If you have noticed a crack in your toilet water tank, you should take steps to address this issue right away. A leaking toilet can cause extensive water damage if it isn't fixed promptly. Read on to find out more!
Step 1: Cut off the water supply
The first step is to quickly turn off the water supply to avoid flooding. If you don't know where your toilet's shutoff valve is located, check your utility room or basement for a shutoff valve mounted on a nearby pipe. If you can't find it on a nearby pipe, you may have to turn off the main water supply for your entire house.
Step 2: Find out how bad the crack is
After you've cut off the water supply, remove the top portion of your toilet tank and look at the bottom of it to see if there's any water seeping out from underneath. If the tank is dry, you can proceed to
Step 3: Remove any remaining water from the tank
Remove as much water as possible with a bucket. If you don't have one available, use a rag or a towel that can absorb some of the remaining water. Be sure not to push down on the toilet tank while it's full of water, as doing so could cause it to crack even more.
Step 4: Disinfect the crack and clean up any water
Next, you should disinfect both sides of the crack using antibacterial soap and clean linens. Toilets aren't the cleanest parts of the house so it is important to minimise the risk of contamination and infection. Failure to do so could result in a nasty illness.
Step 5: Call an emergency plumber
If the crack is large enough to need patching, you would want to ask a local emergency plumber to come and make the repair or replace your toilet. A good plumber will neither charge too much for their services nor do unnecessary work. If you are unable to reach a plumber in time, proceed to Step 6, which provides simple instructions for repairing cracks yourself.
Step 6: DIY Fix
One of the ways you can repair a cracked toilet is with quick-drying cement. First, mix the powder from a small bag of cement with water in your bathroom until it forms a thick, but workable paste. Place this paste into the crack as a temporary solution.