How to Fix a Leaky Toilet Water Drip From the Tank

The tank holds a large volume of water that can leak out.

A dripping toilet tank can lead to subfloor damage and costly repairs if not addressed. Most troubleshooting and repairs are straightforward and inexpensive, and they can be completed with tools from a typical home toolbox. When tightening nuts on toilet parts, tighten snuggly, but don’t over tighten. Porcelain cracks with too much pressure. Finger tighten first, then use a wrench just enough to snug the fitting.

Instructions

1. Check each joint along the bottom of the toilet tank. Typically, that includes the hold-down bolts that attach the tank to the bowl, the fill valve ballcock attachment and the fill tube leading to that valve. Run your finger around each fitting to determine which one is leaking. Try turning the nuts by hand to see if they are loose. Check to see whether the nuts are snug by tightening with an adjustable wrench.

2. Replace washers if all the nuts are properly tightened and the drip reappears.

3. Drain the tank by flushing the toilet after you have turned the infeed valve off. That valve is located near the floor or wall where the water supply tube emerges.

4. Dab the last of the water from the tank with a sponge.

5. Loosen the fittings with an adjustable wrench. If you are replacing washers for the hold-down bolts, place a flathead screwdriver onto the bolt inside the tank to keep it steady while you loosen the nut below the tank. For the fill valve and supply line, loosen the coupling and the nut. Replace any worn washers with new washers of the same size and type. Note that the ballcock valve washer is typically a conical shape.

6. Tighten all the nuts and couplings, and turn the water valve back on.

References

• Lowes: Make Simple Toilet Repairs
• Creative Homeowner: Repairing a Leak in a Toilet’s Water Supply Line
• Fix a Toilet: Leaky Toilet: Water Under Tank