What could ever be worse than sitting on a toilet to do the deed and realizing that the big white telephone is wobbly? When I think of the word wobbly I think of jello, not my toilet. So if you have a wobbly toilet and you’ve been wondering how to fix a wobbly toilet then you’ve come to the right place.
This article will give you a brief but informative guide to help you fix your wobbly toilet in no time so you don’t have to worry about calling a plumber. In most cases, a wobbly toilet is caused by loose toilet bolts or a malfunctioning flange. Whatever the case may be you will find the solution to your wobbly toilet in this article.
Contents
What causes a toilet to wobble?
The materials you need to fix your wobbly toilet will depend on the reason why your toilet is wobbly. A wobbly toilet is usually a result of poor placement against the ground. A problem like this can lead to leaks and unbearable odors. To solve this problem the right way you need to identify what is causing it. Possible causes of a wobbly toilet include;
- Loose or damaged bolts: When the bolts that hold down your toilet are loose they can cause your toilet to wobble and in extreme cases fall over if the bolt is damaged. The last thing you want is to sustain a severe injury while you’re using the loo so always look out for loose or damaged bolts.
- A damaged flange: The flange of your toilet is probably one of the most important parts of it. This key component is what connects the toilet to the drainage system and allows for the smooth passing of waste. Because the flange is such an important part, a damaged flange can have awful effects on your toilet such as wobbling or even leakages.
- Gaps in the floor: A good toilet remains firmly on the ground at all times because when they rise up bad things always happen. To fix a rocking toilet you need to check if there are any gaps between the bathroom floor and the toilet. These gaps cause the toilet to wobble because it is unstable.
- Wax seal is damaged: The wax seal is another important part of your toilet that should always be treated with care. Over time, wax seal become damaged and require replacements to avoid wobbly or leaky toilets. The wax seal is located under the toilet so it is not immediately visible. However, it plays a huge role in ensuring that the entire toilet functions properly.
Steps to Fixing a Wobbly Toilet
Now that you know the possible causes of a wobbly toilet, it’s time to know the steps you can take to fix your wobbly toilet. These steps include:
Step 1: Examine Your Toilet
Before you can fix the wobble in your toilet you need to first know what is causing it. There are many things that can make your toilet wobble which is why examining your toilet is the first step. After you examine your toilet and discover the reason behind the wobble, you are one step closer to fixing it.
The list of possible causes above will help you determine what is causing your toilet to wobble. Use the list to examine your toilet meticulously until you find the cause. To examine your toilet simply start by checking every area of the toilet until you determine why your toilet is wobbly.
Step 2: Tighten or Replace The Bolts
Materials Needed
If you have a rocking toilet because of loose or damaged bolts then you will need:
- Small Wrench or Pliers
- New Bolts
Loose toilet bolts are a common cause of wobbling toilets. These bolts include tank bolt, closet bolt, and flange bolts. The bolts on your toilet secure it to the ground so when these bolts become loose, the toilet may begin to wobble because it is unstable.
Tightening the bolts of your toilet is a quick fix that requires one tool; a small wrench.
Steps to Fix It
Step 1: Locate the loose bolts
Step 2: Once you locate a loose bolt, carefully tighten it with your wrench. Be sure not to add too much pressure because this can lead to irreparable damage such as cracks in your toilet.
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to fixing the bolts of your toilet. You never want to go too fast or too hard because one wrong move can damage your toilet. Just use the wrench to slowly tighten the toilet bolt until it’s nice and snug.
Step 3: After doing this you can test your toilet to see if it still wobbles.
Step 4: If the toilet bolt is damaged beyond use then you can replace it with a new bolt to fix the wobble in your toilet. Firstly you need to buy new bolts that match the old ones. Then simply take out the old bolts, set them aside, and screw in the new ones.
Be extremely careful when screwing in the bolts to avoid cracking the toilet.
Step 3: Fix the Flange
Materials Needed
If you have a rocking toilet because of a damaged flange, you will need:
- Water Solidifier
- Small wrench or Pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Towel
- New flange or flange repair kit
A broken toilet flange is another issue that can cause your toilet to wobble. The flange is the part of your toilet that connects it to the drainage system which makes it super important. It is also responsible for keeping your toilet stable which is why a damaged flange will cause your toilet to wobble.
If the flange were to break, bend, or rise above its regular level, then the toilet would wobble. This is because a bad flange raises the middle of the toilet which would make it tilt to a side and wobble when you use it. A broken toilet flange could also cause leakages so be sure to check for leakages when you want to examine your toilet.
If you have a leaky toilet then this usually indicates that the flange is malfunctioning. To check for a leaky toilet, simply use a rag to feel the base of the toilet. If the rag comes back wet then your toilet is probably leaking and the flange will need to be repaired or replaced.
Fixing the flange of a toilet is a lot more complicated than tightening bolts but it’s certainly doable.
Steps to Fix It
Step 1: First, you will need to switch off the water valve to prevent spillage.
Step 2: Secondly, get rid of all the water in the toilet bowl and toilet tank by flushing it with the toilet handle until all the water is gone. This will allow you to move the toilet without accidentally pouring water from the bowl.
You can use a water solidifier to remove any leftover water from the toilet bowl.
Step 3: Use a wrench to unfasten the part that connects the toilet tank to the water supply line.
Step 4: Then you need to remove all the bolts that secure the toilet to the ground. To do this you must first remove the bolt caps and then unscrew the bolts with an adjustable wrench.
Step 5: The next step is to place a towel or any other thick fabric that can absorb water on the floor.
Step 6: And then move the toilet from its position so you can access the flange.
Step 7: Place the toilet on the towel that you have laid down. Now you can face the damaged flange squarely.
Step 8: Examine the flange and determine if it is repairable or damaged beyond repair. If the flange is repairable then you can use a flange repair kit to fix it but if it is too damaged then you can replace it with a new flange.
Step 9: To replace the flange you will need to unscrew the flange bolts from the drainpipe and then screw in the new one. Make sure you screw it in well because loose flange bolts can lead to a rocking toilet.
Step 4: Find the Gaps
Another nasty little culprit that can cause your toilet to wobble is the bathroom floor. Now that may sound strange but it’s very plausible. Your bathroom may be uneven and this will lead to a wobbling toilet.
When the floor beneath your toilet is not perfectly even, your toilet may tilt to different sides and
wobble whenever you sit on it. The uneven bathroom floor can be caused by a number of things but the most common one is moisture and water damage. Over time the moisture from the toilet may cause the floor beneath it to warp in various ways.
Because of this, the space between your toilet and the floor may have gaps that cause the toilet to wobble. Redoing the floor under your toilet sounds like a lot of work, right? Don’t worry there’s a much simpler way to fix this problem.
A solution that does not involve hiring a plumber to take out your bathroom tiles or floorboards and you’ll only need a few shims. First things first, you need to find the gaps under your toilet.
Step 5: Fill in the Gaps
Materials Needed
If you have a rocking toilet because of gaps in the floor, you will need:
- Shims
- Utility knife
- Caulk
Steps to Fix It
Step 1: Now that you’ve found the gaps around your toilet it’s time to fill them in with shims. To do this you will need to use shims to fill any gaps that you found around the toilet and give your toilet a more even base.
Step 2: After placing the shims, be sure to test that your toilet is no longer wobbling.
Step 3: Next, you need to cut off the excess shims to make your work neater. Using a utility knife, trim the shims until they are just right while being mindful of the flooring.
Step 6: Caulk for a neat finish
Applying caulk is a great way to make your toilet look good as new. With just a thin bead of caulk, you can cover up all the shims that you used to fix the wobble earlier.
Steps to Fix It
Step 1: Carefully apply a thin layer of caulk around the toilet base. This will help to conceal the shims and give you a neater finish. You can use a caulk gun and gently circle the toilet base until it is properly covered.
Step2: Wait the stipulated period of time for your caulk to dry before you use the toilet seat. Once dry, your wobble-free toilet is ready for use.
Step 7: Repair the Damaged Wax Seal
Materials Needed
If you have a rocking toilet because the wax seal is damaged, you will need:
- Water Solidifier
- Small wrench or Pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Towel
- New Wax Seal
As time goes by, the quality of the wax seal beneath your toilet may worsen. This would cause the wax seal to deteriorate and cause your toilet to wobble. To avoid having a loose toilet seat you need to replace the wax seal.
When examining your toilet look out for discoloration along the base of your toilet because this could indicate a damaged or corroded wax ring.
Steps to Fix It
Step 1: Examine the base of your toilet closely for any discolorations.
Step 2: The process for fixing your wax ring is similar to that for fixing your flange. Follow the process outlined in step three and stop when you have removed the toilet from its original position. (Follow Steps 1 through 7)
Step 3: Next, you need to find the wax ring and remove it completely.
Step 4: After doing this, you can replace it with a new wax ring.
Step 5: Ensure that the new wax ring is securely placed to avoid having a leaky toilet.
