Toilet leaking from base - and worse if dishwasher is on!

[spaniard5]

Hi All

I have moved into my first home with my wife.

We have a toilet which leaks from from a specific point at the base after flushing. I *think* the water is fresh. The amount that leaks ranges from barely visible, to a patch about palm-size. The latter seems to happen if something else in the house is using water. For example, in the evening if the dishwasher is on, and the toilet is flushed, the patch is largest. In the daytime when nothing else is being used, the patch is barely visible.

The toilet has silicone around the base. The two screw holes seem to have nothing in them. The rear of the toilet is boxed in. Here are some images...



Can anyone recommend the best course of action here? Is there anything that I can have a go at myself, or do I need a plumber?

Cheers
Dave

 

[nysk2008]

sounds like the flush pipe has not got an adequate seal with the pan

 

[spaniard5]

sounds like the flush pipe has not got an adequate seal with the pan

Thanks nysk2008.

Would the process generally now be to somehow remove the silicone seal, turn the water off, flush and empty the toilet, and then pull out the toilet? Does this sound too much work for a newbie? Is this a simple job for a plumber?

 

[Barry98]

I'd get a local chap in shouldn't be too expensive I'd also ask him to remove that flexi pipe and fit riged

 

[nysk2008]

its probably got nothing to do with the silicone around the base of the toilet to be honest. By the looks of it you have a concealed cistern; so if you flush the toilet a good few times and run you hand around around the flush pipe (the white bent pipe that goes from your cistern to the pan you will more than likely feel water when you shouldn't. If not check the water inlet that fills the cistern and make sure that's leak free and also the pan connector (that flexible thing you have) , but I would put money its your flush pipe.

 

[nysk2008]

agreed, flexi's are rough

I'd get a local chap in shouldn't be too expensive I'd also ask him to remove that flexi pipe and fit riged

 

[spaniard5]

its probably got nothing to do with the silicone around the base of the toilet to be honest. By the looks of it you have a concealed cistern; so if you flush the toilet a good few times and run you hand around around the flush pipe (the white bent pipe that goes from your cistern to the pan you will more than likely feel water when you shouldn't. If not check the water inlet that fills the cistern and make sure that's leak free and also the pan connector (that flexible thing you have) , but I would put money its your flush pipe.

Hi nysk2008 - I think you are spot on. I managed to get my hand (and phone for a picture) in to the boxed in area and into the flush pipe join with the pan, and it seems to be wet! You can see from the picture that it has probably been this way for some time...



It's just annoying now that the toilet is has a silicone seal around the base. I guess it means it all needs removing. I presume I should also ask a workman to check the quality of the flooring when he takes the toilet out?

I do have British Gass Homecare 400 cover (includes plumbing and drains) but I don't think it covers the plumbing between the cistern and the pan.

 

[Reg Man]

There you have it. Rubbish pan connector. Unscrew pan and replace flexi pipe for ridged with new pan connector. Throw away the zinc coated screw and use 2 1/2" brass or stainless steel screws.

 

[jam1979]

ive never liked low level pans theyre a nite mare after a while

 

[nysk2008]

if you've got plumbing and drains it should be covered; I work for a competitor of BG and I know we would cover that if you had a policy with all the bells and whistles which it sounds like you have - give them a buzz, you've got nothing to lose.

Hi nysk2008 - I think you are spot on. I managed to get my hand (and phone for a picture) in to the boxed in area and into the flush pipe join with the pan, and it seems to be wet! You can see from the picture that it has probably been this way for some time...

View attachment 14290

It's just annoying now that the toilet is has a silicone seal around the base. I guess it means it all needs removing. I presume I should also ask a workman to check the quality of the flooring when he takes the toilet out?

I do have British Gass Homecare 400 cover (includes plumbing and drains) but I don't think it covers the plumbing between the cistern and the pan.