Any plumber in the house?

[dralarms]

First let me say I am NOT a plumber. I've heard the saying all my life that "

all you need to know to be a plumber is hot on the left, cold on the right and crap won't run uphill". It AIN'T true.

I had a small leak (well I say small, it would wet a towel down in 8 to 12 hrs), leak on my toliet. Turned out to be one of the tank bolt gaskets was leaking. Nothing has been done to this thing in 10 years of hard flushing:D so I got one of those "complete" repair kits at lowes.

After much cleaning, cussing, putting together, taking apart, cussing some more, putting back together, (well you get the idea). I got it together and operational.

But now I have a seeping leak coming from the gasket where the tank meets the bowl. Maybe an ounce every 2 hrs. it's almost like the gasket is not large enough:rolleyes:. I have tightened the screws that hold the tank on and honestly I am afraid if I tighten them any more I'm gonna break something.

Anyone want to guess at what I'm doing wrong?

I did buy 2 kits but I'llbe danged if I'm messing with the other one since 1. it ain't leaking, and 2. I seem to be plumbing stupid.

[Loon160T]

I'm not a plumber either but I've done that job before. I can't remember if the gasket had a specific top and bottom or if both sides were the same. If they were different, did you orient the gasket correctly? I also seem to remember that you can also over tighten the the bolts and compress the gasket enough to cause it to leak.

[oldogy]

Hope this does not come in as a duplicate post.

I am not a plumber either but I have played one a time or two.

If you have a leak between the tank and the bowl I would certainly look at that big old thick gasket that fits between the two pieces. Do not ask me how I know that it is easy to get the gasket out of position.

Also, in working with those plastic parts avoid over tightening as the parts do crack. Be especially careful of the fitting going into the tank level valve, use soft seat connection hose on plastic parts.

I just went through this mess last week.

BTW, several years back the wife was taking an engineering class where the subject was plumbing. The prof told the class the only thing a plumber had to know was:

1. Crap runs down hill

2. Hot left, cold right

3. Payday is Friday

4. The boss is a SOB

good luck,

oldogy

[Guest GT_Rat]

I'm not a plumber either but I've done that job before. I can't remember if the gasket had a specific top and bottom or if both sides were the same. If they were different, did you orient the gasket correctly? I also seem to remember that you can also over tighten the the bolts and compress the gasket enough to cause it to leak.

I've done that job as well and the tank gasket is top/bottom specific. Also make sure you're doing the tank bolts correctly. Mine bolted to the tank first and then bolted to the bowl as well. If you read that correctly you'll know that I had to disassemble mine 3 times to get it right.

On the plus side I can do it pretty quickly now.

[enfield]

I can't see that it would hurt a thing to put some silicone grease or even vaseline on both sides of the gasket before assembly. Should reduce seepage.

IANAP.

[enfield]

Hope this does not come in as a duplicate post.

I am not a plumber either but I have played one a time or two.

If you have a leak between the tank and the bowl I would certainly look at that big old thick gasket that fits between the two pieces. Do not ask me how I know that it is easy to get the gasket out of position.

Also, in working with those plastic parts avoid over tightening as the parts do crack. Be especially careful of the fitting going into the tank level valve, use soft seat connection hose on plastic parts.

I just went through this mess last week.

BTW, several years back the wife was taking an engineering class where the subject was plumbing. The prof told the class the only thing a plumber had to know was:

1. Crap runs down hill

2. Hot left, cold right

3. Payday is Friday

4. The boss is a SOB

good luck,

oldogy

5. Don't chew your nails.

[oldogy]

5. Don't chew your nails.

Yep, probably the most important.

oldogy

[StumpyBeagle]

If it's leaking all the time then it's probably not the seal between the bowl and the tank. Water is only present there when the toilet is flushed. Does the toilet constantly refill itself during the day? It could be seeping from the flush valve. Did you replace the gaskets around the flush valve? Did the kit you used have replacement tank bolts as well? If its not the flush valve gaskets and if the kit you used had new bolts as well then you probably have a hair line crack in the tank. You might get some blue food coloring put it in the tank and let it sit without flushing and find where it's coming from. If the water you wipe up isn't blue it could be a slow leak coming from the tank fill valve. The tanks are flat on the bottom so the water may travel quite a bit before it drops from the tank. I used to do this crap (no pun intended) for a living a long, long, long time ago.

[Paletiger13]

Hey man, call me. I have plenty exp. with maintenance related stuff. About 12 yrs worth. Charles 615-419-7219