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    lyaro812's Avatar
    lyaro812 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Sep 19, 2010, 07:27 AM
    Tank leaking, is there some sealant that I can buty help this to stop dripping
    Leaking toilet tank after replacing it
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    Sep 19, 2010, 08:03 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by lyaro812 View Post
    leaking toilet tank after replacing it
    Where is the leak? Did you crack the base near the tank bolts? More details please. Tom
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #3

    Sep 19, 2010, 08:10 AM

    Hi Lyaro...

    You probably won't want to hear this but you absolutely should not need any "sealants" here.

    Where is your leak exactly? Does it leak only when you flush the toilet or is it a constant drip? Did you tighten the bolts to the tank first and then tighten to the bowl or did you install the bolts through the tank and then tighten to bowl? Let me know.


    If you are having trouble as suggested then the following things could be the issue:

    1) Cracked tank - If you can't isolate a continuous leak then drip some food coloring into the tank and it will show the crack/issue on the exterior tank pretty quick... usually at the bolt holes.

    2) Used old bolts/washers - Never use the old bolts/washers.

    3) Used old tank to bowl spud washer - Never use the old spud washer.

    4) Toilet tank doesn't match to the old toilet bowl - Toilet bowl and toilet tank need to be from the same manufacturer (except for universal fit toilets).

    5) Didn't tighten new tank bolts enough - Toilet tank should have about a 1/4" play in the tank when finished tightening. Some of the newer toilets require you to tighten the tank so it tightens down to the bowl. Tighten the bolts slowly and equally.

    6) Installed tank bolt rubber washers outside the tank instead of inside the tank (believe it or not I have seen this twice in my career and one of them didn't leak for about 8 years!).

    7) Didn't install the new tank to bowl spud washer properly - Spud washer must be up tight over the entire flush valve threads and the sides of the nut.

    8) Tank to bowl spud washer got misaligned during installation (really same as #6) - Sometimes a spud washer is loose and tilts during tank installation... check alignment carefully while setting the tank and don't let the tank rock during installation.

    9) If you installed the flush valve assembly then that could also be an issue.


    Check these things and let me know the answers to my questions... glad to discuss.

    Mark

    HI TOM...I WAS WRITING WHEN YOU POSTED!
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