Many people complain that water leaks from the area between the tank and bowl and makes their bathroom floor flooded. Moreover, the water also drips from the tank into the bowl because of faulty components and poor sealing.
Why is My Toilet Leaking Between Tank And Bowl? The toilet leaks between the tank and bowl because of damaged gaskets, broken washers, cracked water tanks, and malfunctioning flapper seals. In addition, it is due to an incorrect connection between the tank and bowl and their loose bolts.
Fix the leaky toilets as soon as possible because it can also cause degradation of floors when you ignore them for longer. In addition, it can make the surroundings slippery because of mold growth and increase fall accidents.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Damaged gaskets | Change rubber gaskets |
| Broken washers | Replace washers |
| Cracked water tank | Use epoxy for small cracks or replacement |
| Malfunctioned flapper seal | Clean flapper seals |
| Incorrect connection between tank and bowl | Hire an expert and avoid backward leaning |
| Loose bolts | Tighten tank bolts |
Damaged gaskets
The gaskets create a tight seal on the bottom side of the toilet tank to prevent the water from seeping from the lower surfaces.
The gaskets are made of rubber material that is less durable and less resistant to changes in environmental conditions. These worn-out, cracked, and damaged gaskets cannot seal properly and cause water leakage.
The seeping water cannot enter the drain lines, but it comes on your floor and messes up the interior. In addition, it can also damage the subfloors if you leave them untreated for longer and ignore the problem.
The moisture seeps into the subfloor, which is made of different materials and causes degradation. The rubber gaskets can get damaged when the water supplied to your home is chlorine rich.
Moreover, the issue comes when you use petroleum jelly to coat the rubber washers instead of the plumber’s grease.
The ingredients in petroleum jelly react with the rubber material, reducing their durability and triggering plasticizers’ cracking and drying.
Replace the washer seals and turn off the water supply to resolve the problem. Located the two metal screws on the lower side of the tank, and you can see the melted rubber on their bottom side.
Remove the rubber part and purchase new gaskets of the same size and material from the hardware stores.
Broken washers
The washers are made of rubber and metal material, present on the bottom side of the two large bolts for their proper sealing.
The washers can also break and cannot allow the proper connection between the tanka and bowl of the toilets. The washer rust increases the risk of breaking and incorrect sealing.
These washers are also made of fiber material, and overtightening of nuts squeezes them and causes their displacement from the original side.
These cannot make the leakproof seal when you displace them from their original site. In addition, the rubber washer can get damaged due to age-related changes.
The risk of cracking in rubber material increases when these become old because of the evaporation of plasticizers that contributes to their flexibility.
Locate the screws on the lower side of the tank and cut them using the hacksaw blade to remove the old washer seals. Add the new screws, secure them with washer seals, and tighten the whole assembly with nuts.
Cracked water tank
The toilet tanks are made of various materials, including porcelain, cement, and high-strength plastic. These materials can develop cracks, leading to leakages because it holds a large volume of water for bowl flushing.
The hairline cracks can also cause water to come on the floor. The creaking on the lower side comes from the hard water, which can decrease the material’s durability.
Moreover, incorrect handling during repairs and installation can also cause this issue. For example, you can see cracking on the bottom surface when something heavy falls on their lids.
Many people sit on the toilet seats hard and exert pressure on the tank. You can use epoxy resins and plumbing cement if these creaks are less deep, smaller, and hairline.
Replacement is necessary when large and deeper because water cannot stay inside these containers.
Malfunctioned flapper seal
The flapper seal, also known as the flush valve, sits on the lower side of the water tanks and controls the water movement into the bowl. It closes when water completely drains into the lower side after flushing.
The flapper seals can malfunction when chains are broken, misaligned, and corroded. The malfunctioned chains cannot flip the flapper seals up and down.
The poor sealing allows continuous water dripping even when you do not flush the toilets. These components’ problems come from fungal and bacterial growth on their surfaces.
Moreover, the hard water can also cause the deterioration of rubber seals. Many people use tablet cleaners to clean the tanks, and these can affect the silicone and rubber material.
These old flapper seals are at more risk of malfunctioning because of dirt and sludge buildup on their surfaces. Open the water tank lid to inspect its internal components and valves.
You can remove the dirt, sludge, and fungus from their surface by draining the water. The flapper seal replacement is required when these are broken or cracked.
Incorrect connection between toilet tank and bowl
The tanks are connected to the bowl for water flushing and removing poop and smell from the toilets. Therefore, these heavy water-containing containers’ proper placement and connection are necessary.
These start to leak when you do not install them correctly in their proper place. In addition, the wobbly parts are more vulnerable to leakages because of their premature wear and tear.
These become wobbly because of their incorrect installation and poor attachment of their parts. Moreover, the issue comes when people sit on the seats while leaning backward.
These can wobble when you exert pressure on them while sitting on the toilet seats. Hiring a plumbing expert is a better option for installing these fixtures than doing the procedure at home with minimal knowledge.
Avoid leaning backward while sitting on the seats because it exerts a force on these components.
Loose bolts
The two large bolts are present on the lower side of the toilet tanks to fasten them with the bowl surfaces for proper water supply and flushing mechanism.
Many people complain about the wobbly movement of these fixtures, which can lead to flooded floors and water leakages.
In addition, the screws become loose when these fixtures become old, and you do not maintain and inspect them regularly.
These screws are made of metal material that can rust easily because of high moisture in these areas. In addition, rusted nuts and bolts are at more risk of cracking, breaking, and warping.
Inspect the screws on the lower side of the tanks for their replacement. You can use the plumber grease to lubricate them and prevent corrosion from coming on their surface.
Use the wrench to tighten the bolts by sliding the tanks slightly on one side.
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