try an experiment sit on your toilet and flush. Wait until all the water is drained out of your toilet, then check around your feet to see water escaping. It should be quite obvious. If by chance there isn't an abundance of water around your feet when you flush, it may be the water supply line for your toilet that is causing the problem. Try turning the valve for the water supply line off. Mop up any excess water that may be standing around the toilet, and monitor the situation for about five minutes. It would be wise to remove if possible the surrounding carpeting in order for you to see what is actually going on.
2007-05-21 10:17:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your house is several years old or older, then it is a good idea to reset the toilet, replace the wax seal, and toilet bolts, etc. Reason being, a toilet seal can be broken and will emit sewer gas into the room or bldg. and may not leak water at certain times.
That would definitely eliminate your toilet as a problem.
2007-05-21 12:38:58 · answer #4 · answered by jenniferjones 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pull back the carpet, dry up the area and then flush the toilet. If water reappears, change the wax seal on the toilet and your plumber.
2007-05-21 10:30:26 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did the plumber check the toilet for the leak? It sounds like the wax seal needs to be replaced.
2007-05-21 10:02:22 · answer #6 · answered by Bogart 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The seal around the base of the toilet may need replacing. it is probably building up quite a stink in the trapped moisture inside.
2007-05-21 10:02:21 · answer #7 · answered by Greg L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋