Most homeowners never pay attention to their toilets until they’re dealing with issues. Clogs, running tanks, and leaks grab your attention pretty quickly. In Salem, OR, homeowners know that leaks can lead to mildew, mold, rot, and other issues. One of the best ways to prevent damage is to stop a leak when it starts.
At Woodward Heating Air Plumbing, we want to help by dispelling some of these myths involving toilet leaks. Let’s debunk some of the most common misconceptions about toilet leaks.
A Leak Is Only Serious if You See Standing Water
Some believe that a toilet leak isn’t serious if you don’t see the actual standing water. For whatever reason, this myth has made the rounds over the years. Not every leak is going to leave a flood of evidence in its wake. It could be occurring beneath the porcelain. You could have a leak around the wax ring seal. Hidden moisture here can cause mildew, mold, and even rot in your subfloor. This can all happen before you ever see the physical evidence of a leak.
You might notice a leak without seeing the water if you feel a wobbling toilet when you sit down. It might also have a “spongy” feel, as if the toilet is sinking slightly into the floor when you sit. These are signs that you’re dealing with a leak and the subsequent damage under your toilet. By the time you see the water, the damage may be catastrophic. If you suspect you have a leak, call us in for our plumbing repair service. We can apply a fix before things get worse.
Food Coloring Is the Only Test You Need
Another pervasive myth is that dropping a few drops of food coloring into the tank is how you find leaks. The idea is that you’ll notice the colored water inside the toilet bowl if you have a leak. You can use this to identify a faulty flapper that’s allowing tank water into the bowl. However, for any type of external leak, this tactic is useless.
External leaks destroy your subflooring and aren’t going to be spotted with food coloring. These leaks come from supply lines, tank bolts, and the floor flange. You need an actual inspection to help you identify these leaks. This is where Woodward Heating Air Plumbing and our professional plumbers can help.
Caulking the Base Stops a Leak
Many people have tried caulking the base of their toilet to stop a leak. This creates a cosmetic fix that makes your toilet look more attractive. It can also keep the water from leaking out and becoming visible. However, it does nothing to stop the actual leak you’re dealing with. In fact, it just traps all the water in one spot and speeds up the mold and rot that’s taking place. This is especially an issue for homes with basements or toilets on upper floors. It can cause serious ceiling damage.
Another big issue is the spread of black mold. Once mold grows, it releases spores into the air. They settle anywhere in the home that’s cool, dark, and damp. What started as a minor toilet leak can become a major mold infestation. You have to pull the toilet out and repair everything. You’ll need a new wax ring and possibly a new toilet, depending on what caused the leak. A bead of caulk around the toilet only makes things worse overall.
Silent Toilets Can’t Have Leaks
There’s a pervasive belief floating around that, unless you actually hear the toilet leaking, it’s not leaking. This is not true and can actually lead to a lot of damage. Many leaks are very slow and silent. They start out as pinhole leaks in the tank and do not make a single sound. These leaks have trails of water that drip down the back, completely out of sight. Over months or years, this can cause serious damage to your flooring.
Wooden floors are the most susceptible to this type of hidden, silent leak. Wood acts like a sponge and just soaks up the water. Although you do not hear any noise, your wood is physically changing due to the damp nature of the material. It is essential to call for professional leak detection to remedy the problem. Our plumbers can find a leak of any size and help to prevent further damage.
Small Cracks in the Porcelain Are Just Cosmetic
Some have even heard that small cracks in the tank are purely cosmetic and not a sign of leaks. The issue here is that porcelain is quite brittle once a crack appears. The constant weight of sitting on the toilet can cause other cracks to appear. These cracks can expand, and slow leaks can start. What started as a cosmetic blemish can turn into a serious leak very quickly.
The real danger here is the “slow weep” crack that you never see. You notice an actual busted toilet that’s pouring water right away, and you call in experts quickly. A slow, ongoing leak goes unnoticed, and that’s where the real damage happens. If you notice any cracks at all, no matter how small, it’s a good idea to call for help.
Why Professional Maintenance Matters
Contacting a skilled plumbing service for maintenance is a great way to prevent serious damage from leaks. If you end up not having leaks, that’s a great thing. If you do have leaks, however, we will be able to spot them and correct them. This saves you from more serious damage. An annual look at your home’s toilets can save you a lot of time and money.
Our plumbers are very skilled and use modern tools to detect leaks. Whether it’s from the tank or under the toilet, we’ll find any leak with your fixture. We can then offer a durable repair that’s meant to last. If it’s too serious, we also offer complete toilet replacement options.
Protect Your Home With Woodward Heating Air Plumbing
Woodward Heating Air Plumbing is dedicated to providing high-quality solutions for all your home comfort needs. We deal in all aspects of residential plumbing. This includes professional drain cleaning and repair. We handle water heater services, sewer jobs, faucet and fixture replacements, and much more. From minor drips to major failures, our plumbers offer prompt, precise services. For larger jobs, we also offer financing options on approved credit. We’ve been helping our community with these issues for over 30 years now. We are proud to be a name you can trust for your plumbing needs.
Contact Woodward Heating Air Plumbing today for more information about toilet leaks in Salem.
