Has the thought of your toilet falling through the floor ever crossed your mind? Probably not, but if you live in an older house, chances are that it has.
But is there a possibility of that happening? Of course. If your bathroom floor is leaking and consequently softens, then chances are that it may fall through. This is because it can no longer hold the weight of your toilet.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the reasons why your toilet may fall through the floor and what you can do about it.
Signs That Your Floor is Compromised
A rotting floor is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to your toilet falling through. Get your bathroom floor checked if you see any of the following signs.
Warping
Your floor may be warped or bowed when you look down at it. This happens as a result of water damage, which can come from leaks or broken pipes. Warped floors can cause problems with the bathtub and shower as well, so it’s important to address this problem before it gets worse.
Cracks in the floor
The floor may have cracks in it if you have had water damage in your home before. If this is the case, then you need to get your floor repaired immediately so that it doesn’t become worse over time. The longer an area of your floor stays wet, the more likely it is that mold will grow on it and cause other problems for your home as well.
Odors
If you have been noticing an odor or bad smell coming from your toilet, it may be due to this. A toilet can fall through the floor if there is already a crack or hole in the floor that allows the water to seep through. This is most often caused by faulty plumbing in your home and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
Mold
One of the first signs of a bathroom floor that is falling through is the presence of mold. Mold gives a musty smell, and will only grow if there is moisture in the air and water is present. If there is a musty odor in your bathroom, it’s time to look for some other signs that your bathroom floor may be rotting.
Softening
Your bathroom floor is rotting if it has become soft, mushy, and weak. The ground should not be soft at all. If it is, you should get rid of it immediately as it can lead to other problems in your home. Softened floors also mean that there are problems with the subflooring underneath, which can lead to more damage over time, including your toilet falling through.
What’s the Connection Between Your Toilet and the Floor?
A toilet is secured to the floor by a device called a flange. The flange is a piece of metal that sits inside the bowl and allows water to flow freely out of the tank into the bowl. It’s held in place by a plastic ring that surrounds it and attaches to the rim of your toilet bowl, holding it securely in place.
If your toilet has been leaking from the bottom or somewhere else on your toilet, you might have noticed that the water was leaking around this ring. If so, then you may be able to fix this yourself without calling an expert plumber.
How to determine if your Toilet is Leaking
The most common cause of a toilet leaking is a loose connection between the tank and the bowl. A loose connection can be caused by a broken seal or broken bolts that hold the tank to the bowl. If you have an older model toilet, you may also need to replace your flapper valve.
One of the first signs you are likely to notice is a puddle of water on your floor. Other signs include a softening floor and a musty smell caused by mold and mildew.
If your toilet is sitting on a subfloor, it’s likely that the floor is rotten and ready to fall through. The solution would be a repair or replacement.
How to Detect Water Damage in Your Bathroom
First, you want to ensure there is no standing water on the floor or any other source of running water. If there is, turn off the water and call a plumber right away.
If there isn’t any standing water, then you can begin looking for signs of moisture damage. The first thing to look for is warping and buckling in flooring and walls. Warping can be caused by something as simple as a leaky toilet flapper valve, which can quickly lead to major problems if left unchecked. Buckling can also be caused by a leaking toilet or sink faucet, but it isn’t as likely as warping.
Warped flooring may also indicate that there has been significant damage to the sub-flooring below the surface of your bathroom flooring material. This type of damage will usually show up just beneath the surface layer of tile or wood flooring material.
If you find any signs of moisture damage in your bathroom, then there’s no reason not to call an experienced plumbing professional right away.
Can a Leak Cause the Ceiling to Collapse?
Water damage can cause the ceiling to collapse. This is usually caused by water leaking through the foundation or a pipe leak. If you notice signs of water in the ceiling, such as staining or discoloration, you may need to contact a plumber immediately.
What to Do When Your Toilet Begins to Fall Through the Floor
The first thing you need to do once you realize that your toilet is sinking is to turn off the water line. Next, you want to remove the flooring around it. If it is rotten, you will have to do a replacement.
Cut a piece of plywood to fit the area where you have detached the rotten floor and secure it with wood screws until it is tight. The final step involves covering the plywood with a flooring option of your choice and putting back the toilet.