How to Repair a Leaking Toilet

In this video, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains what may be causing a leaky toilet and possible solutions.

1. Steps:
2. To diagnose a leak, check out a few places on the toilet.
3. First check out the water supply line. It’s possible there could be a loose nut or a leak on the supply hose.
4. Next check the line between the tank and the bowl. Bolts may be loose, causing the leak to appear just below the tank.
5. If the leak is most prominent on the floor around the toilet (or on the ceiling below), check the wax ring seal between the toilet and the flange.
6. If the height of the flange is too low, you may have to get a higher wax ring to compensate.
7. Alternatives to the wax ring are a foam seal or a plastic seal.
8. Other options for raising the flange: Adding flange spacers or adding a flange insert.