Leaking Toilet – Do it yourself!

Now with a leaky toilet it isn’t hard to tell what exactly needs to be fixed. You need a new toilet seal. Before you go objecting, making this repair isn’t as complicated as you might think. Yes it can get a little messy, but here is all you have to do.

First there are a few things you are going to need:
• A good pair of gloves to protect your hands
• Boots
• Wrench
• Plunger
• Rag or Old Wash Cloth
• Large Plastic Bag
• Sponge
• Toilet seal
• Putty Knife

The very first thing you should do before anything else, is shut off the water supply that supports the toilet. This can be done by just merely turning the valve located inside the tank or the valve located on the wall behind the toilet.

Once the water is off, hold down the toilet handle and keep flushing it until all of the water is out. If there still is little water left then you can take your sponge and wipe it out. You can also use your plunger to get out as much water a possible. After this is done you must disengage the supply line at the tank.

Now your wrench becomes very, very handy. Using your wrench to take out all the nuts and bolts connecting the toilet to the floor. When you finishing unfastening the nuts and bolts from the toilet then you will be able to yank it free from the floor and set it down out of your way.

After the toilet is free you will see your old toilet seal. Most likely to be dirty and rusted out. Now all you need to do is scrape off the old toilet seal. Do this with your putty knife. The putty knife will make it easy for you.

When you’re buying a new toilet seal make sure you purchase the one with a flange. If you have two toilet seals on your toilet you can purchase a seal with a flange and one with beeswax. If you have only one seal then it’s advisable that you buy the seal with a flange that way your toilet won’t have any leaks for a long time.

Now that you have your new seal, and the old one is removed, you can begin the process of replacing the seal. Take the seal from the plastic wrapping it comes in and place it on the metal flange. Make sure the seal sticks to it and is secure.
Then picking up the toilet place it back over the seal hole, like it was before. The toilet should sit right over or on top of the seal. The toilet has to be lined up according to where each bolts are, that way nothing is out of place that can cause another leak.

Now that the toilet is properly placed back to its former position you can begin putting the nuts, bolts and washers back. Double check to make sure everything is in its lines up.

After the toilet is placed in the right position pressure will need to be applied to the toilet, just sit on it, to make sure it goes all the way to the floor. The only thing left to do is to tighten all the bolts and reconnect the water supply.

After the toilet bowl has water in it again flush the toilet just to see if it still leaks. If it doesn’t then you have successfully repaired the old leak in your toilet. What’s even better is that you did it without spending more than fifteen dollars.

Now that’s a deal you can’t beat! You’re beaming with satisfaction and now you know that next time something goes wrong with your toilet that with a little help you can do it yourself!

24 Seven Emergency Plumbing
PO Box 4110, Bexley North
NSW, 2207

Phone.
1300 789 080

Fax.
02 9502 2886

Email.
info@24sevenplumbing.com.au