# Logically, where could this toilet leak possibly be coming from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753 "2024-04-25T19:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/21 "2024-04-26T14:14:16Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > This is a modern low-flow toilet where the major part of the downflow from the tank is jetted out of that hole to encourage a vigorous flush actuon down the trap with a minimum of water building up in the bowl. This is the answer. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/22 "2024-04-26T14:20:50Z")
Early in our relationship, my gf asked me to look at the toilet in her guest bathroom, which was running. The toilet was original to the house, but in OK condition overall. I told her I could “replace the guts” in the tank. She told me she’d rather just replace the toilet, so she’d contact a plumber. I told her there was no need for a plumber. She was skeptical, but we went to Lowe’s and she picked out a toilet. The salesman asked if we needed a wax ring. Not knowing what I’d find when I removed the toilet, I replied, “two”. Long story short, I replaced the toilet. Shortly after that I moved in. I sometimes wonder if things would be different today had I not been so good with DIY plumbing. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/23 "2024-04-26T15:40:15Z")
BTW, here’s my experience of how much a leaking toilet can cost: > [@Did you jiggle the handle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-jiggle-the-handle/996416): > > I guess not. Some used the toilet in the house we just bought, and didn’t notice that it never stopped running. In the time between when they did this and when we took possession of the house (around a month later), that little bit of carelessness cost us 110,000 gallons of water and $800. Not to mention the panic that we might have a burst pipe. I was very lucky to have a nice person from the city go out and look at the meter for me and confirm that it’s not running. It would have been 16 hou… ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/24 "2024-04-26T21:19:39Z")
Ok so I changed the flapper and the leak has reduced to a drip every 10 seconds or so which ends up being about an inch worth of water level after an hour and a half. Not sure if that math works out but the water level decrease was real. I checked the flush valve and didn’t feel any calcium deposits so I guess that’s the next thing to replace? I mean the leak is 95% fixed but I figure I should fix it to 100 while I’m at it. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/25 "2024-04-26T21:26:14Z")
You might try a different brand. Not all flappers are created equal. I had problems with Fluidmaster in the past, switched to Korky and problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753/26 "2024-04-27T04:16:26Z")
I think it’s been mentioned, but I’ll mention it (again if necessary). Sometimes it’s not the flapper or outlet valve. It’s the seating surface of the outlet pipe. It could be corroded or encrusted with minerals, which would present an uneven surface that the flap seals poorly against. How to proceed depends on the cause. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logically-where-could-this-toilet-leak-possibly-be-coming-from/1000753.md?page=1)