Ever had visitors over and they wanted to use your bathroom but only to find out your toilet is wobbly? Most wobbly toilet is caused when they are resting on a toilet flange that is slightly higher than the surrounding floor and wobbly toilet if not noticed, can really cost you a lot on damages in fixing or even costing you to change your entire bathroom. It normally develops over time, such as when caulk hardens, or when a surrounding floor settles a little. Likely, how to fix a wobbly toilet is an easy fix problem.
Wobbly toilet is mostly bound to become a leaky wobbly toilet whereas leaky toilets can cause a lot of damage to the flooring, floorboards, and into the foundation or room below. Here is a procedure on how to fix a wobbly toilet seat:
- Tools: the first and foremost procedure on learning how to tighten a loose toilet seat, is getting the right tool. Listed here are the tools one needs:
1. Toilet shims
2. Dap caulk or tub and tile caulk
3. Utility knife
4. Sponge
Tools required may differ due to the difference of installation of toilets, but the tools above are for any standard installations or a toilet seat.
- Check for leaks: Before doing anything, you carefully check for water around the base of the toilet. If no water is present or no sign of any leakage you should be able to quickly shim and seal your toilet without lifting it up from the floor. However, if you did find a leak around the base of the toilet, it likely means the wax ring sealing the toilet horn to the drain opening has become old and compressed. When that happens you will need to remove the toilet and replace the wax ring.
- Locate Gaps: Next is to closely look at the base of your toilet again to spot out any gaps between your toilet and the floor. A little space can be the source of the problem.
- Insert Shims and level: This is an important step on how to fix a loose toilet seat. You simply and carefully level your toilet by inserting shims into any gaps at the base. This might take some time as you have to be accurate by trying them in a few different positions to properly level the toilet. Once you are able to put pressure on the toilet in all four directions without it wobbly or moving, it is then that you move on to the next step.
- Trim the shims: With the use of a sharp knife trim the shims close to the base of the toilet. High caution is to be taken, as not to cut yourself or your flooring as you do this.
- Apply Caulk: Cautiously and gently apply a new caulking around the base of the toilet. Use a sponge or rag to wipe excess away.
- Drying: Here you have done all the hard work there is on how to tighten a loose toilet seat. All you do is allow the caulk to dry well and once it is done your toilet should be as good as new.
As easy as it is to fix a wobbly toilet seat, it is important to always prevent it from happening so always turn off water to your toilet by closing the shut-off valve when not in use for a long time. You should also make sure to flush toilets gently and slowly. Most of wobbly toilet were caused by bad installation and happens when you have your bathroom floor redone, and the level or height of the floor changed. So if you do not know how to properly do it hire only an experienced plumber to do any installation of toilets for you.
You Can Check it Out to Put on Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner
