Some toilets loosen after a certain period of time and start to leak. If your toilet becomes wobbly and unstable while sitting, then it needs to get tightened before the problem worsens.
In today’s guide, we go through 5 simple steps to fix a wobbly toilet, which will prevent future issues like base water leaks, wax seal issues and damage to the toilet itself.
Identifying the Wobble Issue
First, before you even start thinking about repairing a wobbling toilet, you need to find the cause of the toilet’s leak. It could be that the bowl itself has loosened.
Check if your toilet is firm on the floor. If not, this could cause the wobbling. To figure out whether a loose bowl is an issue with your toilet, try to move the bowl from side to side.
The bolts located at the base of the toilet may need tightening. Use a small wrench to tighten.
A leak may also be caused by a damaged wax ring. The wax ring is located underneath the toilet, attached to the floor. Unscrew the toilet and lift it to examine the wax ring. If the wax ring is in great condition, it will most likely be able to prevent any type of leakage. This should be replaced if it is faulty with excess water in the surrounding floor.
Another potential cause of leaking is an uneven floor level in your bathroom. If the floor is uneven, water will escape from the opening between the bowl and the floor surface.
Tools Needed for Repair
In order to successfully fix a wobbling toilet, you will need certain tools. Make sure you gather the following items before you start the repair process.
- Small wrench
- Putty knife
- Grinder
- Washers
- Spirit level
- Caulk
- Bolt caps
- Vacuum cleaner
Fixing the Toilet Wobble in 5 Steps
1. Empty the Water
Before you remove the toilet, you have to stop the flow of water and drain it. Shut off the valve controlling the water supply.Then, hold down the toilet tank lever and wait until all the water flows out. Empty the toilet bowl as well. Use your wrench to disconnect the pipe from the toilet.
2. Remove Toilet
In order to lift the toilet, remove the removable caps on the base. After that, remove the hex nuts with your wrench, making sure to store them in a safe place. Remember, there will most likely be dirt on the bottom of the toilet, and it could stain the floor. Laying down cardboard or old newspaper on your floor can avoid a mess. Carefully put the toilet on the cardboard or the newspaper and wash your hands.
3. Examine Closet Flange
There are a couple different approaches to fixing the flange. You can either replace the flange completely or add a repair plate. If the damage is minimal, simply adding a repair plate may be enough. If the plate doesn’t fit in place properly, you can use a chisel. Place the plate underneath the old groove and thread down the bolt. If it is too damaged, you’ll want to replace the flange completely.
4. Change Flange
Before you even start removing the old flange, remember that you need to be extremely careful not to damage the drainpipes. If you cannot handle this task by yourself, we highly recommend calling a professional plumber. If you do decide to take on this project on your own, you can follow these next steps.
Before you pull out the closet flange with a pry bar, use a chisel to cut it away. Fit in the flange on the end of the iron. If it doesn’t meet the floor properly, use a chisel to cut more floor tiles away. Bring out the rubber gasket, place it inside the flange and put the brass ring inside the rubber gasket. Start pressing down gently with your hand until the ring is even. Finally, insert the bolts and firmly secure them using a spanner.
5. Reinstall Toilet
Finally, it is time to put the toilet back in its place. Before reinstalling the toilet, you should put in a new wax ring. A new wax ring prevents dirt or water from leaking and seals off the hole more efficiently. Place the toilet back in its position and adjust the bolts into their correct placements. Tighten the nut carefully using a wrench or a spanner and cover the bolts with their caps.
Our Final Thought
As you can see, it can be quite simple to fix a wobbly toilet with the right instructions and the necessary tools. Still, if you are not sure you can do this on your own, hiring a licensed plumber is your best bet. Depending on the cause of the wobbly toilet, you should have it stable and repaired in no time following these simple steps.