My toilet bowl leaks when my wife sits on it but we can't figure out what the problem is

Question

My wife was sitting on the toilet and there wasn't al eak before she went in to use it. After she got up and prior to flushing the toilet she realized that wakter had leaked out from the bottom area of the bowl. I'm heavier than she is and we both use the same bathroom. This is thierd time is happend and it's not consistent becasue sometimes it happens other times it doesn't. This issues has only occure when she's been in there for a #2.

I'm trying to figure out what the leak is prior to calling a plumber, can anyone offer assitance.

Answer 1

Its the wax ring @ the bottom of the toilet. She might be leaning and putting uneven pressure on it when she sits

Answer 2

Does she lean back on the lid while sitting there? lf so she may be breaking the seal between the tank where it is attached to the bowl just enought to leak while she is on it.lf so that may be why the leak hard to find and after she gets up it stops. You can tighten the 2 bolts under the tank, but not much, too much and it could crack. Take a dry towel and dry the back of the bowl, under the tank, have her sit down, reach back and feel the back of the bowl to see if you feel water. lf not ,have her lean back a little bit to see if the seal breaks a little and feel for water again. lf so change that bottom seal. Good luck

Answer 3

Examine the toilet around the tank area where it bolts to the bowl.  If your wife is making contact with the tank it might cause the tank to bowl gasket to leak.  Or just gently try to wiggle the tank and watch for a leak.

Answer 4

The wax ring is a logical candidate, but not the only one.  On your next trip to the supermarket, pick up some laundry bluing, and put some in the bowl before wife's next use.  See if the leakage (if any) has blue color.  If so, it's the wax ring; shut off the water, disconnect the fill line, completely remove water from the tank and the bowl, remove the hold-down bolts; lift the toilet up, set it on its back, and replace the wax ring.  Re-install it, taking care to tighten the hold down bolts firmly -- but not too tight, lest you crack the bowl.  Re-connect the refill line.

If you aren't seeing blue leakage from the bowl, the tank may be at fault.  Put some bluing in the tank and see what happens.  The tank is typically secured to the bowl by two or three bolts, and can be removed (after shutting off the water and draining the tank) to expose the large gasket which seals the spud connection to the bowl.  Replace this, and re-assemble.

Answer 5

sounds as though your subflooring may be rotted out. Women have a tendency to rock sidewise after using a toilet and cleaning themselves. Could be the sub floor is rotting around the anchor bolts and letting water seep out of the plastic ring. Easiest way to check would be to pull the toilet and check the flooring. Think you'll find it's rottee away, especially around the flange.