Home Expansion Basics: Understanding The Construction Process

What To Do To Fix A Toilet With A Case Of The Sweats

Posted on: 8 June 2016

As far as plumbing fixtures go, toilets are pretty darn reliable as far as plumbing repairs go. Yet they are still susceptible to developing certain quirky problems all their own. If you are interested in learning more about basic plumbing repairs involving toilets, read on. This article will teach you three ways to tackle one common toilet annoyance: a chronically sweaty tank.

Install a drip tray.

A sweaty toilet may not strike you as a very serious problem. But condensation dripping down onto the floor can actually lead to serious problems. That's because the floor will remain in a near constant state of dampness. This may lead to tiles or vinyl flooring coming loose, mold or mildew infestation, and rot developing in the sub-floor.

A drip tray is a kidney shaped plastic dish that sits on the floor beneath your tank. It's purpose is to catch the water that falls off of the tank, thus protecting your floor from damage. Clearly a drip tray isn't a permanent solution to the problem. Yet it's a great way to protect against more costly forms of damage in the meantime.

Make some adjustments to your bathroom routines.

Toilet condensation is formed when the temperature difference between the tank water and the bathroom air becomes great enough. A high humidity level also tends to exacerbate the problem. Fortunately, these factors can be minimized by making subtle alterations to certain habits.

For instance, always be sure to run your bathroom's ventilation fan while showering. Those who don't have a bathroom fan can achieve a similar effect by leaving the door ajar when showering. This will promote the circulation of cooler, drier air. Condensation can also be reduced by not flushing the toilet when the bathroom is steamy and hot.

Replace a worn or broken toilet flapper.

In certain cases, the root cause of a sweaty tank is of a mechanical nature. A worn or damaged flapper allows water to seep out of the tank into the bowl. This trips the switch that causes the tank to refill itself. The constant influx of fresh cold water caused by this cycle makes it much more likely for condensation to become a problem.

Replacing bad flappers means the water in the tank will stay there until the next time you flush. This gives the water a greater chance of coming up to room temperature, meaning sweat is less likely to develop. Inspect your flapper for signs of wear. Replacement flappers are inexpensive, and the installation process is a breeze.

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