How to Fix Your Toilet

A toilet will last a very long time if it is maintained correctly. There are multitudes of problems that can occur throughout the life of a toilet that can cause you to go almost crazy as you lie in your bed and listen to the on and off sounds of the toilet tank filling and refilling. Regardless of the problem, there are definitive ways to solve your tank issues with little expenditure of time and money. By installing a complete tank kit, you can completely overhaul your toilet and gain another 10 or so years of reliability and comfort. it isn't difficult, and, with due diligence, it can be completed in as little as two hours.

Things You'll Need

• Thumb wrench
• Pliers
• Tank kit
• Wax ring

Instructions

Repairing the Tank

1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet. The shutoff valve is located on the left side of the toilet and between the bottom of the tank and the floor.

2. Remove the tank lid and flush the toilet with the water supply off, allowing the tank to empty. Use a rag to push the remaining water out of the tank drain located in the center of the tank and just beneath the rubber floating flapper.

3. Remove the components from inside the tank. You will need to remove the tank from the seat for a complete renovation because one component, a rubber seal, is located between the tank and seat. There are two components inside the toilet tank as well. Remove both before proceeding.

4. Identify the cock valve and float for installation. About 16 inches long and 1 inch in diameter, it has a float that pivots up and down on one end and a rubber washer and white, threaded nut on the other. Unscrew the nut, remove the washer and insert the threaded end through the 1-inch hole on the far left of the tank. Reapply the black, rubber washer and tighten the threaded nut against the tank.

5. Install the remaining component. This is the drain tube/overflow tube. It has a rubber flapper at one end of a 12-inch tube. Just beneath the flapper, it flares out to 2 1/2 inches and has a large, white threaded nut. A black, rubber washer is seated on top of the nut and serves as the seal between the tank and the seat. Remove the rubber washer and threaded nut from the drain pipe. Insert the pipe through the hole located in the center of the tank, and, using your other hand, reach around and tighten the nut. Give it another 1 1/2 turns with a wrench. Reapply the rubber seal over the nut.

6. Install the two brass bolts into the small holes on each side of the center drain hole in which you installed the drain flapper in step 5. Gently replace the tank onto the seat, making sure the brass bolts insert into the corresponding holes on the toilet seat. Reach under the seat with your other hand and apply the brass nuts to the protruding bolts and hand-tighten. Continue tightening with the wrench until the tank is secured onto the seat. There will be a little movement still in the tank, but this is normal.

7. Reattach the water supply line located between the left corner of the tank, where the float and cock valve are attached, and the floor. Turn the water valve on and allow the tank to refill. Check for leaks in the water supply connection and at the connection between the tank and the seat. If the seat seal is leaking, retighten the brass bolts and nuts that attach the tank to the seat.

Repairing the Base

1. Replace the wax ring by removing the toilet. Using the thumb wrench, loosen and remove the two brass nuts located at the base of the toilet where the toilet meets the floor. Gently twist and pull up on the old toilet until it comes loose from its resting place. Be careful not to spill any remaining water from the toilet.

2. Clean the wax from the floor flange and prepare it for re installation of the toilet. Check the flange bolts, located on each side of the receiving flange, and make sure they are not damaged. If so, then you may replace them with two spare bolts that come with the wax ring.

3. Turn the toilet on its side. Remove the wax ring from its box, and remove the packing paper attached to the ring. The wax ring has two sides. One side has the wax and the other has a rubber flange. They are both attached as one piece. Insert the side with the wax against the the hole in the bottom of the toilet. There is a small ring around the hole that will reference the placement of the wax ring. Press and twist the ring slightly until it sticks to the toilet.

4. Pick the toilet up without letting the ring touch the floor. While holding the toilet on each ride with the rear facing away, gently slide it back down onto the floor flange while a helper holds the brass bolts into place and guides them through the holes on the toilet. Gently twist the toilet from side to side while you push it into place. Slide the washers back over the bolts and thread the brass nuts back on. Tighten the nuts with the thumb wrench and re attach the water supply.

5. Turn on the water and flush the toilet and check for leaks. If you find any leaks, tighten the connection a little more until the leaks stop.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a helper when moving the toilet around.

• Be careful not to over tighten any bolts. the porcelain toilet is easily damaged.

References

• toilet repair info.