Cracked toilets
HOMEOWNER CRACKING UP OVER LOOSE TOILETS
DEAR BARRY: A home inspector discovered that both of my toilets are loosely attached and are able to slide back and forth on the ceramic tile flooring. Rather than hire an expensive plumber, I decided to tighten the bolts myself. The first toilet tightened up easily, but the second one was another story. No matter how much I tightened the bolts, the toilet would still slide on the tiles. So I kept tightening until the base of the toilet cracked. Now, instead of a plumber's service call, I've got to pay for a new toilet. How should I have done this repair? If tightening the bolts didn’t secure the toilet, what else could I have done? — Arlen
DEAR ARLEN: Loose toilets are common, especially on ceramic tile floors. This is because toilet fixtures are also ceramic and two slick ceramic surfaces slide easily against one another.
When a toilet is installed on linoleum or vinyl flooring, moderate tightening is usually sufficient. With a ceramic tile floor, there is a tendency to over-tighten the bolts, as you just learned. The trick is to tighten the bolts only enough to make them snug, but not enough to eliminate sliding against the tiles. To complete the job of securing the fixture, adhesive caulking should be applied around the base, thereby gluing the toilet to the floor.
As a side note: A loose toilet may also have leakage at the wax seal below the fixture. This is of particular concern if you have a wood-frame floor, because leaking can cause fungus and dry rot. Therefore, replacing the wax seal is a good idea before securing a loose toilet.
DEAR BARRY: Last year I removed the screens from my factory-built fireplace and replaced them with glass doors. Now that I'm selling the property, the buyers’ home inspector says this is illegal because screens are needed to keep sparks from burning the carpet. I've explained that the doors will contain sparks just as well as screens, but he is not satisfied with this reasoning. Do you see any benefit in reinstalling the old screens? — Ken
DEAR KEN: Factory-built fireplaces are subject to strict safety requirements, as specified by code and by the manufacturer. Alterations that are not in compliance with manufacturer's specifications can void the warranty and render a fireplace unsafe. This is why alterations should only be done by a qualified expert, such as a certified chimney sweep.
Adding doors to a fireplace that was manufactured with screens can cause the fixture to burn hotter, due to changes in combustion air flow. Excess heat can transmit through the walls of the firebox and may eventually cause spontaneous combustion of the wall framing behind the fireplace.
To satisfy the recommendations of the home inspector, have the fireplace evaluated by a certified chimney sweep. This will help to ensure that all aspects of the fixture are safe and operable. Distributed by Action Coast Publishing. To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com.