Water leaking around a plumbing fixture almost always traces back to one of four things: a rubber washer or gasket that has hardened, a nut or fitting that has worked loose, caulk or grout that has opened up, or a supply hose that is starting to fail. A simple dry-towel test can tell you which one you are dealing with.
Try the Dry-Towel Test
Wipe every surface around the fixture completely dry. Lay a sheet of paper towel underneath the connections. Then use the fixture normally for a minute and look for the first wet spot. Water that appears only while the fixture drains points to the drain side. Water that appears with the fixture off points to the supply side, which is under constant pressure and tends to get worse faster.
Kitchen and Vanity Sinks
On the drain side, the plastic or metal nuts on the curved trap are common culprits, along with the seal where the drain basket meets the sink. On the supply side, check the braided hoses and the little shutoff valves for beads of water. A damp countertop around the faucet base usually means an internal faucet seal has worn.
Toilets
A puddle that shows up at the base after flushing suggests the wax ring underneath has given out. A drip behind the toilet often comes from the supply hose or the bolts that join tank and bowl. If the toilet wobbles, its seal is at risk.
Tubs, Showers, and Washers
Open caulk lines and cracked grout let water creep behind the tub. Shower valves and drains can leak inside the wall where you cannot see them. Do not forget the washing machine hoses and the wall box they connect to.
If the leak persists after you snug up a connection, close the fixture’s valve and have the failing gasket, seal, or hose changed out. Replacing aging supply hoses throughout the home is a simple step during a routine plumbing service call. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.