Toilet Leaking From Base

Is your Toilet Leaking from its base? I removed the plastic bolts caps covering the flange bolts flushed the bowl and to my surprise, water came up and out of the right flange bolt hole.
A first for me and needless to say I had to pull the bowl to see exactly what was going on. Toilet Leaking From Base? Check out this short video to see what the previous installer did to keep this bowl in place. You can't make this stuff up! Enjoy.
Happy Plumbing,
Bob
Fluidmaster 7513 Extra Thick Wax Toilet Bowl Gasket with Flange,
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[@armandomadrigal9793]

I like doubling up on the wax rings, i do not like the horn, but im with you on the caulking, hell!! i even put it on my morning coffee when im out of cream. Thank u for your knowledge

[@walterbordett2023]

I remember a product called Bowl Setting Compound that was an alternative to Plaster of Paris to go around the bottom rim of the bowl. I think a little plaster or an adhesive caulk is more secure and better support than toilet shims or pennies. It certainly looks better than an uneven space and is more sanitary. I have seen instructions that say if you do plaster or caulk a bowl to the floor, if you leave a gap at the rear of the bowl, a leak will make itself known above the floor. You can make a good case for either caulking or not caulking. Thanks for the clear and instructive videos and I look forward to more.

[@williamdyckman9704]

Bob, it looked like the flange bolts were well secured.i can see how the extra thick wax was a help with that flange.

[@richardgarcia6108]

Excellent job! Having done plenty of toilets, a customer’s budget will often dictate what we can or can not do. This is true even though as professionals we want to devolved the best possible service. So sometimes we have compromise our efforts. That’s just the way it is in the “real world”. Keep up the great work. Oh by the way, I always caulk. It has a bonus of keeping roaches and other insects from making nests.

[@brooklynaudit]

Bob way to go bud. That’s the same thing I just did a few days ago. You should reach out to me , I’m doing alot of service myself all over Brooklyn & Staten Island. Doing this over 24 years making me 40 years young. I do it all with sewer cleaning as well

[@michaellyne8773]

Thanks for your fab tutorial, It was very interesting indeed, and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank you! Same to you and your family!

[@Perkeletricksterservantofrher]

EXCELLENT ! finish.

[@MrAcacio]

Hi Bob, very nice. About the caulk, I have ideia, leave open only on the back a Little bit at the center and caulk the rest around. Thank you Bob.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

The secret is out 😂 LOL ! I do.

[@Fireship1]

I like to calk them in for looks too. Leave the back of the bowl un calked. If there is a leak, the water will come out the back and alert the homeowner.

[@realestateservicessaleshea99]

I was told to caulk for hygiene,mopping ka-ka under the toilet becoming super germs ,and funk. Thanks again for the videos. 🥃🥃🍺🍺🍺🎯🏌🏻‍♀️ Stay safe. Retired (werk'n)keyboard super tech. Wear your safety glasses!

[@AwesomestGreatestMostestFunny]

I was installing a new toilet and it leaked under the base, so I went and got a double wax ring, still leaks, got a rubber ring still leaked. Finally I put the toilet on 2 paint cans and poured a bucked of water thru it, turns out the leak was in the mold. The spot where they poured the mold it didn't seal all the way. Got a new toilet, no leak.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

That happened to me more than once and it drove me up a wall. Repeatedly setting and resetting the bowl, finally did what you did and wanted throw the bowl out the 2nd floor window .

[@briandjordjevic9969]

Nice work as always Bob!! I also caulk the toilet but I leave the back open.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

I do as well👍

[@tannerwest6823]

I would hope everyone that caulks a toilet does this. Gotta leave somewhere for the water to run out WHEN there's a backup

[@nelsonechevarria7009]

Great video Mr.Sessa,that flange reminds me of the garbage work that was done by who ever did the plumbing and other work in this house before we bought the house,UGGGHHHH!!!!It never ceases to amaze me how careless (careless and stupid would be better words to descibe them.) so-called contractors/so-called plumbers always are and fail to pay proper attention to detail and needlessly do crap work (no pun intended,well maybe just a little.).When that flange was first installed the so-called contractor/so-called plumber should have set the flange in place before attaching the flange and checked to insure that the johnny bolts were properly centered.It's not rocket science yet time and time again we see these so-called contractors/so-called plumbers ruin jobs by failing to pay close and proper attention to detail,OY VEY!!!Thank you again for showing what happens when people fail to take pride in what they and as a result cause problems for the next person (such as you,a licensed plumber who really knows his business) that comes along and has to do repairs.May God always bless you and your family Mr.Sessa,it's always good to see you.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank you Nelson!

[@vaughn257]

Nice job.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thanks for the visit

[@richardlewis4288]

Great video as always! Thank you!

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank you!

[@JohannnesBrahms]

What about toilet flange extenders? Steve Lav has an old video "Toilet flange repair, tips and tricks." Seems like that could have been useful in this case.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Not sure but that may have worked if the original flange was in the correct position. It was just installed in the wrong position.

[@tannerwest6823]

Only use extenders if you want sewer odor. Those things leak sewer gas so easily. I go to people's houses all the time complaining about a strong sewer odor and when I pull the toilet almost 100 percent of the time, it's because of one of those extenders.

[@tonym6920]

I’m not a plumber Bob, but I agree that caulking gives it a neat and clean finish. I recently had to have a toilet replaced which had developed fine cracks inside the bowl. This toilet was in the second bathroom and very lightly used. It was however 16 years old! Just curious Bob, what causes these cracks to develop? Nice job! 👍👍

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

I would have to say these may have started in the manufacturing process and took their time show up.

[@benjamingoldschmidt8820]

Hey Bob, I've got a question for you that I don't think is addressed in your other videos (though I could be wrong so please direct me if I missed it). I think the pressure regulator on my house main line is malfunctioning. The reason I think that is I bought a water pressure test gauge and when I tried testing it to see what the house water pressure was the pressure keeps climbing if I leave it on over time (over the course of say minutes to hours). I thought maybe this was an effect from the water heater but then I turned the water heater off and waited a few hours and it still has the same effect. The issue is that it keeps climbing well beyond 80 psi but then when I turn the water on anywhere in the house the pressure falls to 20 psi or less. The issue is that over time the pressure will raise above 80 psi (that's the highest it can be set as I understand for residential not accounting for the water heater effects) and I suspect that is why some of my other plumbing is leaking (I currently have a pipe that is leaking going into the basement). Is that a common problem/is there a way I can verify that the pressure regulator is indeed bad and needs replacement? For reference, it does seem like when I turn the water on anywhere in the house I get a "burst" of pressure and then the water goes into more of a trickle as the water is on for longer (indicating the loss of pressure even though the initial pressure is high).

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thanks for the question, my experience with incoming water pressure regulators is little because here in N.Y.C. our water pressure are pretty stable. Anywhere from 50 to 80 p.s.i., the only place I use them is on hydronic heating systems. From your description it's sound like you have a bad regulator and depending the make, manufacturer and age, it may be able to be re-built. But if it's a basic 3/4" - 1" valve, it's probably most cost effective to replace it. I found this video, hope this helps you - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqSVeIurp56Zhq8

[@Vgallo]

In Australia caulking is mandatory

[@nicolereadstarot]

We have leaking from the bottom of our toilet (the grout around the toilet is always darkwr and damp). A big bubble also comes up every time qe flush and in the basement it sounds like a toilet is constantly flushing. The toilet doesn't sound like its running upstairs so not sure why its flusbing in the basement. Help no idea what to do

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

First put some food coloring in the toilet tank and see if the water in the bowl starts to turn colors. This indicates a leak even though you can not hear it. Secondly, the bowl has to be removed to check the seal, no water or bubbles should be seen when the bowl is flushed.

[@MaMa-qh4dy]

The flange should rest ON TOP of the finished floor and NOT even with the floor.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

"in your opinion"

[@tannerwest6823]

It probably was on top at one point in time but they may have added floors over years building it up some causing the flange to now sit level with the floor

[@Jewel087]

So wanting input on an issue. Living in an apartment situation, where a toilet started trickling a leak from under the base of the toilet, when flushed. If you flushed twice in a row, you would see more. Not a big puddle. Thinking that the wax ring needs looking at. The toilet doesn't wiggle or rock. Maintenance comes, and just says he's going to caulk around the base. That the leak isn't that bad, since there is not a puddle. Also mentioned it should be caulked because of possible sewer gas issues. I said what happens if it keeps leaking, now that the toilet is sealed with caulking. He said the caulking would start to bubble out, and if it did, they would look at the ring. I said I am worried about the neighbors below. Nope, just caulked and left. Am I concerned over nothing? Or is this just wrong? Thank you, if you are able to put your thoughts into this one, for me.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

You should not see any water leaking from the base of the toilet, if it were me I would recommend pulling the bowl to see what's going on. Or you might get a knock on your door from your neighbor below?

[@Jewel087]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos Thank you. I appreciate your quick response!

[@frankmontez6853]

So what’s the difference between a thick one with that runbber lip vs thinner one without one ? I’ve one leaking with wood floor. One of flange bolts rusted through and came loose. What kind of damage I might need to deal with ?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

The plastic horn directs the water down and out as opposed the the plain generic wax. All things being equal if the floor is plumb and the flange sits level in all directions, I always use a plain wax gasket . No plastic horn.

[@frankmontez6853]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos by you saying flange sits level you mean it needs to be exact same level as top of floor or a bit lower than top of floor ?

[@frankmontez6853]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos now have even larger problem my drain(s) are clogged . Noticed toilet ones right next to it was clogged I've tried plunger but it's bigger problem looks like since crap coming up in that next room's shower drain . I know you don't know how my lines are running this way or that but what can you tell me ? Seems next step is aguer / snake it but not sure where to enter . Have one cleanout I might use burt it's way in the backyard ..

[@micheleemcdaniel389]

What is 'Toilet Wedge'?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Plastic toilet shims available at the big box stores.

[@Vgallo]

lol as a coulker myself - that ain’t a nice neat bead 😂 Also you shouldn’t use clear, you should be using white or the grout colour on the floors

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

I used white!

[@NettersTX1]

How much does a job like that cost?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

You'll get varying prices anywhere from $300 / $500 and beyond. Depends on what market you;re in. N.Y. is up there!

[@epichandyman209]

Show the work, so we can see the battle lol

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

?

[@nativeamerican1167]

I went thru all the hoops , replaced the wax ring , cleaned up the base under the toilet, tighten everything down nice an neat , test flushed and it still leaked at the base bubbling thru the base on the floor, now what??

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Then look under the toilet closely, I've had a couple of occasions where the toilet had a hairline crack in it leaking water underneath.

[@SomeIsBest]

Same story here. Smelled the urine. Replaced the wax ring with an extra thick. Just noticed it's still leaking. Onward!

[@MikeZimmermanOfficial]

You didn't even show what to do...

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

You didn't pay attention!

[@pbgf0411]

Caulking around toilets is like caulking around a tub kit. It doesn't give any benefit.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

In your opinion!