How to repair a leaking toilet
Locating the toilet leak
If there is water on the bathroom floor, the toilet leak is due to a defect in the bowl. If, on the other hand, the toilet flows continuously, it is possible that there is a leak in the tank. Lift the lid of the leaking toilet tank and put a few drops of food colouring in the water. Do not flush the toilet. You will see coloured water leaking into the bowl, which will confirm your suspicions that the leaking toilet is due to a problem in the tank.
A leaky toilet
It is extremely rare that the porcelain toilet bowl has cracked. If this is the case, it will be necessary to replace the entire leaky toilet bowl. However, it is more likely that the seal that joins the base of the bowl to the flush throat is defective. In this case, it is possible to repair the leaking toilet bowl by interrupting the water supply and cleaning the surfaces to be joined. Simply replace the sealant and wait for it to set before restoring the water supply.
Toilet leakage from the tank
If the toilet leakage is caused by a problem with the tank, the lid must be lifted and the component adjustments 'fine-tuned'. Observe a complete flush and check that none of the mechanisms stick.
If this does not solve the problem, the fault must be in the fill valve or the drain valve. To determine which it is, you will have to do a little more detective work:
Shut off the water supply to the leaking toilet. Then mark the water level inside the tank.
Leave it for about half an hour and return to observe whether it has risen or fallen.
If the water level has dropped, the flush valve is broken. These valves are often made of rubber and are prone to deterioration due to the use of bleach and other tank cleaning chemicals.
If the water level has not dropped, but the toilet still leaks, the problem is the fill valve.
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