Toilet leaking at base

[driftpin]

Yep, that will cause a leak. You saw a crack, and when you worked the fixture at the crack, it cracked-open?

Because this is a 'toilet thread,' I am compelled to post a picture of a Sunday night job for our DIL, there was a complaint of a slowly-evacuating bowl. After removing this, things were working fine.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Actually, I never saw I crack, I only saw the chunk of porcelain missing, so I'm not sure how that chunk even came off.

 

[DGersic]

Wow. Yeah, that’s going to leak.

 

[The Cobbler]

I wonder if that was from the freeze?

 

[rlitman]

I am about to find out how good the synthetic rings are .. 50 year old toilet replacement in progress. The tank to bowl connecting bolts were so rusted one needed to be cut off ..

Check your replacement bolts with a magnet to be sure they're solid brass.

 

[cgrutt]

Is that "chip" for a vent? Looks enormous where did the broken pieces go? My guess is it may have been like that since it was installed. Also looks like it may have been leaking for a while.

 

[Uncle Ben]

I have yet to see the missing chunk, and I also was thinking it must have been missing for a while. It does appear the leak was happening for a while, but the toilet has been there for about 2 years.

 

[driftpin]

Seeing that missing piece, makes me think it was like that since new. It's possible that the toilet was never turned upside-down to reveal the break. You would think it needed to be, to scrape-off the old wax ring, and to get a sense of placement for the new one. Whatever, glad that it's done. That would have been a good ad for Flex-Seal© though, as good as the screen door boat.

 

[BurtEggley]

I've got a thread opened in flooring for about a month now for a similar type leak. I've been wondering if the bowl is leaking instead of the seal. I have no way these days of knowing how to get a good product. Someone suggested that the big box stores got less quality production, but when someone started testing supply house vs big box store, they were the same as to defect rate, quality etc.. Other industries have it too. Look at GM. I was just watching how many of their trucks and SUV's are dying at very low mileage. Spun bearings etc.. Toyota has similar going. Rhetorical question, but where is a guy to buy quality bathroom fixtures... .

 

[FullRaceMerc]

where is a guy to buy quality bathroom fixtures... .

I've got a local supply house that I used to recommend, but they were the guys who kept selling problem toilets after they knew had an issue.

When it comes to toilets usually I choose Kohler when I'm doing the choosing. Pretty consistant quality. Good flush. Haven't had any complaints. Cheaper than the Totos that clients provide. More expensive than the off-brands that other clients provide.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

A theory:
That chip has been there since toilet was installed. Wasn’t a problem until the freeze, when it became the weak spot where a crack initiated due to the freeze.

 

[BurtEggley]

we found the leak on mine - see the thread https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/stains.555424/.

It was at the flange, so we are puzzled because the wax ring was intact and making a good seal. My plumber replaced the flange, and I bought two new toilets. Waiting on my vinyl guy to replace the floor tomorrow. Can't see any cracks in the porcelain that could account for the leak.

The only other possibility on ours is that water sprayed when the shower there was being used, and collected under the back. I warned the other half that if it is the cause, she can pay the repair bill.