No Sweat!: How to Fix a Sweating Toilet

Does your toilet always look like it just finished an intense CrossFit session?

When a toilet sweats, it’s because the temperature in your bathroom is warmer than the cool water in the tank. The difference in temperatures produces condensation on the tank’s surface, kind of like how a tall glass of iced tea perspires on a hot day.

As far as plumbing problems go, a sweating toilet isn’t the worst thing that you can experience (the backflow earns that distinction), but it’s something that can cause issues down the line if left untreated.

In our legendarily humid climate, you’ll want to control condensation where you can because when water is constantly dripping on your floor, your home will suffer major damage eventually. A sweating toilet can lead to:

• Mildew

• Stained baseboards

• Rotted subfloor

• Discolored wall paint

• Soggy drywall

Condensation can even rust off the bolts holding the toilet to the floor, which could make your next sitdown a risky proposition.

Fortunately, there are some easy steps you can take to control your potty’s perspiration problem.

Insulate the Tank

An insulation kit for your toilet tank is a simple fix. The kit is comprised of a sheet of foam with an adhesively backing.

• First, drain the tank by shutting off the water supply valve and flushing it

• Next, cut the foam down to the tank’s height

• Peel off the sheet to expose the adhesive

• Apply to the inside of the tank

This should create an effective barrier between the water in the tank and the surrounding air.

Install an Anti-Sweat Valve

An anti-sweat valve connects to your supply line to ad warm water into the tank, raising the temperature so that it’s closer to that of the air outside. Installation can be complicated, requiring you to splice the copper T-fitting into the line. Unless you’re handy with tools and consider yourself a capable DIYer, this job is best left to the pros.

Ditch the Tank

If all else fails, consider upgrading your conventional commode to a tankless model. Not only does it solve the pesky sweating problem, but the tankless throne will also free up floor space. Bonus: toilets without tanks can be mounted to the wall at any height for more custom comfort.

Bottom line: A toilet sweating like a nervous teenager needs to be remedied right away. If you run into any complications with the abovementioned steps, contact Aztec Plumbing & Drains at 239-932-2959.

Learn More in Our Toilet Series:

• How Does a Toilet Work?
• When to Replace a Toilet
• How Long Does a Toilet Last?
• What to Do If My Toilet Keeps Running?
• Why Does My Toilet Keep Clogging?
• How to Plunge a Toilet Correctly
• Can Animals Crawl Up Your Toilet?
• Are Water Saving Toilets Worth It?