A cracked toilet is a kinda problem for you. I know it doesn’t look good in your washroom. Since cracks are not always visible, a cracked toilet can be a difficult hydraulic problem. The crack may have occurred during the first construction of the toilet, but it cannot be detected for many years.
A toilet, on the other hand, can develop a crack at any time and start licking. Extreme temperature changes can create more visible cracks, resulting in a crack that extends along the entire length of porcelain.
Whatever caused the crack, the first step in repairing it is to locate it and determine if it can be repaired (or at least attempted). Epoxy porcelain can often be used to restore fractures of the hairline.
Larger cracks or cracks that go all the way through a bowl normally cannot be repaired, requiring the replacement of the toilet.
In this article I am going to discuss how to find out the cracks on the toilet and how can you repair the cracked toilet base.
Table of Contents
Finding the Cracks on Toilet
There are two pieces that you can check whether there is any crack or not:
Check Crack on the Toilet Tank:
A toilet tank may have internal or external cracks, either above or below the water level. The position of the crack indicates what intervention is required.
If the split does not grow slowly, a crack above the water level is usually not a problem. Pay attention to any toilet cracks in the tank to make sure they don’t get worse. Taking a photo of the crack for later reference is a good idea.
It will be necessary to repair a crack that is below the water level. A crack in the toilet tank can unfortunately be difficult to detect. Start by inspecting the seals between the tank and the bowl if you suspect a leak in the toilet tank.
Next, look for a crack in the porcelain in the tank. It is possible, that you need to search both outside and inside the tank to find it.
Check Crack in the Toilet Bowl:
A leak in the toilet bowl could be the cause of water on the floor around the toilet. Keep in mind that water can only leak if you flush the toilet, so rinse while looking for the leaking crack that surrounds the bowl. Since cracks in a toilet bowl can be difficult to detect, it’s a good idea to inspect them frequently.
It will be necessary to keep an eye on a toilet bowl crack that is above the waterline. You might be able to leave a gap in the bowl alone if it doesn’t leak at all because it’s near a place where there isn’t any water running through it.
To make sure the crack isn’t developing, place a mark on both sides of it. A photograph might also be quite useful as a reference in the future.
A hidden crack is also a possibility and can manifest itself in two ways: stagnant water on the floor outside the toilet or lack of water. Water can settle at the base of the toilet due to a small, invisible leak on the floor.
In a rarer scenario, the water from the toilet bowl slips gently under the drain and not onto the floor. A damaged toilet may leak into the drain when the toilet bowl mysteriously appears to be losing its water.
Check Crack in the Toilet Base:
The Crack on the toilet base is the worst one if it is not small. It is really hard to fix that crack. You can epoxy and other plumbing oxide chemicals to fix it. But I recommend that if your base is cracked then you should replace the bathroom toilet.
If there is a minor crack then congratulations you can fix it with the help of yourself. But if there is a major crack, then there is no other option left except to replace your toilet.
Fixing the Cracked Toilet Base
Carefully examine all the cracks. Note that where they are. Cosmetic cracks in the tank are good as long as they are limited to the hairline. A large number of fractures in the intestine of the hair in the reservoir, on the other hand, should be a cause for concern.
Always check that the cracks do not protrude all the way. If this is the act, the toilet or tank must be replaced.
The size and width of the crack are crucial. If the hair gut breaks are on the outside of the tank or bowl, they usually do not need to be replaced. If you notice cracks like this, use plumbing oxide (Waterproof Epoxy) to seal them. Inside the tank, certain cracks can be fixed, but they must be less than 1/16 inch wide.
The waterproof epoxy resin consists of two parts that must be mixed directly before use. Most epoxy only has a working time of 15 to 30 minutes before they start curing. Choose an epoxy resin that is approved for use on porcelain tubs and sinks.
Let’s discuss step by step procedure of how to fix the cracks of the toilet from the base:
Step No. 1:
The first step is to turn off the water source of the toilet (the button is usually located behind the toilet).
Step No. 2:
Then move on to the second step which is to flush the toilet to empty the toilet base carefully.
Step No. 3:
The third step is to dry the inside and outside of the tank completely with a cloth. If traces of moisture remain, the crack will not seal effectively.
Step No. 4:
Next move on to the 4th step in which you need to refill the toilet base after applying the putty or sealant to the crack and waiting for the time specified in the sealant’s instructions.
Step No. 5:
At the 5th stage, you have to fill the toilet, turn on the water supply of the toilet.
Step No. 6:
At the 6th step which is the last step too, flush the toilet to see if the patched break leaks water.
If you have tried the entire given step and still there is water leakage from the base of the toilet, then the last option that you should adopt is to change your entire toilet in your bathroom. It means you have to pick a suitable toilet for your bathroom and call for an expert that comes to your home to fix the new toilet set up into your bathroom.
And for replacing the toilet you have to follow the given steps:
Step No. 1:
Turn off the toilet water source. Flush out the toilet to empty the tank.
Step No. 2:
Disassemble the tank and remove the screws (under the tank).
Step No. 3:
Unscrew the water supply line under the tank and remove it. Take out the tank and remove the screw of the base from the floor (key required).
Step No. 4:
Remove out the base. Then remove out all waxy residues from the hole in the bottom with a scraper.
Step No. 5:
Align the bolt holes in the floor with the new toilet and then tighten the screws with a key (use new screws if the old ones are rusty).
Step No. 6:
Apply a seal around the base of the new toilet and over the new bowl with the new tank. Then cover the new bowl with the new tank.
Step No. 7:
Tighten the nuts at the bottom of the tank. Place the parts in the tank according to the instructions for your new toilet.
Step No. 8:
Reconnect the water supply line. When tightening the screws, be careful not to over tighten it. If you apply too much force to hold it tightly, your new toilet can be torn and you will return to the first place.
Now I am sure you can get your hands onto the little cracks of your toilet. I just simply wanted to say that don’t panic if you found the crack on the toilet base. Simply, follow the instructions and try to fix it out. If fixing doesn’t work then simply replace the toilet.
