Cracked toilets are undoubtedly an annoying and usually cosmetic issue. Failing to act quickly when you have a cracked toilet, however, can result in significant water damage. Furthermore, larger fractures can leave you facing toxic clean-up duties in your bathroom. For those with some background in DIY home repairs, it might be tempting to try to fix a cracked toilet yourself to save money. However, hiring a professional plumber to diagnose and complete the repair is the best way to ensure a lasting solution.
The goal of this article is to help Knoxville, TN homeowners understand the importance of addressing a cracked toilet early on. We’ll also touch on why professional intervention usually outweighs DIY fixes. With this in mind, let’s look at the causes, risks, and benefits of opting for expert repair services for your cracked toilet.
Why Are Cracked Toilets Such a Serious Issue?
Cracked toilets are a more urgent problem than many homeowners might realize. This is largely due to the potential for a major leak to cause extensive water damage. Even minor toilet cracks can send water onto your flooring and subflooring, causing structural problems and other issues like mold and mildew.
Even a small amount of seepage from your toilet can invite harmful bacteria into your bathroom, presenting long-term health risks if left unchecked. The good news is that cracks less than 1/16th of an inch wide can generally be repaired with a professional-grade sealant and you may not have to replace your whole toilet.
What Causes Toilet Fractures?
Toilet fractures are common and can be traced to multiple causes. Some toilet cracks are, of course, more severe than others. But like a crack in your windshield, you can expect them to progress over time.
Toilets will often crack after years of natural wear and tear. The daily use combined with its constant exposure to water weakens the ceramic material, leaving it susceptible to cracking.
Temperature fluctuations also contribute to the wear and tear a toilet experiences. Rapid temperature changes cause your toilet to expand and contract, which can induce stress fractures. Improper installation is another common problem. Wobbly toilets that are properly secured put undue strain on the unit which can eventually lead to cracks.
Likewise, something as simple as over-tightening the bolts securing your toilet to the floor creates stress points that result in fractures. Another more obvious cause of toilet cracks is accidental impacts. For example, dropping a heavy object onto your toilet can easily result in a crack, especially if the porcelain is older or already compromised.
Lastly, manufacturing defects can sometimes be at fault. While uncommon, toilets occasionally leave the factory with minor imperfections that can make them more prone to fracturing. Scheduling a timely professional repair is essential for avoiding a potential toilet-related plumbing catastrophe in your bathroom.
Identifying Cracks in Your Toilet
One of the first signs to look for is unexplained water pooling around your toilet’s base. This often indicates a hairline crack that’s letting water escape. Regularly inspecting both the interior and exterior surfaces of the toilet bowl, tank, and base for any visible lines or fractures will help you spot these small imperfections early.
Another telltale sign you have a developing crack is a wobbly toilet. If your toilet rocks slightly as you sit on it, this might indicate an underlying crack caused by an unstable base. This lack of stability often creates stress points where cracks can form.
Pay close attention to any unusual noises, as well. A faint hissing sound can imply water seeping through a small crack in the tank or bowl, and the odor of mildew or mold may suggest a hidden leak.
Also, remember to be on the lookout for signs of reduced performance. If your toilet is not flushing efficiently despite having no apparent clogs, internal cracks could be causing reduced water pressure. Regularly conducting these inspections and addressing any abnormalities promptly will help mitigate the various risks associated with cracked toilets.
What Are the Risks of Ignoring a Cracked Toilet?
Failing to act after noticing a cracked toilet is ill-advised. This can lead to some rather expensive consequences. If the leakage from your toilet gets out of hand, it can cause extensive damage to your flooring and subflooring. After letting the leak go too long, you might even be looking at major damage to the structural elements of your home.
Mold and mildew growth could develop in your bathroom, posing risks to your health. At the same time, this issue is expensive to mitigate. Depending on how bad the leak is, the excess water usage can result in inflated utility bills and wasted resources. As the cracks worsen into more substantial fractures, you’ll likely need a full toilet replacement instead of a basic repair.
Temporary DIY Fixes and Their Limitations
Many homeowners opt for DIY fixes for their cracked toilets to save time and money, but this approach frequently backfires. Running to your local home improvement store and purchasing plumbing epoxy or silicone sealant may patch up minor but visible cracks, but it’s usually not a lasting solution. These materials might temporarily stop leaks, but they’re rarely durable over the long term.
Epoxy and sealants quickly wear down, especially under constant exposure to water and cleaning agents. May hardware stores sell DIY toilet repair kits. Unfortunately, these kits usually contain adhesive patches and instructions for temporarily fixing the crack. However, this solution can keep you going a short period until you schedule a professional toilet repair or replacement. Moreover, these patches are generally only effective for small, surface-level fractures. They’re not intended to withstand the pressure of daily flushing over an extended time.
Over-tightening the bolts around the base of the toilet also are unlikely to resolve your leaks and could even exacerbate your bathroom plumbing problems by adding more stress to the already weakened areas of the bowl. This approach merely addresses the symptoms of the problem and not the root cause. The short-term fix of sealants or tightened screws fail to address the underlying issues and could lead to more expensive damage.
Why Professional Repairs Are Almost Always the Best Option
During a professional toilet repair, our licensed plumbers at Tennessee Standard Plumbing will thoroughly check over any damaged areas you observed to determine the best course of action. Our years of experience identifying visible and hidden toilet cracks let us arrive at a fast and thorough diagnosis.
We also have access to all the necessary specialty tools, high-quality sealants, and other plumbing materials to provide a more permanent solution than if you tackled the job yourself. Furthermore, all our work is guaranteed, so you can feel confident in the repairs. If you require a complete replacement, we’ll tell you exactly why upfront and can provide a detailed estimate of the expected installation costs upon request.
Apart from toilet installation and repair, we also offer drain and water treatment services along with a comprehensive suite of plumbing solutions in Knoxville, TN. If you need an emergency service, we’re just a phone call away. For more on our toilet repair, installation solutions, and leak repair, contact us at Tennessee Standard Plumbing today!
