How do I know where the leak is coming from on the upstairs toilet?

Hul793652
by Hul793652
The toilet is leaking through the downstairs ceiling.
  2 answers
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Nov 10, 2014
    If you can't see it leaking from the tank or water line, it may be from the wax ring under the toilet. The toilet would have to be removed to access it. A good idea to get the extra large wax ring.
  • Wax rings normally do not just go bad, which is most likely your issue. Take your knee and push it against the toilet to see if it rocks. If it does, the toilet will need to be removed and the new wax ring installed. A shop vac is helpful when doing this as its best to suck up all the water out of the tank and bowl after turning the water off and flushing it. The wax ring goes on the toilet, not on the ring on the floor which it what many do. Doing it by putting it on the floor risks it leaking again. If the toilet is solid and you have that leak, check the water connection where it comes out of the wall and where it connects to the toilet. Using a small amount of toilet paper touch each fitting joint and check the paper. Even the slightest sign of moisture can lead to a leak down below without you even realizing its happening. The last place a leak can occur is the bend which is the pipe leading out of the floor to the main drain. If your home is older it may be made out of lead. This was a very common way of installing this drain. What happens is if you snaked the toilet, you can simply push the snake right through what is now a very fragile lead pipe. This happens all the time.