Plumbers Putty For A Cracked Toilet?

Question

So I installed a toilet and when I was tightening down the upper part (where the holding tank and flushing mechanism is) it wasnt making a good seal and was still leaking down through the bolts. So I kept tightening little by little until it stopped leaking. Was going slowly so I didnt crack it.

Well it cracked.

Its a very small crack but it does leak. My plan was to get some type of putty and seal it from the inside. I sent my wife to Home Depot today to pick up something that works after telling the people what happened.

Well they gave her Plumbers Putty for Stainless, caulking and sealing compound.

Im having a hard time believing that I can just spread some putty on this crack and it will work.

Any ideas? Or what product should of Home Depot sent my wife home with?

Answer 1

unfortunately you need to replace it. Epoxy, plumbers putty, silicone or another c**p that these wanna be plumbers tell you will not work.

I used to own a low income housing unit and nothing works.

Answer 2

If it is a hairline crack, silicon RTV would work. Make sure your bonding surface is dry. Allow 24 hours for complete cure.

Answer 3

Plumbers putty is for sealing BETWEEN two surfaces, such as your countertop and the bottom of your faucet. It is not intended to be used in water. The crack will only get bigger and leak more, there is also the chance that it will rupture, and the tank will be in at least two seperate pieces. This happens anytime there is temp. change, pressure applied to the tank from say, someone leaning back on it while seated, or the toilet seat hitting the tank while lifted. Its not a matter of "IF" but "WHEN". Replace the tank. dont try to seal it with any material because, even if they do "stop the leak" they cant strengthen that broken ceramic, which is your major concern. Ive been a plumber for about a decade now. Trust me. Replace the tank.

one more thing

when installing the new tank.. alternate tightening on the bolts,. start with level tank and equal amount of threads sticking through the bottom on both sides, then two turns on the right, two turns on the left, repeat until tight. remember you can always go back and tighten more if needed.

Answer 4

it is probably  best not to mess with it you might crack it even worse after trying some type of repair caulking you sit in that room probably once a day just reach around and feel for a drip or moisture coming off of the tank. if it bothers you that much repace it and just make sure that when you tighten the new tank do both sides uniformly a little at a time and  make sure the tank moves just slightly front to rear

Answer 5

You will have to replace the cracked tank, sorry.

Answer 6

You either need a really REALLY good epoxy, or just get an new toilet.  They are more inexpensive than paying to replace the floor after the water leaks on it and rots the wood.

Answer 7

Don't create a monster ! Tanks cost little more than epoxy and fewer nasty midnight suprises, good Luck

Answer 8

I used "Cofair Gutter Seal". $8-$10. at most hardware stores or Amazon.com.

Answer 9

Just do it properly please. Stop being second rate

Answer 10

I'd get a new toilet because the crack is only apt to get worse. You could claim it was "defective" - hey, it didn't seal properly, right?

You could try an underwater epoxy like Marine-Tex to salvage it. Even JB-Weld might work.