Leaky Toilet

cs90

Hi all.

Wondering if anyone can shed some light. We have a downstairs toilet that is years old. A few days ago I went in and noticed a line of water down the grout of the tiles coming from what looks like beneath the toilet.

We cleared up the water and stopped using the toilet for a couple of days to see if it was flushing causing the problem or not. Turns out it's leaking all the time even without flushing. It's never a big puddle (yet!) just literally some water filling a line of grout all the way down to the shower. Sometimes less.

I've had a look online about the possible replacement of the rubber seal/do-nut. Does anyone think this could be the problem? It's just strange how all of a sudden it's happened.

We don't really want to spend money on someone coming to have a look. We moved in to this place about 6 months ago and have plans of ripping all of that downstairs loo out. Just saving up big time for that to happen as by doing that it creates more problems.

It's a very old little downstairs toilet, probably at least 25 years. I dread to think what I'll find if I have to replace the seal. The tank is all boxed in behind tiles as well which makes it tricky to even find the water shut off for the toilet.

Any ideas are very welcome

Clive_Woody

We had a similar issue and it was the rubber ring (donut) between the toilet and the cistern that had perished and needed replacing. We used an odd-job man who does basic plumbing fix it as I wasn't confident to dismantle the toilet and replace it. (I am sure there is probably a YouTube video somewhere that shows how to do this without flooding your house).

Grenage

If it is still leaking without being used, then you can rule out the doughnut washer.

It's most likely a leaking inlet, or a very small crack - probably the latter if it's started spontaneously - but perhaps you just haven't noticed until now.

googler

If it's leaking from the doughnut, there should be evidence of water on the outside of the bowl.

I'm unclear on the line of grout - is this between wall tiles or floor tiles?

Le_Kirk

A picture would help us all if you can manage one.

southcoastrgi

It won't be the doughnut washer because you don't have one

cs90

Thank you all for the replies. Just an update...
Before I go any further - apologies for the state of it! We have only been here for 6 months and the guy we bought from was a plumber. This scares the hell out of me! Every problem we have had so far has been water related.

Pulled a couple of tiles from the wall to investigate further. (Along with the gyprock, oops!)

Looks as though the leak is coming from the syphon. The pipe that is going from the bottom of the cistern to the toilet is wet and it looks like it has been wet for a long time.

Anyway, turned off the water for the toilet and have drained it. Probably wont be doing much in the way of replacing the syphon. May try to tighten up that pipe if I can. We are planning on ripping it all out at some point next year so we will have to go upstairs to use the loo!

In reply to Googler - the water was running down the grout line along the floor. It wasn't running down the wall.

Mr.Generous

it has a flush pipe - as said above do-nut is on close coupled toilets. It is probably the seal between the flush pipe and the cistern, drain it down, remove old one, clean it up, new seal, new flush pipe, new internal wc pan connector and it will be sorted. Parts aren't expensive, can be tricky if boxed in badly though.

phil24_7

Could it have been condensation? The temps have been dropping and with the cold water coming into the toilet you can get a substantial amount of condensation on the cistern.

Elfbert

cs90 wrote: »

Anyway, turned off the water for the toilet and have drained it.

If you're not intending to fix it/use it at all, remember to pour a bit of water down there now and then so the u-bend doesn't run dry, or you'll get sewer-smell in your house! :lipsrseal