What To Do If You Have A Toilet Supply Line Leaking

There are several reasons why a toilet water supply line would leak. It could be a crack in the line or a worn out joint at a connection. Finding the leak is the first step to repairing it. It is then a matter of attempting a fix and if it does not work, you proceed to another thing.

The most convenient way to repair a leaking toilet supply line is to replace the whole line or whole toilet. By doing this it could be the quickest, however it could mean spending money when you do not need to. Here are some actions for repairing a leaking line as opposed to buying and installing an entire new line.

Finding the Leak

There are four possible places a toilet supply line can leak. In some cases it is difficult to find where the water is leaking from. It is possible for water to be dripping from the storage tank and running down the supply line, making it appear that the supply line or valve is the trouble.

Given that leaks can be misleading and water runs downhill, we will work from the top down in finding the leak. Older bathrooms may have worn brass lines and rusty or corroded parts. When you attempt to tighten them you may damage them additionally or even damage the whole tank or toilet. We will work from the toilet back to the wall to locate the issue. Use a completely dry rag as well as your finger to determine which area is dripping.

The likely points of a leak are:

• At the nut that connects the supply line to the fill valve.
• The nut that links the supply line to the shutdown valve.
• The link where the valve attaches to the water line.
• The washer in the valve itself.

Fill Valve Nut

Use a pair of adjustable pliers or an adjustable wrench to tighten the nut that affixes to the fill valve. Do not over tighten. Make certain the nut is not cross threaded prior to you begin to tighten. You need to be able to make a number of turns by hand easily. Some older nuts might be loose because they’re worn or have gone bad. If this is the case, either change the washer or change the supply line with a new one.

Supply Line Shutoff Nut

The nut that attaches the supply line to the shutoff can also be tightened up. Use both a set of pliers and an adjustable wrench when you do this. Hold the shutoff safely with the pliers and use the wrench to tighten up the nut. Take it easy until the leak stops. If the leak won’t quit, you might have to replace the supply line. You can get a flexible one that has the right sized fittings on both ends relatively inexpensively.

Shutoff Link at Water Line

There are two sorts of links at the water line. There is a bigger compression nut that is the same as the nut on the supply line, simply larger. Before you try working with a water supply shutoff it is a good idea to shut off the water. This is more important if the shutoff is old.

Tighten this nut the same as you would the smaller one. Utilize the pliers to hold the valve and the wrench to tighten the nut. Tighten it until the leak quits. Turn the water back on to check for leakages as needed. Take your time and be careful.

A threaded connection will force you to take off the supply line before tightening up the valve. You will need to hold the nut on the water line with a wrench and use one more wrench or big set of pliers to turn the shutoff. You can attempt tightening it one full turn or a portion of a turn. Turn the water back on to look for leakages. If the leakage stops, reattach the supply line, otherwise, try to tighten it a little more.

Shut the Shutoff

The shut off valve has a washer inside that keeps it from dripping. A large nut holds the assembly in position. If the water is appearing around the base after the attempt at tightening this nut. Hold the valve with the pliers and use a wrench to tighten.

If this does not fix it, you can try to turn the water off and change the washer. Obtain the right sized washer and change it out. You can also replace the whole valve. Obtain a quarter turn ball valve if you do. They have far less troubles.

Using Plumbing Tape

If replacing the washer did not work, you might try to place plumbers tape on the fittings attaching to your toilet and the water line.

First, detach the line similar to how you probably did with a previous step. Cover the tape around the base of the fitting on the toilet as well as the lines that affix to the water input. The leakage might be from worn treads on the fittings. The tape will help fill out the gap. Replace the toilet water supply line and look for leakages. You may choose to do this at the same time you change the washers.

If you have gone through all these steps and still have a leakage, you will need to buy a brand-new line.

South End Plumbing specializes in emergency plumbing services and detecting problems, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in leak detection – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.