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Toilets How-To Guides

Step-by-step how-to guides for toilets maintenance, repair, and installation.

All Toilets Guides 6

How to Fix a Running Toilet

easy

Diagnose and fix a running toilet -- flapper replacement, fill valve swap, float adjustment, and overflow tube check -- with the dye test that tells you exactly what is wrong.

15 - 30 minutes $5 - $25 for parts
What you need: Replacement flapper ($3-8, match 2-inch or 3-inch to your toilet) Adjustable wrench or channel-lock pliers Sponge and bucket (for removing residual tank water) Replacement fill valve ($8-15, universal like Fluidmaster 400A) Food coloring or dye tablets (for leak testing) Towel (for catching drips during supply line disconnection) Permanent marker (for marking overflow tube water level)

How to Unclog a Toilet

easy

Clear a clogged toilet with a flange plunger, hot water and soap, or a toilet auger -- without cracking the porcelain or wrecking the wax ring.

10 - 30 minutes $0 - $30
What you need: Flange plunger (essential -- $8-15, the single most important tool) Toilet auger / closet auger ($15-30, for stubborn clogs) Rubber gloves Bucket (for bailing water if bowl is too full) Old towels or newspaper (for floor protection) Liquid dish soap (for the hot water method) Disinfectant spray or wipes (for cleanup)

How to Replace a Toilet

moderate

Remove an old toilet and install a new one -- drain, pull, set the wax ring, position the bowl, attach the tank, and test for leaks without cracking the porcelain.

1 - 2 hours $150 - $500 for toilet + supplies
What you need: Adjustable wrench (for supply line and closet bolt nuts) Wax ring or wax-free seal (match to flange size, typically 3 or 4 inch) New closet bolts with nuts and washers Level (for checking toilet and tank alignment) Putty knife (for scraping old wax from flange) Hacksaw (for cutting rusted closet bolts or trimming new bolts) Sponge and bucket (for draining residual water) Plastic toilet shims (for leveling on uneven floors) Silicone caulk (for sealing the base to the floor) Rag (for plugging the flange during installation)

How to Adjust Toilet Water Level

easy

Raise or lower your toilet tank water level to fix weak flushes, stop a running toilet, or cut water waste -- covers ball floats and cup floats in 5 minutes flat.

5 - 10 minutes $0
What you need: Flathead screwdriver (for fill valve adjustment screws, if applicable) Permanent marker or tape (for marking the target water level on the overflow tube) Towel (for setting down the tank lid safely)

How to Replace a Toilet Flapper

easy

Stop a running toilet by replacing the flapper -- the $5 rubber seal at the bottom of the tank. 10-minute fix that saves hundreds of gallons per day.

5 - 10 minutes $3 - $8
What you need: Replacement flapper (matched to your toilet) Fine emery cloth or Scotch-Brite pad (for cleaning the valve seat) Rag or sponge Food coloring (for dye test) Wire cutters (for trimming excess chain, optional)

How to Replace a Wax Ring

moderate

Fix a toilet leaking at the base by replacing the wax ring seal. Remove the toilet, scrape old wax, set new ring, reset. Under $25 and 1-2 hours.

1 - 2 hours $5 - $25
What you need: New wax ring (standard or extra-thick) or wax-free seal New closet bolts, washers, nuts, and caps Putty knife (for scraping old wax) Adjustable wrench Hacksaw (for corroded bolts or trimming new ones) Sponge and bucket Plastic toilet shims Silicone caulk Rags and towels