Results for "toilet repair"

Wax Ring Flange Medium 2–3 hours 8 👍 0

How to Fix a Broken Toilet Flange (DIY Guide)

My toilet has been rocking slightly and leaking at the base ever since the moving crew repositioned it when we had new flooring put down in the bathroom last month. I pulled the toilet myself to take a look and found the flange is cracked on one side — one of the bolt slots is completely broken off. The pipe below looks fine, so I don't think I need to replace the whole drain, but the flange itself is clearly damaged. Is this something I can repair with a repair ring, or do I need to swap the whole flange out? I'd rather avoid calling a plumber if this is a manageable DIY fix.…more

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Tank Problems Medium 1–3 hours (tank swap, once parts are sourced) 8 👍 0

Cracked Toilet Tank: Repair or Replace?

Looked under the lid of our toilet tank the other day while chasing down a slow drip, and sure enough there's a visible crack running along the inside wall. Now I'm trying to decide between attempting some kind of repair versus just swapping out the tank entirely — or maybe even replacing the whole toilet. We have two kids and this is the busiest bathroom in the house, so I don't want to be without it for long, but I also don't want to slap a band-aid on something that's going to fail on me in a few months.

I'm not totally clear on what causes these cracks in the first place — is it age, water pressure, something I did wrong? And honestly, I'm not sure if a DIY repair is even a realistic option or if it just delays the inevitable. Would love to understand what I'm actually dealing with before I drag my family to the hardware store.…more

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Flappers Chains Easy 30–45 minutes 13 👍 0

Toilet Flush Handle Stuck or Loose? Here's the Fix

Looked down at the toilet this morning and the flush handle is either jammed solid or flopping around like it's barely attached — and of course we're hosting a big family get-together this weekend. It's a standard gravity-flush toilet, probably 10 or 15 years old, nothing fancy. The handle used to feel perfectly normal, and now it either won't depress at all or pushes down with zero resistance and nothing happens. Is this a quick fix I can knock out before guests arrive, or am I looking at a bigger problem?…more

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Wax Ring Flange Medium 2–3 hours 8 👍 0

How to Reseat a Toilet After It Leaks

Three days ago my wife pointed out a faint wet ring forming around the bottom of the toilet in unit 2, and now that I'm looking at it closely I can't stop thinking about the damage it could be doing to the subfloor. Guests are checking in this weekend, so I need to sort this out fast. I've mopped it up twice and it keeps coming back, especially right after the toilet is flushed.

I've heard the fix involves pulling the toilet and replacing something called a wax ring, but I want to make sure that's actually the right diagnosis before I tear everything apart. Is reseating the toilet the right move here, and if so, what's the full process? Want to make sure I do this properly and don't leave guests with a bigger problem than when I started.…more

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Install Replace Medium 2–4 hours (including removal and cleanup) 12 👍 0

How to Install a New Toilet: Step-by-Step Guide

My apartment's toilet has to be at least 15 or 20 years old at this point, and it's starting to show its age in a big way — the handle keeps sticking, the flapper goes constantly, and I've noticed some discoloration at the base that worries me. My landlord has given me the green light to swap it out myself if I want to handle it, and honestly I'd rather just have a fresh, efficient unit in there.

I've never pulled and set a toilet before, but I'm reasonably handy and I want to understand what I'm getting into. Are there different ways to approach this job, and what are the main things I should know before I start? I'd hate to get halfway through and realize I'm in over my head.…more

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Smells Sewer Gas Medium 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on cause 7 👍 0

How to Get Rid of Sewer Smell from Your Toilet

Nobody wants to walk into their bathroom and get hit with that rotten-egg, sewer-gas smell coming from the toilet — and yet here I am. It started a few days ago and it's definitely strongest right around the toilet itself, not the drain or anywhere else. I opened a window and lit a candle, but the smell keeps coming back.

I'm guessing something is off with the toilet's seal or maybe something inside the tank? I really can't afford a plumber visit right now, so I'm hoping this is something I can troubleshoot and fix on my own over a weekend without spending a fortune. Has anyone dealt with this and tracked down the cause without calling in a pro?…more

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Wax Ring Flange Medium 1.5–2 hours 18 👍 0

How to Replace a Toilet Wax Ring (Step-by-Step)

Nobody wants to walk into the bathroom and catch that unmistakable sewer-gas smell drifting up from around the base of the toilet. Mine has been giving off a faint but definite odor, and when I kneel down close to the floor I can feel a slight dampness on the tile right after a flush — not a puddle, just a hint of moisture. The toilet rocks ever so slightly when I sit on it, which makes me think the seal underneath has finally given out.

I've owned the house about five years and this toilet was here before I moved in, so I have no idea when the wax ring was last touched. I'd like to tackle this myself on a weekend if it's a reasonable DIY job. What's the best approach for replacing the wax ring, what parts should I grab, and are there any traps I should watch out for before I commit to pulling the whole toilet?…more

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Clogs Blockages Easy 15–30 minutes 281 👍 0

Can You Put Drano in a Toilet? Safe Alternatives

Looked under the sink and found an old bottle of Drano sitting there, and I'm wondering if I can just pour it into the toilet bowl to clear the slow drain. My toilet is probably 20+ years old and starting to drain sluggishly after flushing — not completely blocked, but definitely not moving like it should. Would using a chemical drain cleaner like Drano do the trick, or is that going to cause problems with an older toilet?…more

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Wax Ring Flange Medium 1–3 hours (depending on whether a full reseat is needed) 6 👍 0

Toilet Leaks at Base Only When Flushed: Why & Fix

Three weeks ago I started noticing a small puddle of water forming right at the base of our main bathroom toilet, but only after someone flushes it — not any other time. Between flushes the floor stays completely dry, which seems strange to me. I've owned this house for a few years and never had a problem with this toilet before.

Before I start tearing into this and potentially voiding something, I wanted to ask: would a repair like this fall under any kind of manufacturer warranty, or is this considered normal wear and tear? The toilet itself isn't that old, and I'd hate to pull it and reseat it if there's coverage I'm not aware of.

Also, we do have fairly hard water in this area — not sure if mineral buildup could somehow be contributing to the seal breaking down faster than normal. Any guidance on what's actually causing this and where to start would be really appreciated.…more

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Tank Problems Medium 1–2 hours 7 👍 0

Water Leaking Between Tank and Bowl? Here's Why

During my morning routine I spotted a puddle forming right at the seam where the tank meets the bowl — and it definitely wasn't there yesterday. I've owned this house for about twelve years and this toilet has always been rock solid, so the sudden leak caught me off guard. The water seems to appear mostly after a flush and then sort of seeps down the back of the bowl. Is this a gasket issue, or something more serious I should be worried about?…more

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Wax Ring Flange Medium 30–60 minutes 10 👍 0

Why Does My Toilet Rock? Causes & Fixes

During a routine walkthrough of one of my units, I noticed the toilet in the main bathroom shifts noticeably side to side when you sit on it. According to what I've read, a toilet should be perfectly stable at the base — but this one moves what feels like almost half an inch in each direction, which seems way more than a minor wobble. I measured the gap under one side of the base and it looks like about 3/16 of an inch on the left side and almost nothing on the right, so the numbers just don't match what I'd expect from a properly set toilet.

I've had the unit occupied for a while and the tenant mentioned it started recently rather than being an ongoing thing. I want to figure out whether this is something I can send my handyman out to handle or whether it needs a licensed plumber — and more importantly, whether ignoring it risks damage to the floor or the wax ring seal underneath.…more

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Toilet Flappers, Chains & Flush Levers

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Install Replace Medium 1–2 hours 13 👍 0

How to Remove an Old Toilet: DIY vs. Pro Guide

Three of my rental units need their aging toilets swapped out, and I'm standing in the plumbing aisle of the hardware store trying to figure out exactly what I need to buy before I start pulling them. I've got a handyman coming to do the actual installs, but I want to have everything on hand and understand the process so I'm not caught off guard if something goes sideways — like a rusted bolt or a cracked flange.

What tools should I have ready, what replacement parts should I grab at the same time, and are there any points in the removal where a landlord really should just step back and call a licensed plumber instead of pushing through? I'd rather know ahead of time what a 'stop and call someone' situation looks like than find out mid-job.…more

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Wax Ring Flange Medium 2–3 hours including drying time 9 👍 0

Toilet Leaking From the Bottom? Here's Why

Looked under the bathroom vanity the other day and noticed a small puddle spreading across the tile right at the foot of the toilet. Now that I'm paying attention, there seem to be three things wrong at the same time: water pooling at the base after every flush, a slight rocking motion when I sit down, AND a faint sewer smell that wasn't there before. My small bathroom already feels cramped, so having a wet floor on top of everything else is driving me crazy.

I've blotted the water dry a couple of times and it keeps coming back — always seems to show up right after someone flushes, not just randomly throughout the day. The toilet itself is several years old and I can't remember it ever being serviced. Not sure if all three symptoms are connected or if I'm dealing with multiple separate issues.…more

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Smells Sewer Gas Easy 30–90 minutes depending on cause 7 👍 0

Why Does My Toilet Still Smell After Cleaning?

Found myself scrubbing the toilet top to bottom tonight — bowl, tank, the whole thing — and yet there's still this persistent sour, rotten egg kind of smell coming from the bathroom. It's past midnight and I need to figure this out before guests arrive tomorrow morning. I own this home and this bathroom gets regular use, so I'm not totally surprised something's off, but cleaning didn't fix it like I expected.

I've tried the usual stuff — bleach tablets, bowl cleaner, even wiped down the outside of the base and behind the tank. The smell comes and goes a little but never fully disappears. Is there something I'm missing, or is this a sign of a bigger plumbing problem?…more

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Leaks Base Floor Medium 30–90 minutes depending on cause 15 👍 0

Water Leaking Around Toilet Base? Here's Why

During my first week settling into this rental, I noticed water collecting around the bottom of the toilet. I've never dealt with this before and honestly wasn't sure if it was just condensation or something more serious. The floor around the base is consistently damp, and it seems to get worse after flushing. Is this a wax ring issue, or could it be something simpler? I don't want to panic my landlord over nothing, but I also don't want to ignore something that could cause real damage.…more

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