If your toilet is having some problems, there are some simple solutions. Toilet repair is not as difficult as you might think. Toilet repairs can save you a lot of money. If you come across cracks during your inspection, you will have to replace the toilet.

See Related articles: How to install a toilet

Tips to consider before getting started on toilet repairs:

• You may not have to completely disassemble your toilet for toilet repairs. There is a repair kit for the flapper available.
• For a fill valve toilet repair or handle toilet repair, you do not need to remove entire tank.
• If your toilet is running over, you may be able to adjust the shut off by turning the ball type float out or in. Water should stop about one inch from the top.
• Wax ring toilet repair can be done by taking the whole unit off.

Toilet repair steps to shut off water

1Turn the knob of the shut off valve located a few inches above the floor on the left side of the toilet.

2Remove tank lid.

3Flush toilet to empty water from the tank. If the handle is broken, pull up on the chain connected to the flapper at the center of the tank.

Toilet repair steps to strip tank

1Disconnect the water supply line from the fill valve. Shut off the valve by turning the compression nuts channel lock pliers

2Remove the fill valve by removing the two screws that run through the bottom of the tank and through the back of the bowl. Slowly pick straight up on the tank to separate it from the bowl.

3To remove the fill valve, remove the jam nut that is at the bottom of the tank and pull it straight up out of the tank. If there is a small water line clipped to a riser tube in the center of the tank, simply unclip it and it will come out of the fill valve. Discard.

4The gasket from the bottom of the flapper assembly must be removed. Also, remove the jam nut holding the flapper assembly to the tank. Lift the flapper assembly out of the tank and throw away.

5If the handle is broken, for this toilet repair, you will need to remove the lock nut from the inside of the tank and remove the handle assembly. Throw away.

6Inspect for cracks.

Toilet repair steps to remove bowl from floor and obstructions

1Remove two nuts from the flange bolts. If nuts are corroded, cut the flange bolts with a hacksaw or Dremel.

2Remove any obstructions. If the object is too large to pass through the opening at the bottom of the bowl, use a toilet snake or wire hanger to push it back up through the trap. Remove it from the top.

Toilet repair steps to fix flange

1Purchase a toilet repair ring (spanner). The spanner will slip under the flange on the broken side and create a bridge to hold the flange bolt. The ring has holes for the flange bolts.

2Be sure to seal the toilet repair ring with a bead of silicone caulk to prevent leaks. Clean flange and apply caulk. Place the ring over the flange and screw it down.

Tips for assembling back together:

• Putting your toilet back together is simple. Follow the reversal of removal steps.
• Be careful not to over tighten to prevent cracks. Just tighten by hand with an extra half turn.
• When tightening tank to bowl, switch side to side for even pressure.
• Assemble tank screws: metal washer followed by rubber washer, insert through tank and bowl, metal washer then lock nut. Rubber washer will seal against the floor of the tank.

Remember, it is not always necessary to completely disassemble for toilet repairs. Also, if there are cracks, you will need to replace entire toilet.

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Comments (15)

• |2009-06-01 13:46:00 skip  - toilet bowl
  After flushing the toilet makes a bubbling sound and the toilet bowl will get very little water in it. it is a newer style unit with an adjustment screw for the float assembly. turning the adjustment makes no difference in the amount of water going into the bowl Help please
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• |2009-10-04 20:38:06 Dale Breese  - toilet not flushing correctly
  most of the time...not every time when we flush the toilet the water will not completely flush out. We seem to get lots of water in the tank and toilet.
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• |2012-02-27 09:08:00 Vin
  What was the solution?
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• |2009-10-31 13:56:59 Kelly Fernandez  - Thanks for the advice
  Just wanted to drop a message and thank you for the advice above. My husband and I have been fighting with a toilet flushing problem for over a month with no answers.
  
  I finally sent an email to a toilet repair company and they helped quite a bit, but we were finally able to get it fixed with this article. Turns out that our son flushed a little rubber duck at bath time and it was lodged inside of the toilet drain.
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• |2009-12-11 22:44:39 don eubanks  - leaking ball cock
  i have an older Eljer toilet - tank indicates august 4, 1950]. the supply tube from the fill valve clamps over a tube [made as a part of tank] into the back of tank. the ball cock seats down into a drain hole {made into [as a part of ]the bottem of tank as well}.
  
  I have not been able (even after changing out ball cock] [(ball cock is black tit shaped ball, with brass screw embeded into top of ball and attched to a long brass wire screw which handle pulls up on to raise blk ball for flushing.
  
  i have gone so far as to change out the flush valve ...as well... but the ball does not seem to want to seat well enought to stop the constant little ...tinkle tinkle leak... it acts as if it does not fall streight down into the hole for proper sealing for some reason.???
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• |2010-01-04 23:27:47 Jerry Gleason  - Seems to be pretty common
  You know, I have seen and heard about so many people replacing their toilets due to simple problems that could have been easily fixed for under ten dollars. I have been in the toilet repair and plumbing business for over twenty years and it never ceases to amaze me, please just do a little research and see if it can be fixed before shelling out the money to replace the toilet.
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• |2011-01-03 17:32:51 Steven Selles  - flow restricted from tank to bowl.
  I have a Crane Harvard 1960s era toilet. The styrofoam attached to the underside of the flapper came loose and is stuck somewhere inside the toilet passages, restricting flow from the tank to the bowl. How can I remove this restriction?
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• |2011-01-30 22:10:04 Anonymous  - re: toilet not flushing correctly
  Dale Breese wrote:

  most of the time...not every time when we flush the toilet the water will not completely flush out. We seem to get lots of water in the tank and toilet.
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• |2011-10-09 00:04:57 Theresa  - Bubbling sounds in toilet
  After flushing the toilet makes a bubbling sound. Everything else seems fine. My neighbor said they had the bubbling sound and had to replace all of their toilets. Does the bubbling sound mean it needs to be replace?
  )
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• |2012-01-11 15:11:53 Barb  - Tank filling
  I hear my tank filling long after the flushing sequence is finished. I assume that means some water has leaked out. There are no outward signs of leaks. Is there something I can fix?
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• |2012-01-25 14:50:52 Dana Falkner  - New wax ring
  Replaced wax ring because toilet was leaking from bottom. Water is still coming out of bottom and where screw mount to floor.Please advise
  
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• |2012-02-09 14:39:53 Kris  - magic act-disappearing water
  I have had my new toilet installed 3 times. I have used a double wax ring each time. Each time the toilet "works" for a short time and then leaks. Sometimes it leaks around the base of the toilet onto the floor but usually the water level just goes down. It goes down noticeably overnight and will be dry or nearly dry in 2-3 days if it is not used. I stopped using it. I have no idea where the water is going to but it is gone. Help.
  
  
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• |2012-04-10 08:17:23 robert kirkpatrick  - toilet repairs
  flush runs after each flush. have to amnually shut if off by pressing dwon on part.
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• |2012-04-12 23:36:11 OMG  - Stripped Shut off Valve and hole in bottom of the
  My toilet has been dripping water for days. I shut off the valve however it was still leaking water fro a screw that looks like it is holding the tank and the bowl together. When I went to tighten it, it was rusted, etc and came off in my hand! Water everywhere. I also think I stripped the shut off valve. Please help! Do I need a plumber or a new toilet?
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• |2012-05-02 01:12:39 Anonymous
  i replaced the insides of toliet thats fine but i cant get the water to swirl inside toliet did i tighten something to much
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