Residential Water_20_Why Toilets Leak

12/6/2019 (Permalink)

Leaking toilet in Stone Park, IL

Residential Water_20_Why Toilets Leak

While the kitchen always seems to be the gathering place in the home, the bathroom gets a lot of foot traffic. When guests arrive, the last thing you want is for your home in Stone Park, IL, to have a leaking toilet. Besides the mess it leaves, if it goes unchecked, mold and rot can quickly make it smell like a dingy rest-stop.

Signs of Leak

When faced with a bathroom leak, it's not always a visible mess. Internal issues can make your water bill surge. Signs that you may have a problem include:

• The handle must be jiggled to get it to stop running.
  
• The toilet makes sounds even when not being used.
  
• To empty the tank, the handle needs to be held down.
  
• Water continues to trickle into the bowl after the flushing cycle.
  
  

The Main Culprits

Once you have determined you have a leaking toilet, it is important to take care of the problem as soon as possible. In addition to wasting water, the leak could eventually spread and damage nearby areas of the home. Below are some of the main causes of a leaking toilet.

Cracked Tank or Bowl – Although built for longevity, like most things, toilets aren’t immune to damage and aging. A barely noticeable crack will eventually lead to bigger problems.
Old Pipes – In older homes, the pipes leading to your bathroom can begin to rust and crack.
Worn or Loose Seals and Connectors – The internal workings of a toilet feature gaskets and everyday hardware. If those get worn or loosened, a leak can develop. The seal at the base of the toilet can also face the same problem.
Flush Valve and Flapper Issues – An improperly adjusted or broken valve can affect the overflow, leading to a tank constantly filling instead of draining properly. If the flapper isn’t doing its job to stop water, it will continue to fill the bowl.

Addressing a leaking toilet right away is the best way to avoid water damage. If the damage has already happened, count on a water damage specialist to get your home guest-ready.