Why Your Toilet SweatsThe shivering toilet. This is a moist, drippy, and all-too-common issue for Chicagoland homes, and if left untreated, it may spread and cause severe damage to bathroom flooring.
So, what exactly is causing your toilet to sweat, and what can you do to stop it before it causes mold, mildew, and water damage?
The good news is that the sweating dampness on the exterior of your toilet isn’t the result of a leak or a plumbing backlog – so don’t freak out! Instead, sweat is merely condensation, frequently induced by a temperature difference.
Condensation will build if the water temperature within your toilet tank is significantly different from the temperature of your room. This is why most toilets sweat in the spring and summer (just like humans); the cold water in your toilet tank causes the tank’s surface to cool. Condensation – or “sweat” – occurs when this cool surface touches your bathroom’s warm, humid air.
Small drips and droplets might migrate down your toilet and splash on the floor below when there is too much condensation. Therefore, although a trickle here and there may not be enough to cause concern, a “drip here and there” over time may quickly pile up.
Mold and rotting may arise as a consequence of continuous moisture, necessitating the replacement of the flooring foundation surrounding the toilet or the whole bathroom floor.
How to Stop It
So, how can you combat that awful, watery “sweat”?
An anti-sweat valve, which connects the cold water line to your toilet and may also be connected to your hot water, is your best bet for preventing condensation from accumulating. The valve may transfer warm water to the cooler water in your tank, bringing the water temperature back to room temperature.
If hiring a plumber to install this hardware does not seem feasible, there are a few do-it-yourself options you might consider:
Cover the tank: Wrap a towel or other absorbent material around the tank’s exterior to remove leaking moisture.
Insulate the tank: They are available in-store and are comprised of protective materials such as foam, which adhere to the interior of your tank and help prevent it from becoming too cold.
Use a ventilation fan in your bathroom: This will assist in lessening the general humidity and warmth of the bathroom, reducing the likelihood of your toilet sweating.
Lower the temperature of your shower/bath: This also reduces the quantity of heat and humidity in the space.
Buy a water-saving toilet: Less water in your tank allows for less condensation to build.
Buy a toilet with a temperature-increasing (tempering) tank: A second tank will pre-warm the water before it enters the bigger tank.
So, what exactly is causing your toilet to sweat, and what can you do to stop it before it causes mold, mildew, and water damage?
The good news is that the sweating dampness on the exterior of your toilet isn’t the result of a leak or a plumbing backlog – so don’t freak out! Instead, sweat is merely condensation, frequently induced by a temperature difference.
Condensation will build if the water temperature within your toilet tank is significantly different from the temperature of your room. This is why most toilets sweat in the spring and summer (just like humans); the cold water in your toilet tank causes the tank’s surface to cool. Condensation – or “sweat” – occurs when this cool surface touches your bathroom’s warm, humid air.
Small drips and droplets might migrate down your toilet and splash on the floor below when there is too much condensation. Therefore, although a trickle here and there may not be enough to cause concern, a “drip here and there” over time may quickly pile up.
Mold and rotting may arise as a consequence of continuous moisture, necessitating the replacement of the flooring foundation surrounding the toilet or the whole bathroom floor.
How to Stop It
So, how can you combat that awful, watery “sweat”?
An anti-sweat valve, which connects the cold water line to your toilet and may also be connected to your hot water, is your best bet for preventing condensation from accumulating. The valve may transfer warm water to the cooler water in your tank, bringing the water temperature back to room temperature.
If hiring a plumber to install this hardware does not seem feasible, there are a few do-it-yourself options you might consider:
Cover the tank: Wrap a towel or other absorbent material around the tank’s exterior to remove leaking moisture.
Insulate the tank: They are available in-store and are comprised of protective materials such as foam, which adhere to the interior of your tank and help prevent it from becoming too cold.
Use a ventilation fan in your bathroom: This will assist in lessening the general humidity and warmth of the bathroom, reducing the likelihood of your toilet sweating.
Lower the temperature of your shower/bath: This also reduces the quantity of heat and humidity in the space.
Buy a water-saving toilet: Less water in your tank allows for less condensation to build.
Buy a toilet with a temperature-increasing (tempering) tank: A second tank will pre-warm the water before it enters the bigger tank.
