Often times a toilet will develop a small leak where it meets the floor.  Sometimes your only clue will be a wet rug, sometimes it’s much more obvious.  If there are no signs of leakage at the valve, supply line or tank area chances are good it’s the wax seal that’s leaking.  The wax ring that is used to seal the toilet to it’s mounting flange is not reusable and will need to be replaced with a new one. 

Toilet with a Leaking Wax Seal

All it takes is for the closet bolts to loosen up the smallest amount and allow the toilet to move for the wax seal to be compromised.   When this toilet was set previously, the metal washers were placed directly on the porcelain and they rusted.  When the washers rust they get weaker and flex, allowing the toilet to move and the wax seal to leak.

Rusty Hardware Causes Leakage

Once the toilet is pulled, the wax seal can be inspected.  Regardless of it’s condition, it needs to be replaced as they are not reusable.  This one was leaking due to the previously mentioned movement.   You can see the discoloration and moisture in the picture.

Old Wax Seal

After the old wax seal is removed, the closet flange can be inspected.  This one was in fine shape and mounted securely to the sub-floor.  If it weren’t in good shape, now would be the time to repair the flange.  If leaks go untended structural damage can occur.  Even small leaks can cause large amounts of damage to the sub-floor and joists. 

New Wax Seal

After the new wax seal is installed the toilet can be reset.  This time the plastic washers are installed under the metal washers.  This will keep the new metal washers from rusting and make sure this toilet doesn’t begin to loosen up and leak in the future.

New Hardware and Plastic Washer Installed

Now that the toilet is reinstalled, it can be tested.  After it’s been checked for leaks the plastic caps are installed over the hardware and a bead of caulking is run around the base.  While this toilet may look the same as it did earlier, it is now leak free and ready to use.

Reset with a New Wax Seal and Hardware

Rocksteady Plumbing can also help you with your water treatment needs.   Whether it be repair of a non-working unit, replacement of an old water softener or a new installation.  Rocksteady Plumbing has knowledge that most plumbing companies don’t have when it comes to water treatment.  Nearly any plumbing company can install a new water softener, filter or reverse osmosis.   Very few companies can correctly repair a non-working softener or R.O. unit.  Many times the economical choice is to replace an old and outdated unit but sometimes the better choice is repair.  We are able to determine which option is a more sensible choice.  Rocksteady Plumbing can service water softeners and reverse osmosis units made by such companies as Fleck, Autotrol, Northstar, G.E., Kenmore, Ecowater, Watts, Watersafe, and many more. 

Here is a Fleck 5600 Econominder water softener that needed a simple repair to keep it working 100%.

Fleck 5600 Econominder Water Softener

After the head was broken down the parts can be inspected.  What’s good will be reused and what needs replacement will be changed out for new parts.   Rocksteady Plumbing can offer recommendations on varying stages of repair and let the customer decide how they would like to proceed.

Fleck 5600 Econominder Head Broken Down for Inspection

In this instance, only the piston seals were worn and the softener was rebuilt with a new seal kit.  After everything is put back together the softener is again tested for proper operations.  If any further problems develop they can be dealt with now, rather than waiting for the customer to call days later saying it’s still not working.  This one needed no further work and went back into service with a clean bill of health.  The entire repair was less than $200 and saved the customer nearly $1000 over replacing the unit with a new one that wasn’t needed.

These pictures are from a customer in Atascadero.  His main sewer line was heavily impacted with roots and the only available clean-out was over 115 feet away from the blockage.  In order to allow the line to be properly cleaned we excavated the main line 80 feet from the house and installed a new full size clean out.  After the new clean out was installed we were able to clean the line better than it’s been for many many years.  Now the customer can have the line maintained easily twice a year to keep the roots at bay until a further repair can be budgeted for.

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