Repairing a Leaky Toilet: A Do-it-Yourself Project

If you have ever sat down on the toilet and it moved, it's time for some repairs. In this article we will learn how to replace the wax seal underneath your toilet.

You've most likely never investigated what is under your toilet; most people haven't. Many will just call a plumber if something goes wrong. We all know the expense here.

You Will Need:

A wrench/spanner or crescent wrench, a screwdriver and a hacksaw. A helper to move the toilet with you, a putty knife or an old bread knife. A new wax seal and new bolts with washers.

Signs Of Damage:

If your bathroom has a continual unpleasant odor, or you sit down and the toilet moves, check the bolts down on either side of the toilet for corrosion.It may also be necessary to replace these. You will probably also notice some water leakage around the bottom of the toilet on your floors.

Once the bolts are loose and the toilet moves, even just 1/8 inch, the wax seal will be damaged. It will leak water and mold will grow there. The seal is used to fuse the porcelain toilet to the flange in the floor which takes the waste away from your house. When the seal is damaged it allows air flow from the sewer pipes back up into your bathroom and through the rest of your home.

Removing The Toilet:

Step 1.

-Remove the lid of the toilet and place elsewhere so as not to damage it. If it falls and cracks it will be costly to replace.

Step 2.

-You'll need to turn off the water supply to your toilet. Look to the pipes running to the toilet at the rear by the wall. There will be a small tap on the pipework, turn it off and flush the toilet. Hold the lever or button down until all of the water disappears from the toilet's tank. There will still be some water in the bowl, just use a plunger for a moment to get rid of it.

Step 3.

- Remove the bolts which hold the toilet to the floor. The bolts could have small plastic covers or caps over them, just use a screwdriver to pop them off. Now use a crescent wrench/shifter to undo the bolts. If you can't get them loose it means they are probably corroded and you will need to saw them through using a hacksaw.

Put them, and the caps in a safe place since you will need to take the bolts to the hardware store to get a new set.