How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet | Ask This Old House 

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner diagnose and repair a wobbly toilet.
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Time: 2 hours
Cost: $50
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools:
Level [amzn.to/2ZLPXpd]
Open ended adjustable wrench [amzn.to/2LIZ159]
Putty knife [amzn.to/2NR56zf]
Mini hacksaw [amzn.to/2NVsmfE]
Shopping List:
Latex gloves [amzn.to/2N8sDvM]
Sponge [amzn.to/2N83O3o]
Bucket [amzn.to/2Lo4LCy]
Drop cloth [amzn.to/2A99IbK]
Wax ring [amzn.to/2N8442m]
Toilet shims [amzn.to/30aDyaD]
Closet bolt kit [amzn.to/2LJkElY] (bolts, nuts, washers, cap base, cap)
Steps:
1. Shut the water off to the toilet. Flush the toilet until the bowl is empty. Use a sponge and a bucket to suck out the remaining water. Disconnect the water line from the toilet.
2. Remove the bolt cap covers, nuts, and washers from the closet bolts on both sides.
3. Carefully remove the toilet and place it on the drop cloth.
4. Check the wax ring for deformities. This could be the cause of the wobbly toilet. The wax ring will need to be replaced in either case, so remove the old one with a putty knife.
5. Since the toilet is already off, it’s always best practice to check the condition of the toilet flange and repair as necessary.
6. Check the floor for level. If it’s out of level, it may be necessary to shim the toilet.
7. Put new closet bolts on the toilet flange and replace the wax ring.
8. Put the toilet back on the closet bolts.
9. Put shims underneath the toilet until it is level.
10. Add the cap base, the washer, and the nut to the closet bolts on both sides of the toilet. Alternate tightening each nut on both sides until the toilet is securely connected.
11. Cut the excess off the closet bolts using the hacksaw. Cover the bolts with the caps.
12. Reconnect the water line and turn the water back on.
Resources:
Everything Richard used for this project, including the wrenches, closet bolts and caps, and toilet shims, can be found at home centers.
Instead of using a traditional wax seal, Richard used a flexible rubber gasket [amzn.to/2NUMFtu] manufactured by SaniSeal (saniseal.com ).
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet | Ask This Old House
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