Sink leaks are one of the most occurring toilet issues in many homes. You’ve probably seen some toilets leaking from the tanks or draining down into a bowl, sometimes you could find a puddle of water around the base of your toilet. All these are caused by toilet leaks. There are various factors that can cause toilets to develop leaks in the sinks, and knowing these factors can help you prevent future occurrences.
If these leaks are left unrecognized, then they could cause significant or permanent damage to the floor, and create an unpleasant smell in the toilet. To prevent this kind of damage to your toilet, it is recommended that you carry out adequate household maintenance. In order to properly carry out maintenance on your toilet, you need to know what causes these toilet leaks. And in today’s article that issues will be properly addressed.
Causes of sink leaks in a toilet
There are several reasons why toilet sinks leak, from loose tee bolts, worn-out wax-ring, to a clogged drain line. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of leaks in toilets.
1. Loosed Tee Bolts
One of the common causes of leaks in toilets is due to the tee bolts being loosened. When the toilet itself becomes loose from the floor, leaks may occur. The tee-nuts are the hardware that ensures your toilet is fastened to the floor, these nuts can become loose over time due to excessive force on them from general use, and other reasons.
If you observe your tee bolts are loose, quickly tighten them using a socket, crescent wrench, or a pair of pliers. After tightening them, flush your toilet several times to confirm if the leaks have disappeared.
2. Damaged Flapper
Every toilet has a tank that holds water in until you flush it. And when you do, the flapper rises causing water to flow from the tank into the bowl to replenish the supply. By the time the flapper returns to its original position, the water in the tank will be filled up again.
Although the flapper is a simple device, it is also prone to wear and tear. The flapper over time can warp, crack, get stuck or even break. When these occur, you will no longer be able to control the water flow between the bowl and the tank, leading to leaks in the toilet sinks. A damaged flapper can be easily fixed by using a good toilet repair kit to change the flapper and install a new one.
3. Condensation
This is one of the most occurring toilet issues in many homes. When you see excess water on your toilet floor, it is most likely caused by condensation. This occurs when water condenses outside the toilet’s tank and drips onto the floor. This is sometimes referred to as ash tank sweating. It is usually caused by a difference in temperature between the water inside the tank which is cold, and the air outside the tank which can be very warm or steamy.
This phenomenon occurs more frequently during the summer months. A simple solution to this is to make use of toilet tank liners to insulate the cold water from the hot air outside or use an anti-sweat toilet tank valve.
4. Worn-out Wax Ring
If you’ve tightened your tee nuts, and you still observe leaks from the base of your toilet, then you may need to replace your wax ring beneath the toilet. The wax ring seals the connection between the toilet and the drain line. Hence, when worn out, it could cause meals from the bottom of the toilet.
Replacing the wax ring is a complex process that is best left for an experienced professional, because it involves completely removing your toilet from the floor, and pulling out the old ring before you can install a new one.
5. Cracked Supply Line
When the supply line to the tank is cracked, it can cause some serious leaks in the toilet. The supply line is a closed system that does not allow air to seep in, or water to seep out. However, when the supply line is cracked, you may notice water leaks on the toilet floor. When this occurs, contact your plumber to minimize damage to your home.
6. Damaged Tank or bowl
The toilet stores water inside the tank in other to refill the bowl when required. If the tank or bowl is damaged, then you may observe leaks around the toilet. This type of damage is very hard to fix, you may be required to install a new toilet.
7. Bad Float
The float is an instrument used to check the level of water in the tank. Usually, water in the tank stops flowing when it reaches a certain level. This is due to the floats which monitor and ensure that the supply is halted when this point is reached. If there is an overflow, then you probably have a bad float that needs fixing. Fortunately, fixing a bad float is quite simple, and requires little effort.
8. Clogged Drain Line
When your drain line is clogged, you will not be able to flush water and waste down the drain. This could also result in high pressure on your wax ring, which could cause further leaks. If you find out that your waste refuses to drain when you flush, then you’ll need to clear your drain line. This can be done effectively with the aid of a professional.
A clogged drain line is usually caused by flushing too much toilet paper, female sanitary products, or other improper items that should not be flushed down the drain.
