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Toilet Tank Leak

Over the years, I have seen a number of causes for a toilet tank leak. Some are easy to diagnose and others take a little work to find the real cause for the leak. Before you can even begin to look at repair or replacement costs, you need to know where the problem is and what's causing it. We are going to help you both find the problem and repair it in the following information.

As I mentioned above, diagnosis is the first step for just about any plumbing problem. Water can be tricky at times in the way that it flows from one area to another. You might have a small puddle on the right side of your toilet but the leak itself is actually on the left side of the tank, yet somehow the only signs of water are found on the opposite side. That is why the diagnosis process is so important.

There are a number potential problems with a toilet tank leak and we will cover the big ones now. To start:

Crack in the Tank

A toilet tank is made of porcelain and porcelain can crack, in fact it can crack pretty easily. Cracks may form if someone set down on the toilet and bumped the tank to hard, it could crack from setting on the tank lid too hard or a number of other reasons. Cracks are usually pretty easy to identify by a darker colored line on the tank.

You can find some "quick fixes" for a cracked tank in the hardware stores. Its an epoxy type product that it used as a patch or repair on the porcelain. I have heard some people talk about how well these products work, however in my experience I have had little luck with them and find it better to just replace the tank itself. You can follow along with our guide on how to install a toilet for steps to remove and reinstall your toilet tank.

Tank is Loose

Over time the toilet tank can become loose and begin to leak from the underside where it connects to the toilet bowl. If you reach your hands up under the back side of the toilet you should feel the bottom of the bolts and feel around on both sides for any sign of water. If they are leaking its usually a quick fix by simply tightening the two bolts snugly.

To get started, lift the tank lid off the toilet and set it somewhere that it will not be broken. Next, use a flat head screwdriver and a wrench to securely fasten the two bolts found in the bottom of the tank. Do not over tighten as it may cause the tank to crack, however, the tank should not wiggle around when it is done.

Internal Tank Problems - Over Filling and Water Spraying

There are several potential problems within the tank itself that could be causing leaks. Over filling is the most common, often as a result of a bad tank float. The tank float moves up and down with the water level determining when to allow water in and when to stop it. These can stop working due to age and or foreign material such as dirt or sand that has prevented it from moving freely.

Most tanks have a fill line in them, if you open the tank lid and find that the water level is extremely high you may begin to look into the tank float. These can be purchased very inexpensively and are an easy fix.

Another potential problem hat may be causing leaks within the tank is the fill tube. If you look inside the tank and see a a small plastic tube it should be connected to the larger pipe in the center of the tank. When the water comes on, this tube sprays water down the pipe filling the bowl, however sometimes they can pop off if the water pressure is to great. When they pop off, water has a tendency to spray everywhere, often hitting the underside of the lid and running down the outside of the tank.

You may need to flush the toilet with the tank lid off to see if water is spraying upwards. If it is, this is usually just a matter of reconnecting the tube to the pipe with a small clip. If the existing clip is broken or missing, you can buy a replacement one at your local hardware store.

Tank Sweating and Condensation

Tank sweating is another common reason for tank leaks. It is actually not a leak at all, but rather condensation forming on the outside of the tank. This often happens in homes that use well water, because its is usually much colder and in older toilets. There are some products you can purchase at your local home improvement center that are placed in the tank and help with sweating. You may also consider using a decorative tank cover to help keep the internal temperature of the water up a little, hopefully avoiding any condensation issues.

The above information covers many of the common toilet tank leak issues that you may run into. If you are still having difficulty diagnosing or repairing your tank leak, please feel free to send us an email.

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