Over 12,000 Americans search “toilet leaking at base” every month — over 10% of them in Texas alone. A leaky toilet base is a tough problem: it’s hard to notice the warning signs, and even harder to locate the source of the leak.

One leaky toilet can add $70 to your monthly water bill in Texas (and even more in cities like Fort Worth). And that’s a small price to pay if that plumbing leak causes tile and subfloor damage or mold growth in your bathroom.

Our SND Plumbing team surveyed data from our recent bathroom plumbing service calls to find out the most common causes for base leaks, and the 10 warning signs every homeowner should learn.

• Most leaky toilet bases are caused by damaged wax rings or loose tee bolts. Other issues include a broken coupling flange or a damaged connection to your water supply.
• One bathroom plumbing leak in Texas wastes 6,000 gallons of water per month. That’s roughly $70 tacked onto your water bill every 30 days.
• Warning signs of a toilet leaking at base are tough to spot. Look out for pooled water on the floor, condensation on the outside of your toilet bowl, and a sewer smell coming from the toilet area.
• All SND Plumbing toilet repairs come with a 6-year warranty. That warranty covers parts and labor for Tarrant County homeowners for 72 months.

Schedule fast, courteous toilet repair anywhere in Tarrant County:

Why Is My Toilet Leaking at the Base?

We reviewed 24 months of Tarrant County plumbing service data to determine the 5 most frequent causes for toilets leaking at the base.

Then, we used that toilet repair data to create a checklist of warning signs for Texas homeowners to review when looking for the source of a toilet leak.

2 most likely causes: damaged wax ring or loose tee bolts

The 2 most likely reasons your toilet’s leaking at the base are issues with the wax ring and tee bolts.

1. Damaged wax ring. If you notice pooled water around the base, a damaged wax ring is likely to blame. It’s easy to buy a replacement wax ring for your toilet — but installing it requires removing the toilet itself. Call us for help.
2. Loose tee bolts. The tee bolts are located under the plastic caps you see at the bottom of your toilet. These bolts secure your toilet to the floor. You may notice cracks in the plastic caps — or loose or rusted bolts underneath those caps.

Less common causes for a toilet leaking at the base

If your toilet’s wax ring and tee bolts are intact and secure, take a closer look at 3 other parts of your toilet — the coupling, the water supply connection, and your shutoff valve.

1. Broken flange (coupling). There is a metal coupling flange that braces the toilet to your flooring. A worn flange is often the sneaky cause of a plumbing leak near the base of your toilet. Be careful if you use sewer water — this flange seals the connection between your toilet and the sewer pipe. 
2. Damaged water supply connection. There may be a loose or worn-out connection between your water valve and the toilet tank. Make sure the rubber seal is fully intact, and the connecting nut is snug.
3. Leaky water shutoff valve. Check the shutoff valve for a slow drip. This drip pools around the bowl, mimicking a leaky base. If the valve doesn’t easily tighten, or begins to fail when tightened, stop and call our plumbing service immediately.

If you have a two-piece toilet, check the seal between your toilet tank and base. Older, worn out seals often have gaps and cracks that cause leaks.

Still can’t find the source of your leak? Schedule a diagnostic service call with us.

5 Dangers of Your Toilet Leaking at the Base

Leaky toilets cause a variety of concerns for Texas homeowners, from structural damage to mold and bacteria growth and increased water bills.

These are the top 5 problems caused by a toilet leaking at its base:

1. Water damage to floor and subfloor. Water seeps from a leaky toilet base directly into your floor and subfloor. This leads to unsafe flooring, subfloor rot and ruined tile.
2. Potential structural damage. Water that leaks from your toilet base settles in existing cracks in your subfloor and foundation. This causes structural damage headaches — anything from a rotted subfloor to a shifting foundation.
3. Mold growth. Toilet water leaks are a major cause of bathroom mold growth — you likely won’t notice the mold under your tile until it’s a real problem. Mold growth happens faster in hot, humid areas like Texas.
4. Bacteria-related health issues. Toilet water isn’t healthy — it’s full of organic bacteria that’s harmful to touch, step on or breath in. 
5. Spikes in your water bill. On average, a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day. Residential data shows that much wasted water adds over $70 to your monthly water bill. 

10 Signs Your Toilet Base Is Leaking

One leaky toilet can add $70 to your monthly water bill — or thousands of dollars in tile and subfloor repair. Smart homeowners can prevent these costly damages if they know the warning signs of a leaky toilet base

Here are the top 10 warning signs your toilet base is leaking:

1. Pooled water on the floor.
2. Brown stains around the base.
3. Wobbly toilet.
4. Cracks in the toilet base.
5. Spongy or soft flooring around toilet.
6. “Bubbling” bathroom floor tiles around toilet.
7. Sewer smell coming from toilet area.
8. Frequent condensation on toilet bowl exterior.
9. Water stains in ceiling below a second story toilet.
10. Toilet won’t stop running.

Toilet won’t stop running, but it isn’t the toilet base? We found the 5 most common reasons Texas toilets run continually — let’s help you fix that.

Toilet Leaking at Base? Trust Our Plumbing Repair Team

SND Plumbing provides expert toilet leak repairs everywhere in Tarrant County, Texas. Our plumbers offer fast, courteous diagnostic and repair service, with respect shown to your home and your schedule.

When we repair the leak in your toilet base, it’s fixed for the long haul. We back up our work with a 6-year “bumper to bumper” warranty that covers parts and labor. Photo and video documentation of the repair job is kept on file for your review.

Your bathroom is a place to relax — schedule toilet repair service with us, and get back your peace of mind.

Trust us for fast, friendly Tarrant County toilet repair service!