Our toilet is leaking a little around the base. Is this a huge problem? Something we could diy?
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M$6 Answers
if it is merely the condensation from having cool water in the commode meeting warm summer air, then there is nothing to do but wipe it up during your day.
if it is the wax leaking, what needs to be done is to turn off your water, flush the toilet to let out any water in it, unbolt the bolts holding it to the floor, disconnect the waterline and remove the toilet. scrape off the old wax seal, and replace it with a new one (found at hardware and department stores for about $4), then replace the toilet, bolt the commode down again, connect the waterline and you're done.
it might sound complicated, but really isn't. it's quite a simple thing you can do yourself if you have the ability.
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M$
One word of warning, I noticed a leak around the base of the toilet once, pulled up the toilet and found that the guy who had installed it before I bought the house had used the wrong seal and the toilet had been leaking for years and had rotted through the wood shims he had used. I ended up redoing the floor in the bathroom.
I did it, didn't take off the tank and regretted it. Helper wife almost divorced me.
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M$
I also suggest getting an instruction manual.
My mister did this to our toilet, but had to reseal it twice because the first time the seal was not watertight.
But it is a good "warm-up" project for a new homeowner.
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M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I agree with hillo.
I'll put it this way, which woould you rather do - spend an hour and $5 to replace the wax seal properly or - spend $2 now on putty and in a year discover it's still been leaking and now your toilet is about to fall through the floor (due to rot) so you have to completely renovate and spend over $1,000 to fix the entire floor properly.
I definitly would go for the first choice.
PS my father is a plumber and has stories of what happens when people take shortcuts.
I'd suggest that if it is the wax seal - and you just caulk - around the toilet base, you could be in for flooring damage due to water build up and rot over time (that you won't see - it will be under the toilet base). Check the wax seal. Easy DIY, easy fix. I'm not too handy, but this is one you really can do on your own, may need one extra set of hands to help with moving the toilet if you are a smaller person.
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M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
+1 for replacing the wax seal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxVWgjTAXy0These don't last forever and are very easy to replace.
Here's a video of a toilet being replaced. Other than buying a new toilet, this is the process.
good video.
just for the record, a new toilet is not needed unless there are cracks or other damage. if there is no damage to the commode, the same one can be used.