Water Leaking Around Toilet Base
Situation summary
You see water on the floor around the base of the toilet.
Immediate steps to limit damage
- Wipe up standing water
- Place a towel around the base to track new water
- Avoid using the toilet until you see where water comes from
- If water appears during flushing, shut off the toilet’s water supply valve
Can you try anything here?
Yes.
What you can try
- Dry the floor and place dry paper towels around the base — this may make fresh water easier to identify
- Wrap a dry paper towel around the supply connection — this may reveal a slow drip
- Shut off the toilet’s water supply valve — this may help confirm whether the leak is tied to tank filling
When professional help is needed
- Water is seeping from under the toilet base
- The toilet feels loose or rocks
- You smell sewage or see dirty water
- Water damage is spreading into the floor
- Water continues to appear after drying the area and placing towels
- Water appears every time you flush, even after drying the area and placing towels
- The area stays wet after drying
Background (optional)
A failed wax ring can allow water to escape at the base during flushing. Fixing it usually requires lifting the toilet and resetting the seal.