Most toilet leaks are the result of a broken toilet seal and/or flange. It’s important to contact a professional plumber for assistance as soon as possible to avoid costly water damage.
Our plumbers responded quickly when called out for this toilet leak repair in the village of Oak Park.
Oak Park Corroded Flange Repair
The call originally came in as a leak on the floor by the toilet. We removed the toilet to discover a totally corroded flange. The toilet was not secured to the floor.
The cause of the leak was a broken toilet seal due to a corroded toilet flange. We installed a new corrosion-proof PVC flange. Problem solved!
What is a Toilet Seal?
A toilet seal is what helps the toilet maintain the proper position on a floor. The rubber or wax ring on the bottom of the toilet prevents water from leaking out.
Toilet seals can often be under extreme pressure. If an old or cracked toilet seal breaks, this allows excess fluids to escape through tiny cracks in the toilet seal.
When this occurs, the toilet becomes unbalanced and is at risk of breaking. We’re experts in fixing this kind of problem.
What is a Toilet Flange?
A toilet flange is a connection between a toilet and the floor. It’s like an adapter, connecting the threads on the bottom of your toilet to the threads in your floor drain.
Toilet flanges can be made from metal, plastic, or PVC. A damaged one may let water leak through the seal and into your floorboards below.
What is a Toilet Fill Valve?
A toilet fill valve is what fills the tank when you flush. It also helps to even out water levels in a toilet tank by releasing air into it, if necessary.
They tend to wear over time and should be replaced every five years or so. Fill valves are often found attached directly under your toilet’s rear tank.
What Causes A Toilet To Leak?
One common and most often overlooked issue that can cause water to seep out from around the toilet base is an old, corroded, or broken flange.
The seal may also be broken. The seal keeps water in your toilet bowl and from leaking out of the bottom of the toilet tank when it fills to the appropriate water level.
You could also have a broken seal if you’ve had to tighten the chain on your flush lever recently or notice any other signs of damage to the seat, like cracks in it.
In addition, a broken seal can also cause water to go through the floor and then leak into the floor below.
Cracks on the bottom of your bowl or in your drainpipe could also lead to water leaking out from under your toilet.
How To Prevent A Toilet Leak
If you think that a compromised flange or seal is a possible cause of water leaking from the floor beneath your toilet, you will want to call a professional plumber.
The first thing a plumber will do is inspect your flange or seal for any signs of damage that may be causing leaks.
The following measures can be taken to prevent a leak or to mitigate damage caused by leaks:
The key to preventing a toilet leak is ensuring that your toilet seal is intact. To do this, you will need to periodically check the seal for any rips or tears.
If there are any defects in the seal, then they should be repaired immediately before continuing use of the toilet.
For an exposed toilet seal, you’ll want to use a paint scraper or similar object to scrape all the old seal off and inspect the entire surface.
If your flange is corroded then it will need to be replaced quickly before any more damage occurs.
When installing any type of toilet valves or flanges, make sure that they are made from corrosion-resistant material and have been sealed properly so that no moisture can get in them.
PVC is a material that has been created so that it cannot corrode, which means your toilet should not have problems with leaking or the flange breaking.
Signs of an Issue with your Toilet Flange
Toilet Seal Replacement
Replacing a toilet seal can be done with relative ease by following these steps:
- Remove any excess water from your floor.
- Once there’s no more liquid on the floor, locate the source of the leak. The toilet seal will be right next to this area.
- Remove the old worn-out toilet seal by pulling it straight up. Discard it in a safe place and make sure there’s nothing on your hands before continuing with any other steps.
- Clean the area with a cloth to remove any dirt or debris. Take your new toilet seal and put it on top of the metal bolts that were exposed after removing the old one, pressing down firmly.
- Reattach the toilet onto this flange by using specialized toilet bolts. Make sure the toilet bottom and floor are flush against each other before continuing.
- Once that’s done, you should tighten the toilet bolts to ensure there is no water leakage. They should not be too close or too far apart; this will make the toilet seal work correctly.
To The Rescue!
We know you want to prevent the toilet from leaking, but what if it already is?
In that case, our team of plumbing experts can quickly diagnose and repair your leaky toilet or fix any other issues with your plumbing system.
If you’ve noticed an issue with a flange or seal on your toilet, contact us at (773) 799-8848 or email us directly at [email protected] for a free estimate!
We are available 24 hours a day so we can provide fast service when it is needed most. Our staff will be on-call with our emergency number anytime there is an issue that needs immediate attention.
Don’t hesitate to give us a buzz!
