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.

Time: 2 hours

Cost: $50

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools:

Shopping List:

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.

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

[andrewengland]

Yo my man just told the home owner to go get his tools outta his truck. 😎

[DChappelle]

A true professional always gets the homeowner to go grab his tools from the truck.

[jeffreywolf]

Words you never want to hear from a plumber. I don't think I've ever seen a floor this far out.

[ElementalMaker]

1:31 *Floor Flexes like Godzilla is trying to punch through from the bottom*... "I think the bolt is your culprit"

[rknill]

I don't envy anyone doing a 'mind over fecal matter' job. you have my utmost respect.

[proteuswave]

in the top 10 youtube channels of all time--love this show and no unneeded drama!

[jeffostroff]

Richard! I've been using that Sani Seal green foam wax ring alternative for 4 years now. Glad to see you finally adopted it also. I love it because we can re-use that green foam, sometimes we have to move the toilet a few times during construction to get things done, but put it back same day so people can use it. With wax rings you have to scrape up the mess and put a new one down each time you replace the toilet.

[gordonwiebe]

A very good demonstration on how to get rid of a wobbly toilet on a solid floor, but in this case the floor must be repaired first. If you watch the video, when you wobble the toilet the floor moves with the toilet. Repair the floor and give the toilet a solid base, then use shims if you need them.

[peterjanis]

"Yeah I changed the wax ring" ... "hmm wow look at this. some idiot ran the nut and mangled this washer. I think thats our culprit" ...

[sandibennett]

Thank you very much for the very helpful tutorial. I am surprised the fix is far more simpler than I thought it would be.

[jeffthewhiff]

This was very interesting to watch because when my late father and I installed a toilet in my bathroom many years ago. The floor was so uneven that we had to build
a wooden base for the toilet to sit on and it has worked out great ever since.

[TheKingofHowTos_TKHT]

I had to fix this a few years back at a rental... @4:18, those plastic shims didn't work as the gaps were too much. The toilet was extremely wobbly... Several plumbers tried to fix it and charged big bucks, but eventually, I had to create an custom SINGLE large SHIM/off-set to match the entire shape of the base, as the floor was so non-leveled on all ends, but that fixed/leveled it, and it never wobbled since then... Nice video...

[tadslo]

Great video. Apply tile grout in the gap and it will never rock and yet easy to remove when replacing the bowl. Caulk will provide a seal but little support for the bowl; especially on an uneven floor.

[numberpappy]

Good video! I'd like to add that I really wish they would only use stainless steel for the toilet flange screws or bolts! Every time I've had to lift or replace a toilet the bolts have been rusted. I usually have to cut them because they are so corroded the nuts won't turn.

[BradiKal]

you can also have a rocking toilet problem if the closet flange sticks up too high. my flange is one that goes down into the drain pipe and grabs on from the inside. because previous owners took out the original floor it left enough cast iron pipe sticking up so that the flange was 3/4" above the floor and no matter how hard you tightened the bolts the toiled base would not contact the floor and be stable. I shimmed around the base but eventually the shims all migrated under the base and lost contact.

So bought a 1/2"x2'x4' piece of white pvc board and cut out the exact shape of the toilet base with an 8" circle cut out to fit over the flange. I put a few screws into the pvc to keep it from shifting and bolted the toilet back on top of it. Now all edges of the toilet are supported and it doesnt rock.

TIP---- When you bolt down the toilet use heavier flange bolts and stainless steel nuts, and several rubber washers with stainless steel fender washers on top of the rubber. this spreads out the force and cushions the washers from applying concentrated force to the base which can easily crack it. if you dont go too big on the washers all will be hidden under the decorative closet bolt caps

[larrymoore]

As Richard said at the end of the video it was a quick fix so they would have a toilet available quickly. Personally I sure didn't like the large spacing on right side.

[citygent]

It's not tested until someone drops a duece through it. Any other experts would have to concur or just laugh like hell 😂🤣

[mrpowerchute]

Sit the toilet on a bed of plaster of paris and the shims to level. Then a nice bead of caulk around the base - Looks good and solves the problem. Works every time!

[allensanders]

I often find on foundations with crawl spaces or basements that a plumber has cut a floor joist to get the 4 inch drainpipe up through a floor then sisters a 2x6 or 2x8 on the opposite side of the floor joist . Over time the patched joist starts to loosen in the gap and flex at the point it was cut allowing the floor to sink. If the sistered joist isnt sitting on a stem wall on both sides or at the least doesnt extend the length of the floor on both sides of the toilet and isnt secured with 3/8ths carriage bolts, washers and nuts the length of the board the floor will flex under the toilet over time.

[zaineridling]

There are times when you have to take your losses and set fire to the house and walk away. When the insurance adjuster shows up, tell him the plumber was smoking on the sh*tter and burned the whole place down! 👍🚬👍👌