Leaking commode - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cicero · 08-23-2005, 07:30 PM

My commode is leaking! Allow me to explain in detail what I’ve been working with. My home is about 50 years old. Mind you the commode is only about 12 years old, and internally it appears sound, no tank leaks, no cracks or leaks in the bowl or trap either. Now, the waste line for the commode is just off the main stack, it has been snaked, I’ve ran water straight into it, it drains like a charm, no back up. Ceramic tiles were put down in the bathroom, and no other sub flooring was put down, the tiles were set directly over the floor. Now there’s currently a cast iron closet flange set slightly recessed below the ceramic tiles by a millimeter or two. But there’s a ton of grout and mud that is very uneven all around the flange. Originally just a wax seal with a polyurethane gasket was put down and the commode over it. But this leak, which comes and goes over the years has come back again.

Since then I’ve taken off the commode, and I removed all the wax. I added a second cast iron cosset flange on top of the old one and smeared on a smaller wax ring trying to seal all around the flange. Then I put on a second over sized wax ring with the gasket pointing down. I set down the commode, pressing it down with my body weight to make a seal, I tightened the commode down, and the damn thing STILL leaks. Short of blowing the whole damn house up, I’m ready to give up and let the damn thing leak until the whole sub floor gives (not for a couple years at least, it actually seems quite sturdy) and I’ll just rebuild from scratch.

What am I to do? I’m afraid I have to start ripping up the ceramic tiles; I’m concerned the uneven tiles, and the messy job between the tiles and flange is why I have such a persistent leak. Does anyone have any ideas what I should do?

shakran · 08-23-2005, 08:05 PM

sounds like you have one hell of a mess on your hands. No pun intended.

Yeah, uneven floors can cause issues with leakage on toilets. You need to level that floor out somehow under there. Then, reinstall the plumbing as it's supposed to be - no double flanges with multiple wax rings. The more junk you put under there the more potential leak points you develop.

And if all that doesn't work, it's time for a new toilet.

DDDDave · 08-24-2005, 03:31 PM

I would try one more time.

Take he toilet off. Clean everything up (again

). Put a new poly reinforced wax ring on. Put a straw over each closet bolt. Now with help, very carefully lower the toilet. Put the straws through the holes in the toilet to get the alignment just right. Maybe even a torpedo level across the bowl edge. Now, don't force it down very hard at all. 20 pounds maybe. A slight wiggle, but not with much downward force. Do not force it down by using all your body weight. It just smashes the wax ring. Now, shim the toilet up with wood shims for now. Put the nuts on the closet bolts but don't tighten them down. Then, grout under the toilet. Remove the shims after the grout dries and fill in those spots later with more grout. It sounds like how they did it originally. Basically, you use the grout to 'level' the floor'. The grout, once dry, will support the weight of the toilet. Tighten the closet bolts. (Not too tight). Keep your fingers crossed

.

Good luck. Let us know.

Cicero · 08-25-2005, 04:17 AM

Yeah, two flanges and two wax rings probably is too many parts, which conversely allows for too many places for a potential leak. But amazingly the leak has stopped. But I'm concerned thats probably not going to last for very long, frankly I'm 100% certain the leak will come back, the conditions almost predict it. I have to admit, it sounds like a great idea to add the grout under the commode once I set it level, but I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to clean away all the grout later on if I ever have to change the wax ring again. OMG straws! It is such a PAIN IN THE ASS trying to drop the commode just right. I kept thinking, I screwed up the wax and smooshed it wrong when I set down the commode missaligned.

We'll see how long this dry spell lasts, and I'll decide my next method of aproach once the leak returns. For now I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and thanks for all the suggestions, definitly words of wisdom for the next time.

Demeter · 08-27-2005, 10:53 AM

Lol, a bit of a thread hijack,
but I recall my BF telling me a story about how his apartment toilet had been leaking on & off for a few weeks, and he was going to change the seal. A few days later, his roommate left on vacation, and the leaky toilet rectified itself. Roommate returns, leak returns. After that said roommate was forced to go peepee sitting down.

08-23-2005, 07:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cicero Tilted	Leaking commode My commode is leaking! Allow me to explain in detail what I’ve been working with. My home is about 50 years old. Mind you the commode is only about 12 years old, and internally it appears sound, no tank leaks, no cracks or leaks in the bowl or trap either. Now, the waste line for the commode is just off the main stack, it has been snaked, I’ve ran water straight into it, it drains like a charm, no back up. Ceramic tiles were put down in the bathroom, and no other sub flooring was put down, the tiles were set directly over the floor. Now there’s currently a cast iron closet flange set slightly recessed below the ceramic tiles by a millimeter or two. But there’s a ton of grout and mud that is very uneven all around the flange. Originally just a wax seal with a polyurethane gasket was put down and the commode over it. But this leak, which comes and goes over the years has come back again. Since then I’ve taken off the commode, and I removed all the wax. I added a second cast iron cosset flange on top of the old one and smeared on a smaller wax ring trying to seal all around the flange. Then I put on a second over sized wax ring with the gasket pointing down. I set down the commode, pressing it down with my body weight to make a seal, I tightened the commode down, and the damn thing STILL leaks. Short of blowing the whole damn house up, I’m ready to give up and let the damn thing leak until the whole sub floor gives (not for a couple years at least, it actually seems quite sturdy) and I’ll just rebuild from scratch. What am I to do? I’m afraid I have to start ripping up the ceramic tiles; I’m concerned the uneven tiles, and the messy job between the tiles and flange is why I have such a persistent leak. Does anyone have any ideas what I should do?

08-24-2005, 03:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	I would try one more time. Take he toilet off. Clean everything up (again ). Put a new poly reinforced wax ring on. Put a straw over each closet bolt. Now with help, very carefully lower the toilet. Put the straws through the holes in the toilet to get the alignment just right. Maybe even a torpedo level across the bowl edge. Now, don't force it down very hard at all. 20 pounds maybe. A slight wiggle, but not with much downward force. Do not force it down by using all your body weight. It just smashes the wax ring. Now, shim the toilet up with wood shims for now. Put the nuts on the closet bolts but don't tighten them down. Then, grout under the toilet. Remove the shims after the grout dries and fill in those spots later with more grout. It sounds like how they did it originally. Basically, you use the grout to 'level' the floor'. The grout, once dry, will support the weight of the toilet. Tighten the closet bolts. (Not too tight). Keep your fingers crossed . Good luck. Let us know. __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson

08-27-2005, 10:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Demeter Psycho	Lol, a bit of a thread hijack, but I recall my BF telling me a story about how his apartment toilet had been leaking on & off for a few weeks, and he was going to change the seal. A few days later, his roommate left on vacation, and the leaky toilet rectified itself. Roommate returns, leak returns. After that said roommate was forced to go peepee sitting down. __________________ I am not bound to please thee with my answers. William Shakespeare

08-23-2005, 08:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	sounds like you have one hell of a mess on your hands. No pun intended. Yeah, uneven floors can cause issues with leakage on toilets. You need to level that floor out somehow under there. Then, reinstall the plumbing as it's supposed to be - no double flanges with multiple wax rings. The more junk you put under there the more potential leak points you develop. And if all that doesn't work, it's time for a new toilet.

08-25-2005, 04:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cicero Tilted	Yeah, two flanges and two wax rings probably is too many parts, which conversely allows for too many places for a potential leak. But amazingly the leak has stopped. But I'm concerned thats probably not going to last for very long, frankly I'm 100% certain the leak will come back, the conditions almost predict it. I have to admit, it sounds like a great idea to add the grout under the commode once I set it level, but I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to clean away all the grout later on if I ever have to change the wax ring again. OMG straws! It is such a PAIN IN THE ASS trying to drop the commode just right. I kept thinking, I screwed up the wax and smooshed it wrong when I set down the commode missaligned. We'll see how long this dry spell lasts, and I'll decide my next method of aproach once the leak returns. For now I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and thanks for all the suggestions, definitly words of wisdom for the next time.