Leaks around the toilet tank bolts usually indicate defective rubber washers. Each screw or tank bolt of the toilet, has a washer between the head of the screw and the tank to prevent water from leaking. Over time, cracks develop in the washers, allowing water to seep through and drip onto the ground. To obtain the best results and to avoid additional leaks, replace the toilet tank bolts, as well as the washers. Spare bolts are available at home improvement centers and plumbing stores.
NIAGARA CONSERVATION N7799 283551 0.8 gpf Stealth Watersense High-Efficiency Elongated Toilet Bowl with Rear Outlet, White
Instructions
1 Close the toilet water supply on the shuf-off valve, which is usually on the wall behind the toilet. Twist the valve all the way to the right to close.
2 Lift the lid of the toilet tank and place it away from the work area. Pull the chain and allow as much water as possible to drain from the tank. Absorb the remaining water with towels.
3 Place the head of one of the tank bolts with a large flat-tipped screwdriver. Loosen the nut on the screw with a socket wrench. The nut is located under the flange of the rear toilet bowl where the tank connects to the toilet bowl. Turn the key carefully so that it does not hit the toilet bowl with the handle. Repeat for the opposite bolt.
4 Pull both tank bolts from the toilet cistern. Clean the area around the mounting holes with a cloth. Lightly sand the trash any rust with fine-grained sandpaper. Remove the dust created by sanding with a damp cloth. This creates a solid, clean surface for the mounting of the rubber bolts and washers.
5 Slide the new washers over the new tank bolts. The washers should be flush with the bottom of the screw heads. Insert the bolts through the mounting holes inside the tank. Thread the retaining nuts over the bolts until both are hand tightened against the toilet flange.
6 Tighten each nut with the pipe wrench until you notice the outside of the rubber washers begin to compress. When tightening, turn a nut a couple of turns, then move on to the next nut and turn it a couple of turns. This tightens the screws evenly, which helps prevent accidental cracking of the flange or tank.
7 Open the water supply and check for leaks around the toilet tank bolts. Tighten as necessary and secure the tank cap back on the tank.
Tips and warnings
- If the toilet tank bolts do not loosen when you try to remove them, cut them between the nut and the toilet flange, using a saw or rotary tool. The bolts are usually made of brass and cut with little difficulty.