Toilet leaking from tank to bowl wastes tons of water, driving up your water bills. But why is it leaking? These types of leakage are either for the malfunction of internal parts or a broken tank.
Don’t worry. It isn’t too bad if you have a set of tools and some good working hands.
Installing a new washer and a new sponge gasket is nothing too hard. But that is not where it ends.
So today, if you want to know what appliances can help you to regard it, then have a glance at below. Here you will get every specific term that will help you not to face the toilet leaking problems anymore.
Contents
Why is the toilet leaking?
Your toilet leaking from tank to bowl is the ghost flush phenomenon. It is often an internal cause like a worn-out flapper or flush valve. However, there are lots of reasons for it. Now let us discuss all the possible causes below.
Uneven joints
An uneven toilet joint problem isn’t something new. Most of the time, it is either the pipes or worn-out fittings. This problem is so common that after a few years, you have to readjust everything.
To fix it, you need to find out whether an uneven joint is your problem. You will end up opening everything without getting rid of the problem.
Loosen refilling tube
The refilling tube fills the tank with water every time you flush. But when the tube has a loose end, the tank overflows, which puts pressure on the flappers. And wallah, your toilet keeps leaking water to the bowl automatically.
Flush valve malfunction
The flush valve is just in the center of the tank. For an average American toilet, it is a plastic or a brass fitting attachment, which operates with a rubber flapper.
If you have a flush valve problem, the flapper won’t fall properly into the valve seat. As a result, your toilet will keep on leaking.
Overfilling the tank
Too much of anything nice is always a disaster. If the tanks have too much water content, the flappers or the valve won’t take it easy. The pressure may sometimes overflow, or in this case, ghost-flush your toilet.
To avoid this problem, always lower the water content in the bowl.
Worn out flapper
The flappers have a rubber composition, which can degrade after a period of 2 years. And when it does, the tank water reaches the toilet bowl without warning. Unfortunately, you can’t readjust or fix the flapper. Just replace it.
Overflow pipe crack
In rare cases, the water pile is introduced to too much pressure. And as a result, in the middle of the tank and bowl, the pipe bends and cracks. You can use some putty or sealing wax if you don’t want to go on with the replacing problem.
Broken Tank
A broken tank for a tank to bowl leakage refers to the end tank part. The edges of the tank may break and cause unexpected water flow. If you can’t fix the problem with the putty, you may have to replace the entire tank. Luckily, the putty should do the trick.
Testing toilet tank to bowl leakage
The leaking can occur for a wide range of options. So, finding the real cause is what you have to do first. Try using leak detector tablets or simple food coloring. Follow the steps below for more.
- Fill the tank to its maximum capacity. Don’t flush or open the valve.
- Now put leak detector tablets into the water and water for a few minutes. If you don’t have leaked detector tablets, you can use food coloring instead.
- Wait for 10 mins and check the level of the water. When it decreases, find any pile leaks or gasket malfunction.
- If there are no pipe leaks, your problem is internal. Either flapper, valve, or the flush trigger.
Fixing the toilet leaking from tank to bowl problem
Things you will need:
- Plumbers putty
- A wrench
- A screwdriver
- Duct tape
- New Flapper
- Flash valve
- Food coloring or Leak detection tablet
Once you found the problem, now it is time to fix it. However, depending on where the leak is, your solution will vary.
Solution for external pipe leaks
- First, empty the whole tank.
- Use some putty or sealing wax over the broken pipe area.
- Try wrapping some duct tape over the broken area and let it dry.
- Don’t use a flush until the water dries off.
- And yeah, leave the water tank empty during the recovery process.
Note: If you don’t see any pipe leaks, the problem is internal. Some of you with an experienced hand can operate with ease. However, it is better to have professional help.
For internal problems:
Now it is time for the hard part. Internal problems are often hard to fix, and sometimes the solution is changing the worn-out part. For more, see below.
- Now open the tank lead and clean off all the debris.
- Slowly remove all the screws from their places.
- Remove the flush valve, flapper, and everything else connected to the bowl leakage.
- Adjust the new flapper and the flush valve.
- If your flush lock is damaged, try fixing it or simply replacing it.
- Finally, close everything up, and hopefully, your problems will see an end.
Precaution
Many newbies make the situation worse, trying to open the valve and flappers. You should know, the internal parts are quite delicate. So, check out this Youtube video, if you are new to this, open the tank part.
And finally, don’t rush to the internal problems before diagnosing the core of the problem.
How do I know if my toilet gasket is leaking?
There are a lot of signs that indicate if your toilet gasket is leaking or not. Such as
- The water around the toilet base
- Floor or ceiling damage
- Bad smell and odors from the toilet
- Toilet leaks related to non-wax
- Inevitable deface in toilet gasket
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my toilet leaking from the tank to the bowl?
Most of the time, we can see leakage occurring from the near center of the bowl and tank due to ineffective flush valves. At that time, there will be no way out except purchasing a new washer for your bolts. The best thing will be to use a new sponge gasket for the tank to bowl. If you see your toilet is leaking while flushing it, that means your bowl gasket is malfunctioning.
How do you fix a toilet tank from leaking into the bowl?
Repairing the leaking toilet tanks is an easy task if you change the rubber gaskets immediately. There is a spud washer around the tank bolts which may fail due to minerals and hard water and deteriorate as well. For this reason, you will need some important tools, like- sponge, screwdriver, small wire brush, adjustable wrench, rags, and white vinegar.
Is there a gasket between the toilet bowl and the tank?
Yes, you will find gaskets between bowls and tanks, which need to be repaired whenever it is needed. Usually, they are universal because of the high-quality manufacturing with chlorine-resistant rubber. Also, the fitting conforms up to the mark and does not require any tank to bowl hardware.
How long does a tank-to-bowl gasket last?
The estimated time that a toilet or gasket will last is about 12 years. Most often, the gaskets deteriorate because of the chlorine that is apparent in water. It works like a water heater and holds the capability of toilet maintenance. But to avoid the budges, make sure to change your toilet after every ten years or until it starts leaking.
EndNote
Relieved right? Turns out, most of the time, the problem is internal. But don’t rush opening the tank just yet. Check for any pipe problems first.
Once the problem is found, try fixing it with a gentle hand. Sometimes people damage the flush valve while trying to open it.
So, follow these simple steps, and hopefully, all your problems will end with a product outcome. Thanks for reading. Have a good day.