Ceiling leaks directly below toilet: what strategy to use to fix this

[desmond]

There is insulation in the garage ceiling (below the second floor of the house) so a fiber optic camera will not work. There is leak and it does need to be repaired, you will have to cut (not rip) the drywall out because the insulation is water (or crap) logged and it will have to be removed and replaced. Use a simple $5 drywall hand saw and cut a square out of the garage ceiling around the leak, remove the insulation and this will expose the plumbing beneath the toliet and then you can make a decision to call a plumber or not. Cutting drywall is like cutting a cake with a little muscle, cut straight lines, ceiling joists will be every 16″, and remove the drywall inside the cuts. It is not that big of a deal and once you get started you will see how simple it is. You can buy a 1/2 sheet of drywall and drywall compound at Osh for less than $15 and a bag of insulation for $20.00 for replacement. Never under estimate mold, I lived in Valencia (dryer than San Diego) and I was shocked at what I ran into. Any material soaked by a leak under a toliet should be replaced anyway.

[NotCranky]

..and hope that the sub-floor and several joists are not rotted.

[NotCranky]

..and hope that the sub-floor and several joists are not rotted.

[NotCranky]

..and hope that the sub-floor and several joists are not rotted.

[NotCranky]

..and hope that the sub-floor and several joists are not rotted.

[NotCranky]

..and hope that the sub-floor and several joists are not rotted.

[KIBU]

Thank you Desmond and Rustico. Those are really great info, very helpful. I do have a drywall cutter and will do 2 square cuts. The info about stuff inside the drywall is especially helpful since I did not know what to do with all those ugly looking stuff (tear them or cut them), now I know.

[KIBU]

Thank you Desmond and Rustico. Those are really great info, very helpful. I do have a drywall cutter and will do 2 square cuts. The info about stuff inside the drywall is especially helpful since I did not know what to do with all those ugly looking stuff (tear them or cut them), now I know.

[KIBU]

Thank you Desmond and Rustico. Those are really great info, very helpful. I do have a drywall cutter and will do 2 square cuts. The info about stuff inside the drywall is especially helpful since I did not know what to do with all those ugly looking stuff (tear them or cut them), now I know.

[KIBU]

Thank you Desmond and Rustico. Those are really great info, very helpful. I do have a drywall cutter and will do 2 square cuts. The info about stuff inside the drywall is especially helpful since I did not know what to do with all those ugly looking stuff (tear them or cut them), now I know.

[KIBU]

Thank you Desmond and Rustico. Those are really great info, very helpful. I do have a drywall cutter and will do 2 square cuts. The info about stuff inside the drywall is especially helpful since I did not know what to do with all those ugly looking stuff (tear them or cut them), now I know.

[KIBU]

Okay I got it done. It feels good accomplishing such an honorable task for my wife. I said from now on she better remember me whenever she uses the toilet. She said she will remember me when the toilet is leaky again. Overall, the plumbing experience was satisfying, kind of better than my daytime job.

I did it in a day and a half, 3 trips to Homedepot and when at critical times, with one assistant, my father in law. I cut the drywall (smart move in hindsight), saw exactly where the leaks were, changed the wax seal times 1, well it leaked even more, changed the wax seal times 2, it leaked the same like the rain outside, okay change the wax seal times 3, it works.

Highly recommended for the hardcore out there. Seriously though, it’s fun doing it and you learn a lot that will ensure no more fear of toilet leaks.

[KIBU]

Okay I got it done. It feels good accomplishing such an honorable task for my wife. I said from now on she better remember me whenever she uses the toilet. She said she will remember me when the toilet is leaky again. Overall, the plumbing experience was satisfying, kind of better than my daytime job.

I did it in a day and a half, 3 trips to Homedepot and when at critical times, with one assistant, my father in law. I cut the drywall (smart move in hindsight), saw exactly where the leaks were, changed the wax seal times 1, well it leaked even more, changed the wax seal times 2, it leaked the same like the rain outside, okay change the wax seal times 3, it works.

Highly recommended for the hardcore out there. Seriously though, it’s fun doing it and you learn a lot that will ensure no more fear of toilet leaks.

[KIBU]

Okay I got it done. It feels good accomplishing such an honorable task for my wife. I said from now on she better remember me whenever she uses the toilet. She said she will remember me when the toilet is leaky again. Overall, the plumbing experience was satisfying, kind of better than my daytime job.

I did it in a day and a half, 3 trips to Homedepot and when at critical times, with one assistant, my father in law. I cut the drywall (smart move in hindsight), saw exactly where the leaks were, changed the wax seal times 1, well it leaked even more, changed the wax seal times 2, it leaked the same like the rain outside, okay change the wax seal times 3, it works.

Highly recommended for the hardcore out there. Seriously though, it’s fun doing it and you learn a lot that will ensure no more fear of toilet leaks.

[KIBU]

Okay I got it done. It feels good accomplishing such an honorable task for my wife. I said from now on she better remember me whenever she uses the toilet. She said she will remember me when the toilet is leaky again. Overall, the plumbing experience was satisfying, kind of better than my daytime job.

I did it in a day and a half, 3 trips to Homedepot and when at critical times, with one assistant, my father in law. I cut the drywall (smart move in hindsight), saw exactly where the leaks were, changed the wax seal times 1, well it leaked even more, changed the wax seal times 2, it leaked the same like the rain outside, okay change the wax seal times 3, it works.

Highly recommended for the hardcore out there. Seriously though, it’s fun doing it and you learn a lot that will ensure no more fear of toilet leaks.

[Author]

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