As one of the most frequent sources of water damage, leaking Brooklyn plumbing fixtures can end up costing you a small fortune in repair costs. Fortunately, it is possible to keep your expenses down by learning how to identify certain signs. If you would like to improve your ability to recognize potentially disastrous leaks, while also boosting your general knowledge of plumbing, read on. This article will discuss leaks caused by your toilet flange.
Flange Basics
The flange is the hardware assembly responsible for connecting the bottom of your toilet to your home’s plumbing system. As you can imagine, it is vital that this connection be 100% watertight. To accomplish this goal, in addition to washers, nuts, and bolts, the flange contains a vital component known as the wax ring.
The Wax Ring
As the flange bolts that physically attach the toilet to the plumbing system are tightened, the toilet’s outflow pipe is pulled down into the wax ring. This acts to form a much more watertight seal than the metal components alone would be able to offer. Unfortunately, while the wax ring is highly effective at keeping water from escaping, this ability can start to become compromised as the years go on.
Toilet Flange Problems
Eventually, a wax ring will become either too compressed or too brittle to continue providing a waterproof seal. When this happens, water will begin to seep out from around the base of the toilet. Such water usually appears each time the toilet is flushed. In some cases, however, you may not notice leaking water.
Luckily, there are other key signs that your wax ring may have become excessively degraded. Such signs usually involve damage to the flooring around the toilet. Mold and mildew growth in the vicinity are also a strong indication that water may be escaping. Finally, you may notice that your toilet has become somewhat wobbly. This is a sign that your flange is no longer holding the toilet tightly in place.
If you have noticed such signs, it is important that you have a new wax ring installed as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact Aladdin Plumbing for this and all repairs to your Brooklyn plumbing fixtures.