Toilet Leaks Between the Tank & Bowl

A leak between the tank and bowl of a toilet should not be ignored. There are consequences you will later deal with, whether or not the water is leaking onto the bathroom floor.

Places That Leak

• The tank may simply be cracked, which will leak water from the tank to the floor. Water also may leak to the floor from a spot between the tank and bowl, especially after the toilet is flushed. Another place for a tank-to-bowl leak is through the flush valve, which will leak water into the toilet bowl.

Prevention/Solution

• Tightening the tank-to-bowl bolts with a screwdriver inside the tank, while holding the nuts underneath with an adjustable wrench, may remedy the leak. If not, drain and remove the tank. Replace the tank-to-bowl bolts, washers and nuts. A leak through the flush valve often is fixed by adjusting the lift chain, replacing the flapper, or cleaning debris from the flapper seat.

Considerations

• Allowing a tank-to-bowl leak to continue may result in flooring damage around the toilet, leading to repair expenses. A leak from the tank that travels into the bowl will cause the fill valve to keep replacing this lost tank water, unnecessarily elevating your water bill. In the meantime, you also will be faced with the annoying sound of the constantly running fill valve.