How to Repair a Leak in the Toilet Tank Water Supply Line

Supply lines leak due to bad seals or damaged lines.

Toilets are simple instruments. The simple mechanics of the toilet limit the possibility of problems arising. The main issues that may occur are mechanical failure of the tank valves or a toilet leak. A toilet can leak from the base if the wax ring is damaged; the tank can leak through the retaining bolts or the tank-to-toilet connection. The water supply line is the only other aspect that can leak. Fixing a leaking water supply line is simple.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable pliers
• Teflon tape
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Dry the supply line off with paper towels. Flush the toilet repeatedly to locate the leak. Replace the whole line if the leak is coming out of the metal braiding. Continue to Step 2 if the leak is coming out of the top or bottom connection.

2. Turn the water off at the inlet pipe.

3. Unscrew the leaky connection using adjustable pliers.

4. Wrap the threads of the pipe that connect to the water supply line with Teflon tape. Wrap the pipe with the tape in a clockwise direction. Wrap the first inch of threads several times.

5. Reattach the supply line to the pipe. Tighten down with pliers. Turn the water on to test the line. Replace the line if it still shows signs of leaking.

Tips & Warnings

• Supply lines are relatively inexpensive, and can be easily damaged. You can save time and effort by replacing a leaking supply line if you have verified it is the supply line that is leaking. Water may be dripping down from the toilet, so verify the location of the leak several times before attempting to repair or replace the line.

References

• "Lowes: Complete Home Improvement and Repair"; Don Vandervoort, 2005