How to Tell If You Need to Reset Your Toilet

Water on the floor and sewer smells are two signs that you need to reset your toilet.

When a toilet is properly attached to the floor, the wax ring forms a watertight seal between the bowl outlet and the toilet flange, which is the metal ring screwed to the subfloor to which the bowl is bolted. A broken seal usually produces two noticeable symptoms -- sewer smells in the bathroom and water seeping out onto the floor. Even in the absence of these symptoms, however, there may be other indications that the toilet must be reset, including sponginess in the floor or a rocking toilet. These issues indicate problems with the flange that must be corrected.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench

Instructions

1. Examine the tank for signs of leakage if you notice water pooling around the bottom of the toilet. The water may indicate a failed wax ring, but it also may be dripping from a loose fitting in the tank, or it may be collecting as condensation on the tank and dripping onto the floor. Reset the toilet if you can't find signs of water dripping from the tank.

2. Check the other drains in the bathroom if you notice sewer smells. Although the smells may be originating from a broken seal in the toilet, they also may be coming from a P-trap in one of the drains that has been emptied because of poor venting. When the waste lines aren't properly vented, suction pulls out the water from the traps and opens a path for the gases to escape. This probably is happening if the drains gurgle when you flush the toilet.

3. Rock the toilet. If it moves, tighten the bolts holding it to the floor with a wrench, taking care not to overtighten them and break the porcelain. If you can't stop the toilet from rocking by doing this, the flange may be set too high or the subfloor may be saturated with water. Both conditions mean you have to reset the toilet.

4. Flush the toilet. If you notice water running around the base immediately after you flush it, the wax ring seal is broken and you should reset the toilet.

Tips & Warnings

• In most cases you can reset the toilet by removing it and replacing the wax ring with a new one. In some cases, however, you may have to make adjustments to the flange.

• If your toilet rocks but you don't notice any other signs of a broken seal, you can stop the rocking by inserting shims under the toilet base.

• Water around the base of the toilet or sponginess in the sub-floor are symptoms of leaking that you must correct immediately before the water causes any more damage to your floor.

References

• Toilet-Repairs: How a Toilet Works, Plumbing Diagrams & Repair Tips
• Fix a Toilet: Toilet Repair: Leaks, Tanks and Bowls
• 411 Plumb: How To Reset a Toilet