Alright, so check it out, last weekend I had to deal with a real fun situation: a toilet that just wouldn’t flush right. I’m talking, like, swirling but not going down, you know? Super annoying. So, I figured, “Alright, I’m gonna reset this thing.” Here’s how it went down.
First things first, I shut off the water supply. You gotta do this, trust me. It’s usually a little valve right behind the toilet, near the floor. Give it a turn until it’s closed. Then, flush the toilet to get as much water out of the bowl as possible. I even used a little cup to scoop out the last bit. We’re trying to keep things as clean (or cleaner, anyway) as possible here.
Next up, disconnect the water supply line from the toilet tank. Have a bucket handy ’cause there’s always a little bit of water that spills out. Just loosen the nut with a wrench and gently pull the hose off. Easy peasy.
Now, for the gross part. You gotta remove the remaining water from the bowl and tank. I used an old sponge and a bucket. Just soak it up and wring it out. Not the most glamorous job, but hey, gotta be done. This makes the toilet lighter and easier to handle.
Okay, time to unbolt the toilet from the floor. There are usually two bolts, one on each side of the base, covered with little plastic caps. Pop the caps off and use a wrench to loosen and remove the bolts. Sometimes they’re rusty and stubborn, so give ’em a good soak with some WD-40 if needed.
Here comes the heave-ho. Gently rock the toilet back and forth to break the seal with the wax ring. Once it’s loose, carefully lift the toilet straight up. This is where having a second person helps, especially if it’s a heavy toilet. Be careful not to tilt it too much or you’ll have a mess of… stuff… on your hands. Set the toilet down on some old newspapers or a drop cloth. Don’t put it directly on your bathroom floor!
Now you’re looking at the flange and the old wax ring. Scrape off the old wax ring. Get it all off, nice and clean. You can use a putty knife or a scraper. This is important because you want a good seal with the new wax ring.
Time for the new wax ring. Install the new wax ring on the flange. Make sure it’s centered and seated properly. Some people prefer to put the wax ring on the bottom of the toilet instead, but I find it easier to put it on the flange. Personal preference, really.
Alright, almost there! Carefully lower the toilet back onto the flange, lining up the bolt holes. Gently press down on the toilet to compress the wax ring and create a good seal. You should feel it settle into place.
Now, reinstall the bolts and tighten them down. Don’t overtighten them, just snug them up good and tight. Then, replace the plastic caps over the bolts.
Reconnect the water supply line to the toilet tank. Tighten the nut with a wrench, but again, don’t overtighten. Turn the water supply valve back on slowly and check for leaks. If you see any leaks, tighten the nut a little more.
Finally, flush the toilet a few times to make sure everything is working properly. Watch for leaks around the base of the toilet and the water supply line. If all looks good, you’re done!
- Shut off the water supply.
- Disconnect the water supply line.
- Remove the toilet.
- Replace the wax ring.
- Reinstall the toilet.
- Reconnect the water supply line.
- Test it out!
And that’s how I reset my toilet. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience, but hey, it saved me a plumber bill. Plus, now I can flush with confidence!
