Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Help! My parents are falling off of our toilet!

we bought a house in oct, 2003. the toilet in the spare room doesn't get used much, but we noticed before my parents came that it was loose. we tightened the nuts (if thats what you call them) and thought we were ok. well 2 weeks later, my parents say the toilet is really loose. we checked, and sure enough, it's rockin like a baby rocking chair again. it's not very old, the other one is much older, and it's the best flusher in the house. Help?? :confused:

It sounds like something is wrong under the toilet.
Is there a space between the toilet and the floor?
When the toilet rocks is it pushing down on the floor?(is the floor moving?)

Post back and we will try to help

Pull the toilet off the floor; sounds like the screws that hold the flange securely to the floor are loose, or even worse, the floor is deteriorated and there isn't enough good structure of wood for screws to hold.


If that is what you find, plan B.

:eek:
it is rocking, like there is a space between the bottomm and the floor, but no floor movement. Now.... just turn off valve, flush until water is gone, remove nuts and it will come off?? Thank you so much for your help! :D

Sounds like the flange may be too high. The flange actually should sit flush on top of the finished floor level and be bolted to the floor, with only the thickness of the flange above finished floor level.
Go to a plumbing store and get a new wax ring, a new set of brass toilet bolts and nuts, and a box of beveled plastic wedges made for leveling toilets. The tools that you will need are a pair of channel-lock pliers, a small wrench to fit the toilet bolt nuts, a small putty knife, a level and possibly a hacksaw blade to saw off the new toilet bolts after installation, if too high for the caps to seat over them.
To remove the toilet:
1. Turn the water valve off, flush the toilet and sponge the remaining water out of the tank into a nearby drain.
2. Disconnect the water supply line under the end of the tank, and remove the two nuts and washers at the base of the toilet.
3. Lift and turn the toilet carefully over onto a pile of old towels or carpet (porcelain breaks easily).
4. Stuff a rag into the flange hole to prevent sewer gas, and scrape the old wax ring off of the bottom of the toilet and off of the flange with a small putty knife.
5. Check the flange for damage, and to see that it is securely bolted to the floor.
6. If all is O.K., put the new wax ring on the flange and the new toilet bolts in place on either side, and lift and set the toielt down on the ring and bolts.
Sit or stand on the toilet to rock it down.
7. Put the level across the bowl and use the shims to level it, as necessary. The snug down the tiolet bolt nuts (not too tight...the china can crack).
8. You can caulk around the base of the toilet for looks with tub-and-tile caulk (front and sides only...leave the back open).
Good Luck!
Mike

Mike,

Thank you very much! We will kep you posted on how it turns out! :D

Lisa