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ORIGINAL: GrandPoobahx
Do NOT under any circumstances just "caulk" around the base. That water's going to go somewhere, and the eventual damage will cost a lot more to repair.

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ORIGINAL: GrandPoobah

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ORIGINAL: defiantbadgirl

We just replaced our old leaky toilet with a brand new one. The problem is, the new toilet is leaking too. It's leaking around the base. How can a brand new toilet with a brand new seal leak around the base? What can I do about it?

Okay, long answer, but hopefully more helpful than some of the others.

Do NOT under any circumstances just "caulk" around the base. That water's going to go somewhere, and the eventual damage will cost a lot more to repair.

If you're speaking about water appearing where the toilet sits on the floor, first check to see if the outside of the bowl is wet. If the water is leaking from the joint between the tank and the bowl, the problem is different. Assuming the outside of the bowl is dry, there are only two possibilities.

1. Most likely. The seal between the toilet and the floor...aka the wax ring...didn't seat properly. Step one. Pull the toilet back up, completely clean off the existing ring and any stray wax, dirt, etc. The flange on the top of the pipe in the floor should be nearly level or slightly higher than the surface of the floor. If it isn't, don't use two wax rings, get a spacer...a plastic donut that sits on top of the flange and raises the surface. Home Depot or Lowes have them. And get a new wax ring. Place the ring on the bottom of the toilet (NOT ON THE FLOOR), run a fat bead of silicone caulk around the outside of the base (be generous, you want it to ooze out when you set the toilet, and then carefully set the toilet back down. It's important that the black rubber in the middle of the wax ring goes cleanly into the pipe. It's much smaller than the opening, so it's not all that difficult. You should sense that the toilet is sitting up a little, and gently rock it back and forth until it seats...that's the wax squishing to make the seal. Then bolt the toilet back down to the floor, and finally clean up the excess caulk around the base.

2. Less likely. It's possible there's a crack or flaw in the china and the toilet itself is actually leaking. Usually a visual examination should reveal that.

Now, if it is leaking from between the tank and the bowl, again two options.

1. If the tank is sitting tight on the bowl and it's leaking, take it apart and check to see that the seal...a thick rubber ring...is on straight and not crimped or bent. If it is, replace it (again Home Depot or Lowes, and with most toilets the same ring works) and assemble again.

2. If the ring isn't damaged or screwed up, then I'd look at getting a "double thickness" ring. Same vendors. When you set the tank down, it should "float" on the ring. Don't tighten the bolts...you'll likely break the tank. Instead, gently rock the tank to one side and tighten the bolt on that side a little, then rock it the other way and tighten the opposite bolt. Continue to do that, gradually squeezing the ring until the tank is tight on the bowl.

If this doesn't fix it, send me an IM and I'll help you figure it out.

BTW, I used to manage plumbing for Home Depot so I KNOW what I'm talking about. As a contractor I only installed a few hundred toilets. DO NOT double the wax ring...you're only hiding the real problem and likely setting up for significant repairs later.

GP