A toilet is something we rely on but it almost disappears in a bathroom. We don’t usually examine it closely and prefer to admire the shower, towels, or plants in a bathroom. After all, the toilet may look clean but it handles a dirty job.
While sitting on your toilet you may have noticed a sliver of a crack running down the side of the bowl or tank. As you investigate further you consider if it’s cause for alarm.
- Will the crack grow?
- Does the crack go all the way through the porcelain or is it just on the outside?
- Is it something I can fix or do I need a new toilet?
These questions are reasonable to ask. It wouldn’t be funny if you sat down one day and the toilet fell apart.
Before you panic and rush out to buy a new toilet, it’s important to assess the situation. In this article, I’ll share why the location of the crack matters and the various ways to fix it.
Ideally, you won’t need to buy a new toilet but you will need some plumbers putty or another silicone sealant.
How To Fix A Broken Toilet (Cracks)
Discover How The Crack Appeared
You’ve found a crack in your toilet and you’ve asked everyone in the family if they did it. How in the world does a crack occur on the toilet?
Well, cracks can occur a number of ways. Let’s review the scenarios.
- A dropped lid while checking the water level inside the tank
- A heavy user plus repetitive use has affected the integrity of the toilet
- A collision with the bowl
- An object hit the tank or bowl as it was being removed from the bathroom
- A child was using the toilet as drums
- The toilet was bumped prior to, or during, installation
- The toilet is old (unlikely, though it could happen)
Assess The Location Of The Crack
The location of the crack matters. It might be on the base of the toilet, or the bowl, or the tank or lid. A crack on the lid is a much different situation than a crack on the base of the toilet.
As a rule of thumb, a crack below the sitting position should be a reason for concern. The reason for concern comes from the fact that your body weight will put pressure on the toilet, and over time, the crack can grow (even break).
A crack on the tank and lid should also be taken seriously, however, they might be less urgent due to the fact that they won’t carry the extra weight of the person using the toilet. In the sections below, I’ll explain how to approach each scenario.
What You’ll Need To Fix A Broken Toilet
- Plumber’s Putty
- Silicone Sealant
- Flat metal to remove extra putty/sealant
Fix A Crack In The Tank or Lid
Given it’s a minor crack, repairing the tank or lid will require the least amount of work. It’s the thinnest part of the toilet so there’s a chance it will need to be replaced.
Inspecting the lid is easy, simply remove it and look on both sides. If you see a crack on both sides, it means the damage is significant. You can still try to fix it with putty or sealant but understand that the lid will still be weak – even with the support of sealant. It’s much better if the crack is only visible on one side.
Make sure the lid is completely dry and apply the putty or sealant.
The same can be done with the tank. Before applying the sealant, turn the water to the toilet off, flush the toilet so the tank empties, and allow it to dry out. Then apply the sealant and allow 1 day to dry.
Fix A Crack in The Toilet Bowl
In order to fix a broken bowl, it’s important to know how deep the crack is. The bowl is much thicker than the tank, so a crack that is visible on both sides means it’s a significant size crack.
If the crack appears on both sides of the bowl your best bet is to purchase a new toilet. Putty and sealant won’t help the crack if it’s deep inside.
If you only see the crack on one side of the toilet bowl, there’s a chance you can preserve it. Turn the water off, flush the toilet so there’s no water in the bowl and allow it to dry out.
Once the bowl is dry, apply the putty or sealant and allow the finished product to dry for one day. Refrain from using the toilet until the bowl and sealant is totally dry.
Fix A Crack In The Base Of The Toilet
A crack in the base of the toilet is similar to the bowl in that it supports your body weight each time you sit. The problem with a crack on the base of the bowl is you can’t see the inside to know if the crack is on both sides.
To fix a broken base, you’ll need to remove the toilet and look underneath. To do so follow these steps:
- Turn off the water and remove the water line from the tank
- Flush the toilet and try to remove as much water as possible from the bowl and tank (use towels to soak up extra water).
- If you have a 2-piece toilet (most toilets) unscrew the tank from the bowl.
- Next, unscrew the base of the toilet and lift the toilet up (place towels around the toilet to catch water that comes out of the toilet.
- Place the bowl on its side to investigate the crack inside and out
- If the crack is on both sides, consider buying a new toilet
- If the crack is only on one side, apply the putty or sealant and allow to dry for 12-24 hours.
- In order to reinstall the toilet, you’ll need a new wax ring (read my article on how wax rings work).
Conclusion
Fixing a broken toilet isn’t difficult, however, you’ll want to be aware 1) how it happened and 2) where it is located on the toilet.
If it’s a crack you’ll need to look at the damage thoroughly and assess whether it can be repaired with a plumber’s putty or silicone sealant.
A crack on the lid or tank is much different than damage to the base of the toilet or bowl. It’s important to check on both sides on the toilet (inside and outside) to see how deep the crack is.
Remember, your bodyweight will be placed on the bowl and base of the toilet so it’s really important to fix the broken toilet or purchase a new option. Toilets aren’t cheap, so I always recommend to do what you can to take care of your existing toilet (they are usually durable too).
I hope this gets you on the right track to fix your broken toilet. Thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article!
