Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Leaky Toilet

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the_dude
05-25-06, 06:05 PM
So my renters called me and said their toilet is leaking 'urine'. I went over to test it, and used blue food dye. I let it sit for 30 minutes, and sure enough, from around the base of the toilet seeped blue water (I didn't flush it). Now, my question is, is this just a wax gasket leak, or is something more sinister going on?

thx


krankyoleman
05-25-06, 06:55 PM
Check the back of the toilet. Probably leaking from the tank.

the_dude
05-26-06, 05:18 AM
well thinking about how a toilet works I don't think it's the tank that is leaking. Plus, I put the blue dye in the bowl, not the tank, and it seeps out from the base on the floor...


krankyoleman
05-26-06, 05:36 AM
Thin it sounds like the bowl has a leak.

the_dude
05-26-06, 05:48 AM
but it is a crack in the bowl or would it just be the wax gasket leaking?

594tough
05-26-06, 07:59 AM
In the static condition.....between flushes......no water at all is present at the wax ring. Given your description, there is a crack somewhere in the throat of the toilet. It happens. It also seems that within a short time, the level of water in the bowl should drop, if not disappear completely. Does this happen?

the_dude
05-26-06, 08:19 AM
no noticible water level change in the bowl. My understanding of cracks was that cold temperatures would do this - but we haven't had any of that. I'm stumped. Should I attempt to change the wax ring and see if there is any difference?

notuboo
05-26-06, 03:56 PM
pull the toilet and put in a new wax ring.

Blue dye in the bowl, water just setting there. If you have any type of leak around the flapper or siphoning from the tank, you will be pushing water the drain.
Usually, you would dye test the tank first for leaks.

Have fun pulling the toilet, be careful not to move the tank around more than needed because you can create a leak very easy. When your all done, don't eat any fried chicken, ribs, or any finger food for a couple of days.

chandler
05-26-06, 05:30 PM
Aww, just use nitrile gloves to handle the yuck. Just take them off before you handle the fried chicken!