How To Repair A Rear Flushing Toilet

Last Updated on January 5, 2022 by

Why Does My Toilet Leak When Flushed?

A leaking toilet is characterized by h2o pooling around the base or a clammy basement ceiling. Toilets volition near probable leak between the tank and the basin or effectually the base of operations when flushed.

A toilet that leaks when flushed is caused by loose tank bolts, cracked bowl, worn out tank to basin gasket, broken cupboard flange, worn out wax ring or even a cracked flush valve. The start pace to fixing the problem is by identifying the source of the leak.

If your toilet leaks between the tank and the bowl when flushed information technology is a sign that the tank to basin gasket (spud washer) is worn out, or the tank bolts are loose. A toilet leaking from effectually the base when flushed indicates that the wax ring is not sealing.

A hairline fissure on the toilet bowl can also crusade it to leak. If the crack extends to the lesser of the toilet/toilet trap you will notice that the bowl cannot retain any water, and a foul smell will fill the bath.

Worn out toilet tank to bowl gaskets and toilet wax rings are all the same the ones responsible for most toilet leaks.

Replacing the toilet tank to bowl gasket and tank bolts will fix a toilet that leaks between the tank and the bowl when flushed. If however your toilet leaks from its base when you flush, you will need to replace the toilet wax ring bold the bowl is not cracked.

What is A Toilet Wax Band?

A toilet wax ring is a thick wax molded on a plastic ring that provides a water tight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the to of the toilet flange. It also prevents sewer gases from coming upwardly to the bathroom and entire toilet.

A toilet or closet flange is a round piping plumbing fixtures screwed into the bathroom floor that connects the toilet to the drainpipe. Ii bolts connects the closet flange and the toilet and therefore securing the toilet firmly on the flooring.

A wax ring is sandwiched between the flange and the toilet. An alternative to using a wax ring is a rubber gasket seal. The safety seals are less messier than wax rings.

If your toilet is leaking from the floor or the basement ceiling, it means the wax band is non sealing as information technology should. This is mainly acquired by a cleaved toilet flange or loose toilet bolts which makes the toilet to outset wobbling. A wobbly toilet will after old unseat the wax ring and hence the leak.

What is a Toilet Tank to Bowl Gasket?

A toilet tank to bowl gasket also known equally a tater washer is a rubber gasket that provides a watertight seal between the toilet tank and the bowl. It is usually installed on the outside of the flush valve where the flush h2o leaves the tank and enters the bowl.

If your toilet leaks when flushed between the toilet tank and the basin, ie ways the toilet tank to bowl gasket is worn out, tank bolts are loose or the flush valve is cracked. This still merely happens on two-piece toilets and to fix the problem you will most likely have to remove the toilet tank.

How to Gear up a Toilet That Leaks When Flushed

Materials Needed

A wax ring/ safe seal
Tank to bowl gasket with bolts, nuts and washers
Adjustable wrench
Flathead screwdriver
Putty pocketknife
Sponge
Empty bucket
Mini-hacksaw (optional)
Rubber gloves
Newspapers
Onetime rag/towel

i. How to Fix a Toilet that Leaks at the Base of operations When Flushed

When your toilet leaks from the base when flushed, you will need to remove the toilet in order to replace the wax ring which is causing the leaks. An upstairs toilet that leaks when flushed will exist noticed by water in the ceiling or in the basement.

To gear up a toilet that is leaking from the base of operations, you must supercede the wax ring with another wax ring or rubber gasket. Let us meet how you supersede a toilet wax band.

Stride ane: Disconnect H2o to the Toilet

Look for the toilet shut off valve. It is located at the rear wall of the toilet mostly on the left mitt side.
Turn this valve clockwise. If yous have the push/pull valve, pull it outwards to plow off water to the toilet tank.

Step 2: Bleed the Toilet Tank

Flush the toilet and hold the lever down to flush down as much water as possible.
Remove the toilet tank lid and place it away in a safe place. It tin can fissure easily.
At that place is a little amount of h2o all the same left at the bottom of the toilet tank. Use the sponge to soak it out and squeeze into the empty saucepan.
Look for the water supply line connecting the close off valve to the underside of the tank. Disconnect information technology. Always attempt to disconnect it with your mitt before attempting with a wrench.

Pace iii: Remove the Toilet

Prior to removing the toilet, you will need to remove the water at the bottom of the bowl, otherwise it will make a big mess once you remove the toilet.
Use the sponge to soak up and empty the water into the saucepan. Remember to have your gloves on.
One time the bowl is dried. Look for the ii bolts on each side of the toilet. Sometimes they are covered with plastic caps. Pry the caps off with the screwdriver.
Using the wrench, loosen the two nuts so remove them completely with your mitt.
If the bolts are corroded or just can't come off, use the mini-hacksaw to cut the basics off being careful not to cut the toilet body.
Once the nuts are out, agree the toilet bowl with both easily and rock it a little to completely intermission the wax seal. Lift information technology off and place information technology on its side on the newspapers.
To prevent sewer gases from coming upwardly to the bath, plug off the drainpipe with the rag/towel.
Remove the old wax ring and throw information technology abroad. Wax rings cannot be reused.
Scrape off old wax sticking on the toilet flange and the toilet outlet with a putty knife.
Inspect the status of the toilet flange. If it is worn out or cleaved it will demand to be replaced. Replacing a toilet flange especially now with the toilet off is an easy task.

Footstep 3: Install New Wax Band/ Gasket Seal

To make the wax ring slide easily into the toilet outlet, a unproblematic trick y'all should apply is to go out information technology exterior in the sun for a while or dip in in warm water for a few minutes.
If y'all had cut off the old bolts put news ones in identify.
Slide the wax into the toilet outlet gently existence carefully not to deform information technology.
If yous make up one's mind to apply the rubber gasket seal, install information technology on pinnacle of the flange. Information technology has holes that go through the bolts to hold it in identify.

Step iv: Install the Toilet

Remove the rag/towel from the drainpipe.
Lift the toilet above the toilet flange and lower it gently to align the bolts to the two holes on the toilet. If you can have someone to assist y'all with the alignment, then phone call them in to assistance.
Once the toilet has sat on the flange, concord it by the basin with both easily, rock information technology and push button information technology downward gently to fully engage the wax seal.
Put a washer and a nut on each commodities and tighten with the wrench.
It is important to tighten the bolts alternatingly to keep the toilet level. Do not nevertheless tighten the bolts likewise much as this can crack the toilet basin.
If the bolts are too high above the nut, cut them off with a hacksaw.
Install the plastic caps on the basics. The caps are only for artful purposes.

Step v: Reconnect Toilet Water Supply.

Connect the h2o supply line back to the toilet tank.
Open the water shut off valve and let water fill the tank.
Flush the tank several times and look for any leaks at the base of operations of the toilet.
Put the toilet tank lid back on.

If your toilet leaks when flushed and the wax ring was the problem, this repair should fix it. Information technology is always brash that you prepare it in good time to foreclose the subfloor from rotting especially if it is wooden.

A toilet that leaks from the base when flushed tin can also bring foul aroma. This is because urine or a mixture of urine and feces maybe leaking into your bath flooring or in the subfloor.

To caulk or not to caulk the base of operations of the toilet comes downward to personal preference. If you decide to caulk effectually your toilet, leave a small opening at the dorsum of the toilet. This way, if your toilet leaks, you will be able to notice the water on the floor.

2. How to Fix a Toilet that Leaks Betwixt the Toilet Tank and Bowl When Flushed

When your toilet leaks when flushed between the toilet tank and the bowl, the culprit there is the toilet tank to basin gasket which is also known as a spud washer. If you lot have a wobbly toilet tank, it likewise means that this gasket is not sealing properly and hence the h2o will leak when the toilet is flushed. The gasket could besides be worn out

To set a toilet that leaks when flushed betwixt the tank and the bowl, you will need to replace the toilet tank to basin gasket. A new toilet tank to bowl gasket comes with toilet tank bolts, metallic and rubber washers.

In order for y'all to supervene upon the toilet tank to bowl gasket therefore, you will first demand to remove the toilet tank.

How to Supervene upon the Toilet Tank to Bowl Gasket.

Equally mentioned, to replace the toilet to bowl gasket you would need to offset remove the toilet tank. Loose toilet bolts can exist easily tightened using a wrench just corroded ones should exist replaced.

Stride 1: Bleed the Toilet Tank

To disconnect water to the toilet, turn off the shut off valve. This valve volition be located on the rear wall of the toilet at the left-hand side.
Turn the valve clockwise. If you have a push/pull valve pull it outwards.

Step 2: Empty the Toilet Tank

Affluent the toilet tank and concur down the flush handle to flush out as much water as possible.
Apply the sponge to mop out any remaining water in the tank and squeeze into the bucket

Step iii: Remove the toilet tank

When yous look inside the toilet tank, you will come across the toilet tank bolts heads. They are tightened from underneath the toilet bowl with nuts.
Using a wrench, loosen and remove the nuts and washers from underneath the toilet bowl.
At this point, the tank is costless and you will only demand to elevator it off and place it top of an old towel or rag.
The toilet tank to bowl gasket is plant on the outer part of the affluent valve roofing the entire flush valve nut. Simply slide it out.
Push and remove the ii bolts from the within of the tank.

Step 4: Supplant the Tank to Bowl Gasket

Slide the new gasket where the sometime gasket was and ensure information technology covers the entire flush valve nut.
Slide a metal launder into each bolt followed by rubber washers. Feed the bolts and washers into the bolt holes from the inside of the tank.

It is important to make sure that the washers which comes into contact with the torso of the toilet are made of prophylactic. This volition foreclose the tank from swell if you tighten it too much and besides preclude the tank from leaking from the tank bolts.

Footstep v: Install the Toilet Tank

Lift the tank and guide the bolts through the holes on the toilet basin. Make certain it is sitting pretty on the bowl.
Put in a rubber washer, then a metallic one followed by a nut into each bolt. Use the wrench to tighten them alternatingly.
Make certain the toilet flapper and the make full valve did not shift during this repair. If the did put the back in place.

Step 6: Reconnect the Toilet Water Supply

Connect the water supply line back to the toilet tank. Do non employ a wrench to tighten it.
Open the shut off valve and let water fill the tank.
Flush the toilet a couple of time and cheque for leaks between the tank and the basin.

If a toilet leaks when flushed and the problem is the toilet tank to bowl gasket, this repair should gear up it.

When you are satisfied that the toilet is not leaking anymore, put the toilet lid back on and make clean your work area.

Decision

A toilet that leaks when flushed can be fixed hands at a depression cost if you decide to practise information technology yourself. If you lot however tried to fix it unsuccessfully, you lot can e'er call in a professional person plumber.