Last Updated on October 31, 2022 by acechapman
The temperature inside your home will rise when the outside temperatures start to rise. This is particularly true in bathrooms, which have more humidity and less ventilation. Condensation occurs when humidity builds up in a bathroom and hits the porcelain toilet tank. This is a minor problem that can damage flooring and drywall, but if not treated it could lead to mold growth. Continue reading to learn more about how to stop your toilet tank from sweating.
There are clear solutions to why your toilet tank is sweaty and steps you can take such as decreasing humidity, insulation, or installing an antisweat valve. If the problem persists, you might need to call a professional to install a humidifier or repair any water damage or mold.
What causes the toilet tank to sweat?
High humidity in the bathroom
Toilet tank sweating is caused by too much humidity in the toilet. Bathrooms are often the most humid room in the house due to showers and baths. Bathrooms also require a lot less ventilation than other rooms, especially if they don’t have ventilation fans. Reduce humidity in the bathroom to eliminate toilet tank sweat.
There is no anti-sweat valve
An anti-sweat device can stop or prevent your toilet tank from sweating even in the hottest of conditions. These valves are designed to add hot water to the water line to your toilet, which will heat the tank and bowl.
Your Toilet Tank Needs Insulation
Many homeowners don’t know that insulation is possible for a toilet. An insulated toilet is a good option in humid areas where toilet tank sweating can be a problem.
The toilet flapper may be leaking.
Leakage of the flapper could also cause sweat to drip down your toilet tank. You can test to see if your flapper is responsible by adding food coloring to the water. Wait about an hour before you check your toilet bowl for the color. If the color appears in your toilet bowl, it is likely that your flapper has sprung leakage and must be replaced.
How to Stop a Toilet Tank from Sweating
There are many things that you can do to stop your toilet from leaking.
Bathrooms should be kept dry
Reduce the humidity and heat in your bathroom.
- Install an air conditioner/dehumidifier
- When you are showering, or at least after you shower, keep the door wide open.
- Get quicker and/or colder showers
- After a shower, dry the walls
- Use an exhaust fan when you shower
- On cool, dry days, open a window in the bathroom.
Although it may seem that it is still helping, don’t open the windows if you notice humidity outside.
Insulate your toilet tank
To reduce the amount of sweating caused by the hot, humid air condensing onto the toilet’s porcelain, heat your toilet tank. A toilet tank insulation kit can be purchased at your local hardware store or plumbing supply shop. Insulate your tank quickly and easily.
How do you Insulate a Toilet Tank?
The Tank should be empty and dried
To get rid of most of your water, turn off the water supply and flush the tank.
Cut Insulation
Cut the insulation with scissors to make it fit the tank.
Peel Protective Sheet
These kits contain insulation made of closed-cell foam and an adhesive backing. Remove the backing to expose the adhesive side.
Tank Application
Attach the appropriate-sized insulation pieces to your tank’s interior.
Make sure to wrap your toilet bowl!
You could heat your tank from the outside instead of covering it with a liner. You can wrap your cistern with a cover for the tank or another piece of fabric. This is a great choice of material as it absorbs any condensation. It is important to wash the tank at least once per week as mildew can form.
Install an Anti-Sweat Valve
The anti-sweat or mixing valve connects the hot and cold water lines to the toilet. This valve allows hot water to mix with cold water before it enters the tank. This helps reduce condensation and warms up the water.
Install a Tempering Tank
This principle is similar to the anti-sweat device in that it warms the water before it goes into a toilet tank. The cold water line is connected to a separate tank that heats the water.
Purchase a new toilet
If you are unable to control the level of condensation on your toilet, there is always an option to buy a new toilet. For example, you might consider a tankless toilet. Although they are more expensive than traditional toilets, they use an electric pump to move water into the toilet and are less susceptible to condensation.
A tankless toilet might not be for you. Low-flow toilets use less water and produce less condensation. Also, low-flow toilets today often come with insulated tanks which will reduce the chance of your toilet becoming sweaty.
Wrapping up
Although it might seem like your toilet is leaking from its base, there are no leaky toilets. Your sweaty toilet can eventually cause water damage to your floors. Your floors could become a breeding ground of mold and bacteria if they are moistened by sweat from your toilet.
Pick A Toilet may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
