New yEar's leaking toilet rant

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MarcosSantiago

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I came back home from vacation last night (road trip) to find a leaking toilet at home.

We were away many days, good thing it is a small leak, my mom came in and was able to manage just by placing a bucket under, and waiting for me to come back. The problem is obvious: the toilet is practically an antique, and one of the tank-to-bowl bolts "blew" a rubber gasket (disintegrating because of age).

I went to Lowe's as soon as they opened today. They don't have fricking anything in stock, and what they have is sold by its weight in gold. It is just unbelievable. Usually my Lowe's store is pretty good but this was pathetic.

I got bolts and rubber gaskets in a kit, and came back home. When I opened the bag I was disappointed to see the gaskets are not rubber, but more like f*&$#@ hard plastic. How can you get a good seal with something like this? If you apply too much force when tighten it, the tank may crack, and then you have to buy a complete new toilet. I feel like going back to the Lowe's to complain... gaskets are supposed to be rubber, not plastic... it is just easier and less risky. I wonder how many people cracked their own toilet because something like this? I just don't have the energy right now.

I also took a look at the new toilets (with all the hardware included). I was about to just buy one and be done. I have to remove the tank anyways... I may as well remove the bowl as well (but I have never done it). How difficult is to install a new toilet?

I drove 700 kms yesterday, I do not want to do anything today. Why did it have to happen right now?

Rant over... I feel a bit better... :p
 
Replacing a toilet is fairly easy.

You may have to buy the wax seal ring to go with the new toilet though. Leaking toilets are annoying, I had one leaking from where the water supply hose connects with the toilet. Replaced the supply hose, still leaked. Replaced the flush stack (not sure what its actually called) and that fixed it.
 
Replacing toilet isn't too hard. You have to make sure the shut off valve works. If it hasn't been shut off since the toilet was first installed you could experience some problems there. Also the base where the 2 hold down bolts go has to be in good shape. There are repair kits for that. (I put SS all rod to below floor). Anyway, it's like any home repair that can spiral out of control beyond what you expected. Only one toilet in the house?
 
If the toilet is that old, just buy a new one. If the valve is toast, shut off the main supply instead. You should replace the valve, but if you don't know how, call a plumber to do it properly... I don't trust pressure fit fittings.
 
Update: the shut off valve under the toilet does not work. Obviously.
Good call, inreb and matt365

I went to the basement to shut the water off. Installed the new gaskets. One gasket is still leaking, I need to re-do it again, and apply more torque this time. And now the shut off valve under the toilet is leaking too.

This is why some people just calls a plumber in the first place.
 
And what would a plumber do differently? He'd replace all those parts and charge you for his time to do so. You are also learning. That's something people should always be grateful for. Knowledge.
 
If you change out the toilet, install new wax ring. $2 will save you possibly from redoing it.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
 
MarcosSantiago said:
Update: the shut off valve under the toilet does not work. Obviously.
Good call, inreb and matt365

I went to the basement to shut the water off. Installed the new gaskets. One gasket is still leaking, I need to re-do it again, and apply more torque this time. And now the shut off valve under the toilet is leaking too.

This is why some people just calls a plumber in the first place.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you live far from the big city? Is there a local hardware store nearby?
If so, they are you best bet for the small parts you need. Try them, if you have one close.
Did you disconnect / re-connect some threaded parts? If so, you need Teflon / plumbers tape on the threads before you put them back together. That'll stop the leak by the tap.
You really do need the gasket / grommet in the material you first mentioned.
Take your time, and don't overcook the torque on the nuts. Or. Maybe you should. That'll get you into a new / efficient throne.
Leaking toilets are a ****** job, no getting around that.
 
Joe Bass said:
If you change out the toilet, install new wax ring. $2 will save you possibly from redoing it.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

And for giggles put the old wax ring on a plate in the fridge. Pineapple?
 
Joe Bass said:
If you change out the toilet, install new wax ring. $2 will save you possibly from redoing it.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 625 Windows Phone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Most new toilets come with the wax ring. Always a good idea to buy 1 extra one, if it's your 1st time.
The last one I bought about 5 months ago had the wax ring, and new floor hardware included. (Lowe's).
 
if your shut off isnt working, just replace with a shark-bite fitting..

replacing a toliet is amazingly simple. Youy'll laugh when you're done and wonder why you didnt do it earlier
 
Replacing the toilet is super simple. At a high level, two bolts on the floor, new wax seal, water supply. The new toilet will likely come in two pieces so you have to bolt the tank to the bowl.

One caution, if it has been there a long time, you may open up a can of worms on the sewer side (floor). Rotted floor, broken drain pipe, broken flange, etc.
 
They don't use those soft rubber gaskets between the tank and toilet any more because they discovered that after a while they leak. All the crap in today's water, and people put those blue pucks in the tank too, both combine to kill the gaskets in no time. The answer? One piece toilet FTW!
 
MarcosSantiago said:
The problem is obvious: the toilet is practically an antique
Click to expand...

Sativa Quemador said:
replacing a toliet is amazingly simple.
Click to expand...

backmarkerducati said:
Replacing the toilet is super simple.

One caution, if it has been there a long time, you may open up a can of worms on the sewer side (floor). Rotted floor, broken drain pipe, broken flange, etc.
Click to expand...

Theory behind the job is straight forward. Anybody who works on old stuff knows the reality.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
And what would a plumber do differently? He'd replace all those parts and charge you for his time to do so. You are also learning. That's something people should always be grateful for. Knowledge.
Click to expand...
Not everyone is handy, bro
 
inreb said:
Theory behind the job is straight forward. Anybody who works on old stuff knows the reality.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah.. Absolutley.. thats why its great to rfead threads like this to get the tips from people who have already experienced it

But as far as DIY is concerned, its way easy... you dont need a pro for this.

anyone can redneck up a solution for any problem they might get.
 
three rules in plumbing, poop flows downstream, don't lick your fingers and buy every part you may need on the first trip, what you don't use is returnable. If your changing a toilet, the supply valve WILL leak from the old packing gland that is inside, be prepared to change it and upgrade to a ball valve, they don't leak. If your toilet is on ceramic it may require two wax seals to bridge, get the good one with the plastic flange and a cheapo without the flange to stack if needed. The bolts holding it to the floor will break off, be prepared to install new bolts, and prepared to saw out the old ones.
The sharkbite, gator grip fitting are awesome, just make sure if the pipe has been painted you give it a quick sandpaper back to clean copper.
Even if the new toilet comes with an installation kit , grab some extra bits, the kit will not have everything you'll need generally.
Some municipalities have upgrade rebates, check with your water supplier if a low flush upgrade will get you a cashback.
 
Measure and make sure the new toilet will fit into the space.
 
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