My toilet leaks on the floor when it's flushed
Water around the base of the toilet after a flush is more than a nuisance. If it's coming from the waste connection, it's dirty water, and over time it can soak into the floor, lift tiles and rot the timber underneath. The good news is that the cause is usually one of a handful of parts, and most can be fixed without replacing the toilet. Here's how to work out where it's coming from.
Where the water is coming from
Pan connector
The rubber or plastic connector that joins the toilet pan to the sewer pipe. When it perishes or the toilet shifts, water escapes at the back or base during every flush. This is the most common cause.
Flush pipe or cistern seal
On toilets with a separate cistern, the seal between cistern and pan can leak when the flush rushes through. You'll often see water running down the back of the pan.
Inlet hose or valve
A leaking flexi hose or inlet connection drips while the cistern refills, which looks like a flush leak.
Cracked pan or cistern
A hairline crack in the porcelain can leak only when the water level rises. Cracked pans need replacing.
Condensation
In humid weather, cold water in the cistern can make it sweat and drip. It's clean water and usually harmless, but it can look like a leak.
Quick checks
- Dry everything with a towel, then flush and watch. Note where the water first appears.
- Check the hose and valve on the wall while the cistern refills.
- Gently rock the toilet. If it moves, the pan connector seal has probably been disturbed.
- If water keeps coming, turn off the toilet's valve on the wall and use another toilet until it's fixed.
How we fix it
We find the exact source first, then fix it properly: a new pan connector with the toilet re-secured and re-sealed, new cistern seals or flush pipe, or a new hose and valve. If the pan is cracked or the toilet is old and the parts are hard to get, we'll talk you through a toilet replacement. Either way, you get a fixed price before any work starts.
In southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Many older homes in Matraville, Maroubra and Kingsford still have original toilets with old-style connectors that have hardened over the decades, and timber floors that suffer when a slow leak goes unnoticed. If the floor around your toilet feels soft or the tiles have lifted, get it checked soon.
Why locals call us
- Local to Matraville and the southern Eastern Suburbs
- Free on-site quotes, with a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
Why does my toilet leak at the base when I flush?
Most often the pan connector between the toilet and the sewer pipe has perished or been disturbed. A leaking cistern seal or a cracked pan are the other usual causes.
Is a toilet leaking at the base dangerous?
It can be unhygienic if it's waste water, and it can damage the floor over time. Fix it soon.
Can a leaking toilet be fixed without replacing it?
Usually, yes. A new pan connector or seals fixes most leaks. A cracked pan is the main reason to replace.
Why does my toilet run constantly or fill up at night?
That's a different problem, usually a worn inlet valve or flush seal. See our running toilets guide.
Related help: leaking toilets, toilet replacement, blocked toilets, flexi hoses and taps and toilets. Local pages: taps and toilets Matraville, taps and toilets Maroubra, Kingsford and taps and toilets Malabar.