toilet anchor bolts loose

I do all the repairs with much success. You may have to try them in a few different positions to properly level the toilet. These bolts travel through a hole at the bottom of the tank and then run through matching holes located in … Right now, I am about 1/8″- 3/16″ higher than finished floor. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Anchor bolts fit loosely, … OR, will this cause water leakage between the foundation & the floor? If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. These anchor bolts are usually secured in the concrete by means of an anchor, typically made out of lead. Any issues with using two nuts per bolt, one to tighten the bolt against the flange, another to tighten the bowl down? First drill your hole using an electric drill. If necessary, smooth the caulk with your finger, wiping your finger clean frequently with a paper towel or a rag. The ring can corrode or break, loosening its grip on the bolts. 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. The head of that bolt is now under the flange. Rocking is for concerts and chairs—not toilets. This is a semi-circle piece that fits over or underneath your broken toilet bowl flange. (2 PCS) 4.6 out of 5 stars 32. Your toilet flange should always be flush with your finished floor. step 3: install the reason for the anchor I'm showing a coat hook. Many thanks. After removing the broken iron flange, simply place in your new toilet flange. Just make sure the flange is flush tight with the top of the floor, otherwise your toilet will wobble. 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. Last edited by a moderator: … Allow the caulk to cure as directed before using the toilet. Next, give it a flush to drain the bowl water. I used this to change the seat on my Kohler toilet and it worked like a charm. When you reset the toilet, disregard the instructions on the box, and place the ring on the flange then lower the toilet into place. The flange bolts that secure the toilet base are themselves held by a metal or plastic ring at the top of the toilet flange. This method can be used for any wall hanging for which an expandable anchor was NOT used: bathroom towel bars, toilet paper holders, pictures, or any type of hook like the one shown. And finally, undo the bolts holding down the toilet. Most of us buy 2 extra nuts to go the bolts. If you lay the flange down and the bottom portion hits the tile before the inside of the upper ring comes to rest on the floor, you need to break out some of the tile. Lift the toilet up to position the base over the anchor bolts, and slide the toilet down onto the wax seal. If this is the case, you’ll need to use a chisel and hammer to break the iron flange out of position. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Tub and tile caulk (color-matched to your toilet and flooring). One guy says flange should be 1/4″ above finished floor, while another says 1/4″ below. The plumber said it was a $200 repair. Assuming again that you’re now looking at your broken toilet flange, you can remove it by unscrewing the bolts (there should be three or four depending on the model), that hold it to the floor. Step 3 Straddle the toilet, bending at the knees and lift the toilet up. Remove the toilet floor bolts evenly from side to side. Now, you might get lucky and just be able to tighten down these bolts, but if the bowl is rocking or has been for a while, it’s time to take a look at the flange underneath. Gently rock the toilet bowl side to side to break this seal. Be careful not to cut into the flooring. Let the caulk dry overnight before trimming the shims. In this case, you need to tighten them up a little bit. Put the bolts in place and secure them to the flange with these nuts. You have two choices here: Fix the broken or cracked toilet flange or replace the broken flange altogether. Check the other bolt to make sure it is equally snug, then test the toilet for rocking. The porcelain is fine and the tile floor is intact. When attaching a towel bar, curtain rod drape bracket or toilet paper holder into drywall, the best type of wall anchor to use is a Toggle Bolt. Caulk is important for a finished look and to keep mop water and crud from getting under the toilet base, but if you seal all the way around the base, the caulk can hide a leak by trapping the water. Assuming the tightening is successful, tighten both sides until the toilet is secure and not loose. Occasionally you will run into problems with stubborn anchors that don't want to unscrew; in that case, there are other solutions you can try. Tightening the bolts too much can crack the brittle porcelain of the toilet, for which there is no repair. The solution is to remove the toilet and either replace the old flange or repair it with a flange repair kit. These bolts anchor the toilet to the flange. If your rocking comes back after ​a while, or if the bolts loosen up and won't retighten, a damaged flange is likely the cause. If the tank is wobbling, then there is possibly a loose bolt in the tank that keeps it attached to the bowl. Push down on the rim of the toilet to seat the wax ring, then close the lid and sit on the toilet for a few minutes to force the toilet all the way to the floor. So I just went to tighten the flange bolts which felt tight and one snapped. You may have to carve out some of the tile or other flooring around the edge of the drain hole. Just remove the old bolts and insert the new ones. This will show you what you need to remove so that the flange’s top lip can rest on the floor like it should. To remove an anchor bolt from concrete, all that is needed is to unscrew the bolt from the anchor. A toggle bolt fits through the drywall and a spring loaded wing nut “opens up” and securely locks the bolt in place. In replacing an old round front toilet with an elongated type, I didn't think of replacing the old plastic toilet bolts with new brass bolts & nuts. 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. I need this information ASAP before the new flooring is installed in the week of 1/25/10. Use a sharpie and trace around the lower portion of the flange on the tile. 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. This is usually the more popular choice mainly because it is easier and can really do the trick if your broken toilet flange is iron or metal. Then chisel out around your trace line with a screwdriver and hammer. wax ring is pressed onto the base of the toilet before placing the toilet over the floor flange. If your toilet is wobbly or loose but not leaking, this quick fix might be just what you need. This isn’t so bad, just be sure to turn off the water supply valve first. Most of us haven’t ever removed a loose toilet before or even have a clue how it’s done. To do this correctly, you’ll have to lift the toilet from the floor, so you will need to purchase a new wax seal to replace the one you’re breaking apart by removing the toilet. What can cause a toilet to loosen? Pick one of these up (or two if you discover that both sides of your toilet flange are broken), using the previous link or visit your local hardware store. Fortunately, a rocking toilet isn’t going to cause you much personal harm, but a loose, wobbly toilet is still something you should fix. My husband doesn’t want to mention this to his dad (dad owns house). Repeat until the toilet doesn't move in any direction. Follow the directions, and your rocking toilet will be solid again. Don’t forget that whenever you lift up your toilet, you’ll be breaking the wax seal that keeps water from leaking. Apply a thin, even bead of caulk around the base of the toilet to cover the gap along the floor and hide the shims. 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. In this case, you must remove the toilet and replace the wax ring. Or better yet, replace with a wax free seal for cleaner, better installation. This will be a good time to inspect your toilet flange too. I have tried to tighten the screws but they are very badly corroded and I can't tighten them. Wood shims are not recommended because they can compress over time and are vulnerable to moisture damage. I would like to take them out and replace them but I can't get purchase with a screw driver. If the joint is not quickly retightened, the application may begin to leak fluid or gas, the bolt may break, equipment may become damaged, or catastrophic accidents may occur. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! When setting a toilet flange, the plumber will align the slots on the sides, to match up with the holes in the toilet base. Tighten your bolts by hand and make sure they all have about the same torque. To seal the space between the two to prevent leakage, a ring made of wax called a (believe it!) Can I push the front down and place a plastic wedge between the floor & the flange in the rear to level out the flange/bend, then put Hardy Backer ¼” to ½” on the floor to reduce the gap remaining? If a bolt is loose, tighten it slowly just until it is snug. Probably the easiest fix, your loose toilet may simply be due to your loose toilet mounting bolts needing to be tightened. You’ll see a nut, and it should be unmovable with your fingers. The shims stabilized the toilet … Pry off the bolt caps at the base of the toilet using a screwdriver. Had to use WD-40 and a hacksaw to create a slot in the top > and use a flat head screw driver to hold the bolt while turning the > nut. The bolts can be purchased by themselves, so don’t feel like you need to buy a whole toilet flange repair kit. We have toilet that was leaking and when I went to remove it, one of the (water closet bolts / toilet anchor bolts / t bolts) was rusted completely through and came apart in my hand. Even a small space can be the source of the problem. Not soon after, it began to wobble again slightly, until recently wobbling enough for me to loook at it again. If there are, replace the entire toilet or the toilet bowl only. The best shims for this project are small, plastic shims with ridges that help the shims stay in place. if that is concrete under it like mine, after the bolts rusted out ,i just used my rechargeable hammer drill from Home Depot (50 bucks) and concrete bit ,for drilling out the old rusted bolts and on into the concrete ,the further you drill the longer the bolt you need, use two 1/4 inch concrete bolts (Blue) with toilet washers and was done.total of 30 minutes. The other problem is the design of most toilet flanges. 99. If it still rocks, proceed with shimming the base. The best kind will be made from brass. If tightening the flange bolts or shimming the toilet base doesn't stop your toilet from rocking, there might be more significant problems down below. In any case, you can steady the toilet by shimming under its base. In fact, nothing feels less secure in this room in terms of sustaining an embarrassing injury. Follow the instructions for replacing a broken toilet flange. It may help to rock the toilet from side to side. The BEND is ¼” to 1/3” above (rear) & 5/8″ above (front) to the floor. Do this carefully! Be very careful not to damage the main pipe, called a “bend”. Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. If the gaps are too small to see, try sliding a shim under the base to see how far it goes in. You don’t want them too tight as it could be difficult to remove or even start to crack the tank itself. The bottom of the toilet bowl will be sealed to the toilet flange with a wax ring. This is called the rough-in measurement. Toilet anchor bolts have a tendancy to corrode over time. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Using your hand, check to see if the nuts holding the bolts are tight—if not, use a wrench and snugly tighten them, being careful not to over tighten, which can cause breakage or damage. Again, this isn’t a terribly difficult task. Over time, they can loosen or become damaged. If the nuts on the bolts turn, but do not tighten, remove the nuts rather than cutting the bolt. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, How to Properly Set a Toilet to Prevent Leaks, How to Troubleshoot and Fix Ceiling Leaks, Common Toilet Problems You Can Fix Yourself, 10 Tips for Installing a Kohler Highline Toilet, How to Fix a Toilet That Leaks Around the Base, Troubleshooting Garbage Disposal Problems, How to Fix Mortar Gaps in a Fireplace Firebox. This can happen if you have your bathroom floor redone, and the level or height of the floor changed. Once it dries fully, your toilet should be as good as new. You might think your loose toilet bowl is held down to the floor by a couple bolts. Think of this flange as a strong metal or plastic ring. Get it as soon as Wed, Jan 6. This problem can develop over time, such as when caulk hardens or when a surrounding floor settles a little. Your wobbly toilet may be moving because the mounting bolts that hold it down have nothing to grab onto anymore. He's a big guy and his toilet is always working loose. As DIY home repair projects go, it is about as easy as it comes—all that's required, usually, is a screwdriver. If the toilet seat is an old one, spray the penetrating oil on the two bolts. The ring is compressed between the base of the toilet and the floor flange, giving a long-lasting waterproof seal. If you have a toilet where the seat bolts are hidden inside the body of the toilet. You may want to wait a day or two to make sure. So, fixing a rocking toilet by say, replacing or repairing a broken toilet flange may seem daunting. Photo 12: Reset the toilet. Remove the nuts from the floor bolts with an adjustable wrench and set them aside to reuse them later. If either of these nuts is moving, tighten them down with a socket wrench. That will keep the bolts upright while you lower the toilet. Your help is GREATLY NEEDED! Do not remove the left bolt and then the right bolt, as the toilet might break. Align the bolt holes with the masking tape and lower the toilet bowl straight over the bolts. You’ll see a nut, and it should be unmovable with your fingers. If this is the case, check that the installer didn’t shim the toilet to raise it up. $8.99 $ 8. Sometimes a rocking toilet can be fixed by tightening the two bolts at the base of the toilet, called flange bolts or closet bolts. It will help you to hold down the bolt to loosen — that is if you are not using the plier. After lifting up the bowl, you’ll be able to see the broken toilet flange that caused the unsturdy toilet. Stop when the porcelain surface rests on the finished floor. In order to replace toilet bolts without removing toilet, you will have to unscrew the bolts with an anticlockwise movement while holding the nut with the other hand. I’m going crazy. If these bolts are actually broken, however, you’ll need to replace them. – HRG, How to Fix a Clogged or Plugged Toilet Bowl. HomeRepairGeek.com All rights reserved. When the nuts and bolts are loose already, you can always put in a screwdriver inside the head of the bolt. Step 4. Instead, they secure to a toilet flange. So without further ado, let’s see what may be causing your toilet to be loose in the first place and how to fix it. It’s job is to provide a new hole for the mounting bolts to hug onto. Home » Rocking Toilet and Loose Toilet Seat Fix. The flange bolts that secure the toilet base are themselves held by a metal or plastic ring at the top of the toilet flange. Does anyone have experience with this? If the leak persists after tightening or you find damage in the bolts, you should uninstall the toilet and inspect the toilet anchor flange, the bolts and the wax ring sealing the toilet and waste pipe connection. Simply remove the small plastic bolt caps at the base of your toilet (they will be on each side, and can be pried off with a small screwdriver). Toilets usually rock because they are not resting flush against the floor. The 'tee' bolts as they are sometimes called need to have upward pressure on them when the nuts are removed. After tightening the bolts a little bit and making sure you really set that toilet on the ring, see if you need to shim one or two gaps. Jim. Probably the easiest fix, your loose toilet may simply be due to your loose toilet mounting bolts needing to be tightened.

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