Damp patch next to WC pan, where is it coming from?

[Fred Bloggs]

Good afternoon all. Several weeks ago I noticed a damp patch either side of a close coupled Twyfords WC that we have in our shower room. I have been unable to determine where the dampness in the tile grouting on the floor is coming from. I have looked carefully on several occasions but I can't see any signs of a water leak from any fittings, the cistern or the connection into the soil pipe. I am completely stumped. I had though that the bottom of the pan must be porous but I have had this WC about 4 years now and the damp patch only started a few months ago. I have inspected the inside of the pan very carefully with a bright light to look for cracks or any other signs that could indicate a leak. I have even taken the cistern off and refitted it with new sealing washers to be 100% sure there is no leak from the cistern, but the damp is toward the front of the pan, not at the rear where a leaky cistern would cause damp to show. I am completely stumped, the only place the damp can be coming from the the pan but that would mean it must be porous after 4 years. Has anyone seen this before?



Thanks.

Regards.

Fred.

 

[Gray0689]

Could be a drip from pan connector or could be a hair line crack in pan

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Could be a drip from pan connector or could be a hair line crack in pan

Thanks, no sign of any moisture further back so I'm tending to think a hairline crack in the pan is most likely. Close inspection inside the bowl with a bright light didn't reveal anything but it must be there I think.

 

[Gray0689]

Is it damp all the time or does it dry up if not used for a while

 

[jase158]

What I normally do is, dry all the toilet with tissue, so the toilet is completely dry, then flush toilet until you can see a drip from somewhere.

If no luck, only way to see if there is a hair line crack is to take apart and have a look under neath.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Is it damp all the time or does it dry up if not used for a while

I thought it would dry up while we were on holiday for two weeks, but it didn't. The size of the damp grout patch various a little but it is pretty much always there to a greater or lesser degree. If I force dry it with a hair dryer it comes back pretty soon after. There is no sign at all of actual free water oozing from under the pan, just the damp grouting shows. Thanks.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

What I normally do is, dry all the toilet with tissue, so the toilet is completely dry, then flush toilet until you can see a drip from somewhere.

If no luck, only way to see if there is a hair line crack is to take apart and have a look under neath.

Thanks, it is not actually damp enough to wet a tissue, but drying it with a dryer it gets damp again within a day or so or overnight. (Sorry, I did misread your post.) I think I have to pull the pan out and buy a new one ready.

 

[jase158]

sounds like the toilet, perhaps from boiling water being put down it, i.e. either way, I would have a look underneath.

either that or your connector to the toilet, or worse case scenario, leak underneath the floor from a pipe, i.e.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

sounds like the toilet, perhaps from boiling water being put down it, i.e. either way, I would have a look underneath.

either that or your connector to the toilet, or worse case scenario, leak underneath the floor from a pipe, i.e.

Thanks, I think you are right. I think I will buy a new pan and just change it.

 

[TerryH]

Shot in the dark idea..... any chance it might be condensation? Is the room prone to big large fluctuations in temperature ? I know it appears in one location only but you never know.
TerryH