If you find water coming out from under the base of your toilet every time you flush, this is a sign of a defective wax ring. It is very important to replace the wax ring and stop the leak as soon as possible. Otherwise, the water will rot the flooring under the toilet and you will soon not only need toilet repairs, but also a very expensive floor replacement.
Detailed instructions for replacing a wax ring are easy to find on the internet. The job involves disconnecting the toilet from the water supply, unbolting it from the floor, removing the old wax ring, installing the new wax ring, re-attaching the toilet to the floor, and hooking up the water supply line.
You should be aware that although the process sounds easy, there are several ways that things can take a wrong turn. For one thing, the water shutoff valve can be corroded and either start leaking after you shut off the water or you can force it too hard and crack the water supply line.
Further, the hold-down bolts can be corroded and you can round off the nuts, snap the bolts or strip the head. Next, a toilet is very heavy and if you drop it you could damage the toilet or the floor. Also, if you don’t place the toilet on the wax ring just right, the wax ring can be damaged and you will have to start over again. Another potential problem is that if you over-tighten the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor, the base might crack and you will need a new toilet. Finally, the water supply line may leak or the tank could leak at the tank to commode connections.
If you have any concern at all about your ability to do it yourself, call your local plumber and let them handle the bathroom repairs. It’s money well spent to get the job done quickly and professionally.
