Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Setting a toilet
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kennn
05-13-07, 07:16 PM
Repalced my older round toilet, with a new elongated/elevated toilet. The house is 50 years old. The toilet wobbled side to side and as I tightened the toilet bolts down and couldn't get it to stop wobblling. Tightened it so tight I pulled the toilet bolts out of the mounting ring (???). Upon removal of the toilet the mounting ring had been bent up by the toilet screws. I'm assuming that I can lightly hammer the ring back into shape. If not let me know. What can I do to stablize the bowl from wobbling. Should I go back to the round bowl.
Any idea let me know. Thanks
Any idea let me know. Thanks
CSG
05-13-07, 10:13 PM
Most toilets when set wobble. Floors are never 100% level. Use something to shim the toilet. I prefer the old fashioned method of using pennies. They don't rot away. This is common procedure.
Don't count on the grout or the caulking around the bottom to hold the toilet from wobbling. As for the ring you have now broke(ie. bent) i doubt you can just hammer it back down. Is it metal? You will probably have to install a new flange or use a spanner repair to fix it.
Whatever you do..don't use wood. I find people shim toilets with wood all the time..it rots away.
As for tightening the bolt sonce you get all this done..don't. Hand tighten the nuts down then maybe crank just a couple extra turns. It is VERY easy as you have learned to overtighten a nut on the toilet bolts when you don't have a feel for it (ie. installing a ton of em). They don't need to be tight.
Don't count on the grout or the caulking around the bottom to hold the toilet from wobbling. As for the ring you have now broke(ie. bent) i doubt you can just hammer it back down. Is it metal? You will probably have to install a new flange or use a spanner repair to fix it.
Whatever you do..don't use wood. I find people shim toilets with wood all the time..it rots away.
As for tightening the bolt sonce you get all this done..don't. Hand tighten the nuts down then maybe crank just a couple extra turns. It is VERY easy as you have learned to overtighten a nut on the toilet bolts when you don't have a feel for it (ie. installing a ton of em). They don't need to be tight.
twelvepole
05-13-07, 11:07 PM
It's very important for toilet to be set level. A little person like me would never rock a toilet. A big person can easily rock a toilet if not level. Plumbers I yack with often use double wax rings to compensate for such problems and increased height. I am sure some of our lovely plumber pros will respond and add additional DIY advice.
geogrubb
05-15-07, 04:49 PM
If your house is 50 yrs old the flange should be cast iron, since it bent it obviously isn't, someone has changed the plumbing and it sounds like the flange is setting too high, it should set on the floor, if it doesn't you need to install a new flange that does sit on the floor. Install a new wax ring, set the toilet, press it into place by setting on it and you should be done. You can slip soda straws over the bolts to aid alignment while setting the toilet. It is not a good idea to grout or caulk the toilet since if it ever leaks you will not know it untill the floor is rotted out. If you must leave the back open so the water has somewhere to go. Have a good one. Geo