How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet by Reseating it
- Remove the Hold-down Bolts. Begin repairing the wobbly toilet by turning off the water supply. You can find the water...
- Lift and Remove the Wobbly Toilet. Standing over the bowl, twist and rock it to break its seal. Lift the toilet...
- Remove the Old Seal. Use a putty knife to scrape off the old wax seal (also called a...
What causes a toilet to be wobbly?
What Causes a Toilet to Wobble?
- Toilet Seat. Your toilet may be wobbling and you may notice that the problem is the toilet seat. ...
- Closet Bolts. These are probably the first thing you want to inspect in the case of a rocky toilet — and thankfully, they’re also quite an easy fix.
- Flange Locks. ...
- Flange. ...
- Wax Rings. ...
- Flooring and Toilet Base Gaps. ...
How to fix an unbalanced toilet?
- Turn off the water supply at the shutoff valve, then flush the toilet multiple times until all the water has drained from the tank
- Reach into the tank and gently remove the flapper by pulling it off the two studs on both sides of the flush valve
- Remove the chain from the flush handle lever
How to fix an unlevel toilet?
Tools You Will Need:
- Flush and Empty the Toilet Turn off the water supply to your toilet by turning the supply knob behind your unit. ...
- Remove the Toilet Tank First, lay down towels to protect your floors. ...
- Remove the Toilet Bowl To remove the toilet bowl, pry off the bolt caps at the base of the toilet using a screwdriver. ...
How to fix a frequently clogged toilet?
To fix a toilet that keeps on clogging:
- Use an auger to remove the clog
- Unclog the vent stack
- Adjust the flapper chain length
- Only flush down toilet paper
- Avoid using too much toilet paper
- Adjust water level in the tank
How do you stabilize a wobbly toilet?
To steady a rocking toilet, cut plastic shims to fit and slip them underneath (you may have to remove caulk before adding shims). Then caulk around the toilet and snug down the nuts on the bolts. But don't crank them down super-tight; that can crack the toilet.
Why is my toilet so wobbly?
Toilets wobble when they aren't held securely to the floor, and if you let the wobble persist, they can leak and give you more serious problems. More often than not, the wobble is caused by loose toilet bolts, but the flange may also be responsible. It may be corroded, broken or set too high.
Why is the back of my toilet wobbly?
Why is Your Toilet Tank Wobbling? Your toilet tank typically wobbles because the bolts that hold the toilet tank to the toilet bowl are loose. Loose connecting bolts allow the tank to shift. However, your tank may wobble because the rubber gasket connecting the tank to the bowl is old, damaged, or too thin.
How do you fix a wobbly toilet on this old house?
1:1113:28How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet and Stuck Faucet Handle | Ask This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThese are called closet bolts you'll see that they have a little shape right here that allows you toMoreThese are called closet bolts you'll see that they have a little shape right here that allows you to go into a keyway. And these have to be exactly 12 inches on center off the back of the building.
Why does my toilet keep rocking?
Toilets usually rock because they are not resting flush against the floor. Underneath the toilet base is a round toilet flange that connects the toilet to the drain pipe. If the flange is a little higher than the surrounding flooring, the toilet becomes raised slightly in the center, allowing it to rock to either side.
How much does it cost to fix a wobbly toilet?
On average, it will cost from $45 to $197 to repair a toilet yourself or between $130 and $310 to have professional repairs done by a plumber. The hourly charge for a plumbing contractor is $72 to $82, which does not include parts or materials.
Can a plumber fix a wobbly toilet?
To fix the loose toilet, the plumber will replace the flange and remedy any moisture problems, leaks or loose connections. Poor installation: Shoddy workmanship on a toilet installation can cause problems down the road, such as a wobbly toilet.
Should you caulk around a toilet?
Caulk Keeps the Toilet Secure Think again! Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. It's actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?
How do you fix a rocking toilet on an uneven floor?
0:201:50How to Set a Toilet on an Uneven Surface : Toilet MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI like using plastic shims for this it beats going out there and getting your floor set and try toMoreI like using plastic shims for this it beats going out there and getting your floor set and try to make a big mess trying to just level it out a little bit these floor shims are able to be stacked.
How do you fix a rocking toilet on an uneven floor?
0:201:50How to Set a Toilet on an Uneven Surface : Toilet MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI like using plastic shims for this it beats going out there and getting your floor set and try toMoreI like using plastic shims for this it beats going out there and getting your floor set and try to make a big mess trying to just level it out a little bit these floor shims are able to be stacked.
Should you caulk around a toilet?
Caulk Keeps the Toilet Secure Think again! Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. It's actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?
Why Your Toilet Is Wobbly
The most common reason for a wobbly toilet is that the toilet isn’t securely fastened to the floor. Loose toilet bolts are a fairly easy fix. However, the problem could also be that the flange, or the part that secures the toilet to the floor, is corroded, broken, or set too high.
How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet
Fixing a wobbly toilet can often be achieved in under a minute if it's just about tightening the flange bolts. Other items you may need to put a little more effort in. We’ll detail the steps you need to take in identifying the problem with your wobbly toilet and how to fix it.
When to Call a Professional
Fixing a wobbly toilet ranges from easy to complicated. If you notice a leak, you’ll have to remove the toilet and install a new wax ring. As we mentioned above, while this process is not super complicated, moving the toilet may be intimidating. If you have any doubts, call the pros!
How to fix a loose toilet flange?
Check the flange bolt at each side of the toilet, using a pair of pliers or a small wrench. If a bolt is loose, tighten it slowly just until it is snug. Check the other bolt to make sure it is equally snug, then test the toilet for rocking. ...
How to level a toilet?
As you work, check the toilet for stability by sitting on the seat and rocking in all directions. Repeat until the toilet doesn't move in any direction.
What does it mean when a toilet horn leaks?
But if there are signs of leaking around the base, it likely means that the wax ring sealing the toilet horn to the toilet flange has become old and compressed.
Why do plumbers leave the backside of the toilet?
For this reason, some plumbers leave the backside of the base—the side you can't see—without caulk so that leaking water will announce itself by running out onto the floor.
Why do toilets rock?
Toilets usually rock because they are not resting flush against the floor. Underneath the toilet base is a round toilet flange that connects the toilet to the drain pipe.
How to keep shims in place?
You can add a dab of caulk below the shims to help them stay in place. Let the caulk dry overnight before trimming the shims.
Check the Bolts
Before springing into full plumber mode, you should check the bolts first. The problem could be a simple loosening of the two flange bolts at the base of the toilet. Check the one on each side and if any is loose, tighten it. If you find a broken bolt, you should replace it.
Look for Signs of Leakage
The first major step to repairing a wobbly toilet is looking for signs of leakage. Check the base of the toilet carefully for signs of water. If you don’t find any, you can proceed to the next step. But if there are leaks around the base, it means that there is something wrong with the wax ring sealing the toilet horn to the flange opening.
Test the Floor for Gaps
Check the floor around the flange opening and try to find any gaps between the toilet and the floor. Watch out for small spaces, as even the smallest one can be an issue.
Insert the Shims
Once you identify any gaps, insert some shims to help level the toilet. The best shims to use are the small plastic ones with ridges. Wooden shims work, yes, but I do not recommend them as they are prone to moisture damage.
Caulk the Base
Now that you’ve done a good job of balancing the toilet, all you need to do is seal the gaps along the floor with caulk. This step is necessary for a finished look. It will also prevent mop water and crud from getting under the toilet base.
Why Does My Toilet Wobble?
This question gets at the heart of why we’ll be reseating the toilet when it rocks.
How to break a toilet seal?
Standing over the bowl, twist and rock it to break its seal. Lift the toilet straight up and off the hold-down bolts. Let the water from the trap run into a pan or bucket. Porcelain can break easily. So, gently lay the toilet on its side on a pad of newspapers or old blanket.
What happens if a toilet hold down bolt is bent?
If the toilet hold-down bolts are bent, corroded, or damaged in any way, you will need to replace them with a new pair.
How to lift a toilet off the floor?
Bend your knees when lifting the toilet off the floor. Make sure to lift straight up. Doing this with a helper is recommended.
How to contact Tom Plumber?
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help reseating a wobbly toilet or repairing a toilet leak.
Why is my toilet loose?
Your loose toilet troubles could be related to the way your toilet was last installed. This can happen if you have your bathroom floor redone, and the level or height of the floor changed. If this is the case, check that the installer didn’t shim the toilet to raise it up.
What happens when you lift up a toilet?
Don’t forget that whenever you lift up your toilet, you’ll be breaking the wax seal that keeps water from leaking.
Can a rocking toilet be solid again?
Follow the directions, and your rocking toilet will be solid again.
Do toilet bolts go directly to the floor?
While this is true, you should know that the bolts don’t go directly to the floor. Instead, they secure to a toilet flange. Think of this flange as a strong metal or plastic ring. It’s this piece that is bolted to the floor, and also sometimes secured to the drain pipe called a “bend”, which is made of sturdy iron.
Can you tighten a toilet?
No need to be as tight as your muscles can muster, since the material your toilet is made from can crack under too much strain.
Can a rocking toilet cause water leakage?
Fortunately, a rocking toilet isn’t going to cause you much personal harm, but a loose, wobbly toilet is still something you should fix. This is actually kind of important since it can eventually lead to sewer gas leakage or worse, a water leak that can damage your home. Is this an easy fix?
