audie
New Member
Hello, first I would like to say THANK YOU for all of the helpful posts on this forum. After scouring the internet for two days I am compelled to post my problem in hopes of finding a solution...
Our toilet overflowed twice since we moved in. A snake and plunger were no help, so last friday I installed a new toilet. Just short of a week later I've discovered water leaking down through the floor into the basement. The beams and supports surrounding the toilet were completely soaked. The water was initially leaking down around the soil pipe, and from in between the floor boards, and at the hole where the water supply pipe goes up into the wall. We determined that a faulty wax-ring (the toilet rocked quite a bit when we first installed it) was to blame. Also discovered the water supply connection was not screwed on tight enough. After a second wax ring, double-check of all fittings, a roll of plumbers tape, and a dye test, I have determined it is no longer water coming from the toilet. The drips are infrequent, and clear. I should mention we also had the sewer completely replaced last month, after which there were no leaks with the old toilet. I suspect if anything is STILL leaking, it would have to be the water supply pipe itself? We did have to replace the control valve to the water supply line upstairs, is it possible we could have damaged the pipe behind the wall in the process?
This post is to ask, how long can I expect the floor to continue dripping? I would assume after a week of leaking, plus the two overflows from the previous toilet, the subfloor is pretty saturated. I read somewhere online that it can even drip for a few days if there is a lot of water under the tile. Again the dye did not color the drops coming through the boards. No water upstairs on the floor, flushing fine, no leaks, continuing to drip down below. I have a fan and heating lamps downstairs (it has been pretty cold this summer in CA) to help dry out the area. If it continues to leak, at what point should I call a plumber? Can I determine if it is the supply pipe or the flange/iron pipe itself to blame?
Our toilet overflowed twice since we moved in. A snake and plunger were no help, so last friday I installed a new toilet. Just short of a week later I've discovered water leaking down through the floor into the basement. The beams and supports surrounding the toilet were completely soaked. The water was initially leaking down around the soil pipe, and from in between the floor boards, and at the hole where the water supply pipe goes up into the wall. We determined that a faulty wax-ring (the toilet rocked quite a bit when we first installed it) was to blame. Also discovered the water supply connection was not screwed on tight enough. After a second wax ring, double-check of all fittings, a roll of plumbers tape, and a dye test, I have determined it is no longer water coming from the toilet. The drips are infrequent, and clear. I should mention we also had the sewer completely replaced last month, after which there were no leaks with the old toilet. I suspect if anything is STILL leaking, it would have to be the water supply pipe itself? We did have to replace the control valve to the water supply line upstairs, is it possible we could have damaged the pipe behind the wall in the process?
This post is to ask, how long can I expect the floor to continue dripping? I would assume after a week of leaking, plus the two overflows from the previous toilet, the subfloor is pretty saturated. I read somewhere online that it can even drip for a few days if there is a lot of water under the tile. Again the dye did not color the drops coming through the boards. No water upstairs on the floor, flushing fine, no leaks, continuing to drip down below. I have a fan and heating lamps downstairs (it has been pretty cold this summer in CA) to help dry out the area. If it continues to leak, at what point should I call a plumber? Can I determine if it is the supply pipe or the flange/iron pipe itself to blame?