Match what you notice
- Water appears while the toilet is idle or refilling
- The supply connection can leak while it is under pressure. Water may run from the isolation valve or inlet hose down the back of the pan. Tell us if the first wet spot is near the supply, at the cistern or at floor level.
- Water first appears between the cistern and pan during a flush
- On a close-coupled toilet, the cistern sits on the pan and a seal joins the two. With a separate or concealed cistern, a flush pipe carries water to the pan. The seals at either end of that pipe can leak.
- Water first appears low down or behind the pan during a flush
- The pan connector joins the toilet outlet to the soil pipe. It carries waste away and can leak when the toilet flushes. Water running down from a connection above can look similar. Leave the toilet out of use and avoid contact with suspected wastewater.
- Droplets cover the outside of a cold cistern
- Condensation can form when humid air meets the cold surface. Fine droplets across the cistern after a shower are a different clue from water starting at one joint. If water keeps pooling or you cannot trace where it starts, have it checked.
If water is still escaping
If you can safely reach the toilet’s isolation valve and know what it controls, close it. If you cannot isolate the toilet, use the internal stop tap if you can reach it safely. Call and say whether the water has stopped. Leave the toilet out of use if the pan is loose, cracked or leaking during a flush.
What to tell us about the toilet
Send a photo of the whole toilet, the flush button or plate and the accessible area where the water first appeared, if safe. Say whether the cistern is visible, in furniture or behind a wall. If the water only trickles inside the bowl, mention that too.
What AquaFix can check
We can trace visible leaks, check the supply and separate the flush connection from the waste connection. A concealed joint can need access behind a panel or removal of the pan. We check the type of connection and agree access before work.
Read about cistern faults and concealed access
Further reading
- Fluidmaster UK example of a close-coupling seal and fittings
- Geberit UK example of flush pipe fittings for a concealed cistern
- McAlpine example of a connector between the pan and soil pipe
- TOTO explanation of condensation on the outside of a cistern