4 min read
Best Practices for Toilet Leak Detection During Home Renovations
David Schwartz
Oct 28, 2024 1:02:45 AM

Renovating a rental property is an exciting but challenging task for every landlord. While looking forward to enhancing the property value, you must also undertake correct measures for toilet leak detection and solutions.
If you overlook any leakage, it can lead to severe water damage, compromises in the property’s structural integrity, and sky-high utility bills. These can negatively impact your tenant satisfaction and retention rates.
Thus, leakage issues can lead to tenant loss, which can have financial impacts. So, avoid such issues with these toilet leak prevention best practices during home renovations!
1. Monitor water bill and meter
Since any toilet tank slow leak is difficult to detect, study the water bill. Check for unexplained and sudden increases in water consumption.
Further, turn off all water appliances in the property and note the water meter reading. Check it again after an hour. If the reading changes, be alert about potential leaks.
2. Visually inspect the flapper valve of the toilet for leaks
A flapper valve is present at the toilet tank bottom. After flushing the toilet, a chain pulls it. It regulates water flow from the tank into the toilet bowl. If misaligned or worn out, it causes incessant leaks.
Your first step in the toilet leak detection process is to check this component. If the valve is deformed, layered with mineral buildup, or corroded, it’s time to replace it.
Test & Solution: Detect silent flow with food coloring
Often, flapper valve issues lead to a slow leak in the toilet tank, which is difficult to identify. The best way to detect flapper fault is to add a few food coloring drops in the tank water and don’t flush for 30 minutes. If the color seeps into the bowl at some point, immediately replace the flapper.
If you are tired of fixing flapper valves and other toilet leak issues, invest in an automatic shut-off valve. This valve lets water flow into the toilet tank only when there is activity in the washroom. The sensor-powered fixture cuts off water flow to the tank when there is no user. Thus, shutting off the water flow eliminates leakage and water loss!
3. Investigate the fill valve for toilet leak causes
Your next toilet leak detection step is to check the fill valve. A fill valve lets water flow into your toilet tank. A faulty fill valve doesn’t close after the tank fills. It overfills, and the excess water is flushed through the overflow tube into the bowl.
Test & Solution: Monitor for a one-inch gap in the water level
Open the toilet tank and drain it. Watch as the water fills the tank and notice whether the water surface and overflow tube have around a one-inch gap.
If the fill valve gap is less than one inch and the flow doesn’t stop, it is faulty. You must immediately replace the hardware to resolve the issue.
4. Check for toilet leaks around the wax ring
There’s a wax ring between your toilet’s outlet drain pipe and toilet base. It is a ring-shaped watertight seal. Over time, this wax ring may break apart, become loose, crack, or squish, causing leaks.
Test & Solution: Flush
When the wax ring is broken, water leaks on your washroom floor whenever you flush the toilet. In this toilet leak detection step, observe for even a small amount of leakage after flushing. If there’s any, replace the ring soon.
Reports show that the average household loses around 10,000 gallons of water annually from leaks, so don’t ignore it. Further, 10% of homes have leakages, resulting in 90 gallons of water waste every day!
5. Try to detect shut-off valve issues
A shut-off valve is a small water supply line component connecting to the toilet. It’s present near the toilet base and has a knob. It lets you stop the water supply to the toilet during repair.
Solution
During toilet leak detection drills, notice whether it closes properly. Suppose it doesn’t adjust the packing nut tightness. If this doesn’t work, replace it.
6. Evaluate for leaking toilet due to loose bolt
Every flush creates vibrations. Over time, these vibrations cause the bolts connecting the toilet tank and bowl to vibrate and come loose, which may result in sudden leakage into the bowl or floor.
Solution
When you check for toilet leaks, gently tighten the bolts. Remember, these are usually made of porcelain and might break if you’re rough. However, if you notice any corrosion, replace them.
7. Investigate for cracked toilet bowl and tank
With time, the porcelain bowl and plastic tank may crack. Leakage from tank cracks will be noticeable as water accumulates on the floor. However, bowl cracks are pretty fine and difficult to detect. So, take your time to see them from up close.
Solution
Replace the toilet tank and bowl with a modern, water-efficient model. There is no easy fix for this.
8. Plumb the bathroom pipes
This is one of the most significant toilet leak detection steps. Check the water pressure and all plumbing connections. Ensure there’s no excess water pressure, as that stresses fixtures. Make sure plumbing connections are tightly secure and not corroded.
Solution
Install a pressure-reducing valve to regulate high water pressure. Tighten loose connections, secure fixtures, and prevent leaks with the plumber’s tape.
9. Observe every faucet and enhance water conservation
If there is any faucet around the toilet, your next toilet leak detection practice is to check for the following issues.
Drips
If water drips from the faucet (even if it’s slow) when it’s off, it requires quick replacement. For drips from the faucet base and water pooling, tighten the hardware, apply waterproof caulk, or replace the gasket.
Rust/corrosion
Check for and replace corroded components. Apply waterproof sealant on the new ones to prevent further rusting.
Water flow
Turn on the faucet and check for weak, sputtering, or inconsistent flow. These indicate blockages and need deep cleaning. Unscrew the aerator and clean or replace it. If it’s due to faulty valves, replace them.
Conclusion
Toilet leaks are a common and stubborn concern. So, when you renovate your home, pay special attention to the toilet systems. Follow the best practices mentioned to ensure lasting and functional toilets for your property.
If you’re looking for more rental property-friendly essential water fixtures, check out our range of products at TheWaterScrooge now!