If you’re replacing the gasket, place it on the bottom of the tank before moving on to the next step. Once you’re familiar with where everything goes, place the bolts in position on the tank. Sometimes kits will include an extra set of nuts and metal washers (or even rubber washers) just as a safety measure. Next, take a look at the instructions that came with your new hardware or tank kit (such as this Fluidmaster kit), and set out the pieces to avoid losing them. These rubber gaskets are known to cause water leaks when they become worn or hard - though this is more common in toilets 7 to 10 years old. Replace the Fasteners and Bowl Gasket as Neededīe sure to set all of the old fasteners to the side so that you won’t mix them up with the new hardware.ĭepending on the make and model of your toilet, you may also need to remove the bowl gasket - a round piece of rubber that sits between the tank and the toilet bowl. Next, place it on top of the toilet lid so that you can begin working on it. Once you have the tank bolts removed, ensure that the toilet lid is down, and then carefully lift the tank out of its position.
Let it sit for a few minutes and then try it again. If you still run into trouble, take a bit of CLR and spray it on the fastener. You may also need to tap it a few times with the end of the pliers to break up some of the rusted metal. If this is the case, take your pliers and firmly grab the nut or bolt head, and slowly turn it to the left. Remember that these nuts shouldn’t be secured too tightly, though, in some cases, they may be too corroded to turn just by using your hand.
Once you’ve removed all of the water from the tank, grab a wrench and remove the nuts connecting the tank to the toilet bowl. Next, remove any remaining water from inside the tank. After turning off the water supply line, flush the toilet to empty all of the water from the bowl. If the toilet still runs, you’ll need to turn the valve a bit more. Then, turn the valve clockwise about a half-inch to shut it off completely. Take an adjustable wrench and loosen the nut on the valve. You can do this with the toilet’s water supply valve, which is located near the back wall of the toilet, typically on its left side. Now that you’ve zeroed in on the cause of the leak, cut off the water supply line before doing anything further.
Turn Off the Water and Empty the Toilet Tank If you look at the space between the two, you should be able to determine where the leak is starting. Next, work your way up the back of the toilet - where the bowl connects to the tank. To perform a thorough inspection, start at the bottom of the toilet, near the floor. Note that there are a few other places where your toilet can leak, too. If your bathroom stays on the more humid side, this is something to keep an eye on as they may corrode at an accelerated rate. These parts can wear out over time, causing a tank bolt to loosen - which can be dangerous for the tank. Perform an Inspection to Find the Leak Sourceīefore you can fix the leak, you’ll need to closely inspect the toilet tank bolts to see where it’s originating.Īre they corroded? If this is the case, you’ll definitely need to replace them with newer ones.Īnd the same thing goes for the washers and nuts holding the bolts in place.