How to fix a slow leak in a toilet bowl

 

Your pets may be drinking from the toilet. To make sure that's not the problem, keep the lid closed for a few days and watch the water level.

If all else fails, close and remove the toilet to find a stubborn clog in the back of the trap.

If the water level in the toilet bowl drops when you're not using the toilet, it's easy to suspect a leak. A disposable diaper, tampon or rag could be partially blocking the internal trap and creating a siphon that is draining the bowl. It is also possible that a vacuum in the sewer line, caused by clogged vents, is drawing water from the toilet. Either of these possibilities is preferable to an actual leak, as it means the bowl is cracked and needs to be replaced.

Step 1

Listen for gurgling sounds coming from the toilet when you empty the bathtub or flush another toilet. These are sounds of air being sucked through the toilet to fill the vacuum in the drain. These sounds occur when the vents are blocked. It is also likely that the vacuum is sucking water out of the bowl.

If the vent has a cover, remove it with a screwdriver. Use a garden hose to spray water into the opening. If the water does not clear the obstruction, it may overflow from the vent.

Step 2

Insert a 6 meter drill bit into the vent hole when the water overflows. Crank it if you encounter resistance. Once you clear the obstruction, the water should flow again. Spray more water, making sure it does not overflow, to check that the vents are clear.

If there is no venting problem but the bowl is slowly losing water, clean the neck of the bowl. Put on rubber gloves that cover your forearm and reach into the neck of the toilet bowl. Pull out any debris you find.

Step 3

Immerse the toilet if you cannot find any debris. There may be a clog out of reach at the back of the trap. If plunging doesn't work, use a toilet drill to remove the clog in the bowl.

Look for signs of water at the bottom of the bowl if you cannot find another cause for the leak. Look for signs of a water-damaged subfloor, such as sponginess, mold, and a wobbly toilet. These signs indicate that the bowl is cracked. Replace the toilet bowl, as you cannot repair a cracked toilet bowl.

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