A toilet tuneup
Question No. 1
Hi Robert,
I have a two-story home and have noticed that there is a small amount of water at the base of my toilet.
After some online research it seems as though it is time for the wax ring to be changed, since I’ve been in the home 20 years, and it’s never been done.
I’d like to do this myself since it seems easy enough for a beginner like myself, but I’d like to know if you can give me any additional information to know about or look for, before I begin?
. — Rusty D.
Answer No. 1
Rusty,
This is a very easy project to start with, just remember that the toilet itself can be heavy so be sure you use proper lifting techniques when moving it.
Aside from the step by step of actually changing out the wax ring, you’ll want to inspect the condition of the toilet itself while you have it undone, to be sure that there are no cracks which could be the source of leaking.
We recently had the earthquakes, which is I’m guessing, what actually may have been the cause of the failure.
First, you’ll shut down the water valve, and give your toilet one last flush to clear all of the water that you are able to. If you have a wet vac, this would come in handy to excavate the remaining water — not necessary, but it helps keep the mess down.
I recommend disposable gloves for this project, you’ll certainly be happy you’ve used them once you see that you got wax onto them and you can just toss them. You’ll also want large rags available and/or floor protection, so when you lift the toilet from its position and move it, the area will be protected from the moisture and the wax.
My best advice is to lay the toilet onto its side so that you can clean the base of the old wax, as well as inspect the condition of the porcelain to be sure there are no cracks.
Be sure that all of the old wax is removed thoroughly before proceeding, both on the toilet and the closet ring. Inspect the closet ring for any cracks or damage, if found then you need to replace this also.
Once ready, put your new wax ring onto the closet ring (sometimes due to the gap between the closet ring and the bowl you may need to double the ring.
If this is the case, use one ring with a collar and one without, stack them and seat the toilet) and carefully lift the toilet back into place, seating it exactly over the bolts and new wax ring.
You’ll need to apply some pressure to seat it and essentially, smash the wax ring into place.
The easiest way to do this is to simply sit onto the toilet lid for pressure. Once you are sure the toilet has seated properly, bolt it down and turn your water back on slowly. Allow the tank to fill and give it several test flushes, carefully monitoring for any leaks. Once you are certain that the install is a success, you’re good to go.
Good luck to you on this project, Robert
Robert Lamoureux has 40 years of experience as a general contractor, with separate licenses in electrical and plumbing contracting. He owns IMS Construction Inc. in Valencia. His opinions are his own, not necessarily those of The Signal. Opinions expressed in this column are not meant to replace the recommendations of a qualified contractor after that contractor has made a thorough visual inspection. Email questions to Robert at robert@ imsconstruction.com.