I updated my bathroom downstairs. My plumber did his job and while he was at it I had him replace my upstairs toilet and bathroom fixtures.
I now have a large water stain in my newly painted, updated bathroom downstairs and am not sure where the water is coming from.
My plumber says, open the ceiling and call him when I find the leak…..
My husband tapped in areas upstairs as I stayed downstairs to listen. The noise and large stain lined up with the toilet… I know that is no guarantee but I am not sure what to do. We bought a new ring for the bathroom and think maybe we should take the toilet out and check out for any signs of water… If not, then we put it back. It’s either that or open the ceiling in the newly renovated bathroom… I am so frustrated.
The tub had new fixtures – the plumber had the on/off piece too tight that it caused the spout to drip. He came back and fixed that. I thought I was all set until I saw this stain that is getting bigger….
Any suggestion on what to do? Take the toilet out or open the ceiling?
Answer:
I am very sorry to hear about this problem you are experiencing. From your description it is highly likely the source of the problem is an incorrect installation of your new toilet upstairs. It is not advisable to start drilling holes in search of a leaking pipel. While one should not eliminate other potential related causes, it would appear the facts point to an improper seal around the base of the toilet. This is not uncommon, but if it turns out that this is the issue then one option is to have the plumber who installed the toilet, to replace and re-seat the toilet. The nature of how the stain has progressively grown worse speaks to what is most likely an incremental leak. This happens when there is a bad seal around the toilet horn and drain line. Toilet seal leaks are not something you should put off in terms of repair. If indeed this is the culprit, then the leak will continue to create damage to the underlying structure beneath the toilet, not mention an unsanitary condition. It is possible that the repair is as simple as replacing the wax ring and if that is the case, the toilet could be back in working order in a jiffy.
The toilet will need to be pulled to investigate. It is possible that the flange reinforcement ring will need to be replaced. There are two types. Eared and non-eared reinforcment rings beneath the toilet. A broken seal is often caused either due to poor workmanship or a toilet that is not seated properly. It needs to be level and not rocking when weight or pressure is applied, otherwise damage to the ring can occur.
Given the installation is recent, then it would be advisable to have the original plumber (or another if you choose) to return and remedy this toilet leakage problem. While a do it yourself plumbing solution is not out of the question, you may just rest easier if a qualified plumber conducted the repair.