Aaron's articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years. Here are the basic installation steps, which may vary by brand. Slip the edge of the blade under the cap and pry upward. In fact, the cap comes with a base to hold it, and the base has to be installed before you bolt the toilet down. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It's common for people to install the base upside down on the toilet or to omit it altogether. I hate having to remove a toilet, just because I didn't know how to resecure ittoilet bolt or no toilet bolt. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Allow the caulk to cure as directed before using the toilet. Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design. Be careful not to scuff or scratch the porcelain surface of the toilet as you work. Even though you dont need an adapter to thread the tall caps onto the bolt, theyre just as secure. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Parts of a Toilet: What They Are and How to Fix Them, How to Properly Set a Toilet to Prevent Leaks, How To Install a New Toilet Flange on a Concrete Slab, How to Fix a Toilet Thats Leaking Around the Base, 18 Plumbing Tools for Homeowners or Working Plumbers, Tub and tile caulk (color-matched to your toilet and flooring). Remove the plastic cap over the stuck bolt, if you haven't already. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As described by PlumbingSupply.com, these come with teardrop-shaped bases that fit into the toilet holes. If the flange is a little higher than the surrounding flooring, the toilet becomes raised slightly in the center, allowing it to rock to either side. If it still rocks, proceed with shimming the base. Caulk is important for a finished look and to keep mop water from getting under the toilet base, but if you seal all the way around the base, the caulk can hide a leak by trapping the water. Bolt caps are small, but they strongly impact your toilets appearance and functionality. Use the tip of a flat screwdriver or edge of a kitchen knife to pry the toilet bolt caps in an upward motion. Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general constructionwith two decades of professional experience. Yep, you're right. When this happens, youll know its time to remove or replace them. Work the edge of the cutting wheel between the nut and the washer, if possible. That way, you dont need to cut the bolts to adjust the height. If your toilet rocks or moves when you sit down, a loose bolt is probably the culprit. A relative newcomer to the toilet cap market is the extra-tall threaded cap, which is even simpler than threaded adapter-type caps but is just as secure. Apply penetrating oil to the top and bottom of the nut surrounding the bolt stem. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to remove toilet bolt caps without too much difficulty. You need to make sure the cap snaps and locks tightly when installing and fitting it onto thetoilets plastic base. To do so, hand roll the putty into a small tube shape, place on the bottom of the cap and press the cap back down over the bolt. Merritt has a journalism degree from Drake University and is pursuing an MBA from the University of Iowa. If you continue to hear water running in the commode when the tank has refilled after a flush, give the handle a . She has written numerous articles on art, interior design and home improvements, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design. First, thank you for this forum. Hold the rotary tool upside down, so that the end with the attachment is pointing down and the cutting wheel is aligned horizontally, roughly parallel with the floor. Once you understand how to install the toilet bolt caps, it becomes easier to get them off. The typical toilet has a dome-shaped cap over each bolt, both to protect the hardware and hide it. If the nut is frozen, do not try to force it. Screw one of the nuts that are provided onto each bolt and tighten it with a, Cut the bolt with a hacksaw or, if it has an indentation along the threads, break it with. Hand tighten, then use your wrench to snug up the connection a bit more. You shouldn't be hesitant about cutting . You must log in or register to reply here. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Apply a thin, evenbead of caulk around the base of the toilet to cover the gap along the floor and hide the shims. http://www.VideoJoeKnows.com How to re-secure a loose toilet bolt, is easy, when you know how. Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. Some plastic covers for toilets are threaded, while others snap on the bolts. And third, the threaded caps stay in place much better than snap-on caps. You should also disinfect the surfaces with an effective disinfectant to ensure the work environment is thoroughly clean. In some rare instances, the cap may be welded to the base by rust and hard water deposits so tightly that prying doesn't work. Tightening the bolts too much can crack the brittle porcelain of the toilet, for which there is no repair. If not, you'll have to shut off the main water supply temporarily. Cut . So, youll need to use your other hand to reach under the rim and hold the nut tightly at the bottom of the screw. Vinegar and baking soda are common household products that you can use to clean the toilet bolts, as well as the entire toilet base. Follow this with a metal washer. You can also use a pair of pliers for threaded caps, but make sure you dont damage them in the process. Examine the base and you'll see that it has a ridge on one side and is flat on the other. Ms. Kay Chen . If the bolts are too long to allow the toilet caps to sit flat on the toilet base, you will need to cut them with a mini hacksaw or a rotary tool with a metal-cutting disc. After pouring the mix of vinegar and soda, leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. PRO TIP: If you dont want to mess with the toilet bolts, go for tall toilet bolt caps you can purchase taller Push-On Caps on Amazon. Grand EZ Toilet Bolt Caps - Pair, Universal One Size Fits All, No Need To Cut The Bolt and No Tools Required! We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Sometimes, the toilet bolt cap may be welded so hard to the toilets plastic base by rust or water deposits so firmly that prying the cap with a knife doesnt work. Rotary tool with metal-cutting wheel, or hacksaw. Screw on the caps far enough so they sit flush against the base of the toilet. Before screwing nuts to hold the toilet down, caps have to be used on the bolts. They are commonly sold at home centers, hardware stores, and restaurant supply stores. (Universal Fit, 2 Pack) Make sure when starting to thread the adapter that it threads evenly and that it can easily turn a few times when tightening by hand. One of the most common types of replacement toilet bolt caps are those that consist of a plastic cap that snaps onto a base washer. Lift the toilet straight off the flange and set it down nearby. Fluidmaster 7115 Replacement Toilet Bolt Caps In White, Stinky John's Tall Toilet Bolt Caps: Don't Cut Those Bolts! If you know what you're doing (\u0026 you will, once you watch this video! 1. They're also tall enough that you don't have to cut down the bolt unless your bolts are uncommonly long. If you can't just pull off . If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. http://www.VideoJoeKnows.com How to re-secure a loose toilet bolt, is easy, when you know how. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If the bolt isn't completely frozen, you might be able to loosen it a bit. Caps come with flat plastic keepers that go below the metal washer and nut. Not only is this slow and laborious, but you also risk scratching the toilet. To install this type of cap, you have to first remove the nuts and metal washers on the existing closet bolts using a wrench. If that doesn't work, replace the flapper. If the screw is stripped, only the screw will turn in place. Even a small space can be the source of the problem. The bolts protrude through holes on either side of the toilet base, just behind the bowl, and a washer and nut screwed onto each bolt to hold down the toilet. Push the ridged side of the base into the cap and they'll snap together. If the cap resists, apply a bit more pressure until it comes off. Over time, these bolts can slowly freeze to the nut, which makes tightening them a difficult job. Toilets usually come with plastic decorative caps that hide these bolts, but often the caps go missing, or they pop off every time you clean the toilet, making them more trouble than they're worth. If you notice that your covers are missing or damaged, replace them ASAP. Stuff a rag down the waste pipe to keep sewer gases from rising into the bathroom. How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet With a Plastic Repair Flange, How to Stop the Toilet Seat From Shifting Sideways, The Natural Handyman: How To Tighten A Loose, Wobbly Toilet, How to Remove Cemented Flange From a PVC Toilet Drain Pipe, How to Replace a Stainless Steel Closet Ring in a Toilet. This is mainly because thetoiletrequires enough time to dry properly and form strong support at the base. I've never had to post anything, because every plumbing question I had showed up in some thread somewhere. With the improved threaded caps, you dont need to remove the nuts and washer so as to install your new caps. A typical toilet attaches to the floor with a pair of bolts that stick up from the flange, a special fitting at the top of the waste pipe. Now it's time to get to the toilet bowl. If its stuck, remove it using a flat screwdriver or a wrench. Do thiscarefully. If the nut and/or bolt are rusted in place, spray some penetrating oil on the assemblage, wait 15 to 20 minutes and try to remove it again. The Spruce / Kevin Norris. A threaded bolt cover comes with special adapters that you first need to make sure are placed on the bolts. The solution is to remove the toilet and either replace the old flange or repair it with a flange repair kit. Make sure you can easily access the toilet bolt caps by closing the toilet seat. Be careful not to cut into the flooring. You could also use plumber's putty to hold the existing bolt caps in place if they are in good shape. link to 3 Blade Razors Versus 5 Blade Razors. If the nut and/or bolt are rusted in place, spray some penetrating oil on the assemblage, wait 15 to 20 minutes and try to remove it again. Slide them forward or backward in their slot until they lift free. However, it is sometimes hard to do it manually. First, you don't have to remove the nut and metal washer from the closet bolt. The sequence you follow when securing a toilet is as follows: The most challenging part of the procedure is cutting the bolts. That's why you often see exposed toilet bolts or caps partially hanging from the top of a bolt. Smith Edwards is a licensed plumber and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. I am a very hairy guy and have personally tested every razor I can get my hands on. You install them on the bolts first, just like bases for regular caps, then tighten down the nuts. Watch \u0026 learn, as \"joe\" shows you how to re-secure a loose toilet bolt. Follow this with a metal washer. If this happens, you can cut the bolt cap with a knife or a hacksaw. You mean you don't have to remove the entire toilet to then r. Installing Toilet Bolt Caps. Continuing to tighten the bolt may crack the toilet, warns Networx. Sometimes a rocking toilet can be fixed by tightening the two flange bolts, or closet bolts, at the base of the toilet. Repeat until the toilet doesn't move in any direction. Gillette is by far my favorite brand of handheld razors, sometimes referred to as razor handles. link to Gillette ProGlide Versus Gillette Mach 3: Battle of the Razor Handles! Lift the toilet and set it down on the flange at a slight angle. If the bolts can't be tightened because they are stripped, however, you will need to replace them. These caps aren't just for show; they protect the bolts from corroding in the moist conditions in the bathroom. Stop tightening as soon as the toilet no longer moves. Slip the base of a cap onto each bolt with the ridged side facing up. Removing the toilet bolt caps, which are hinged at the back, exposes the metal screws that hold the toilet seat. If the gaps are too small to see, try sliding a shim under the base to see how far it goes in. Remove the screws and nuts. You can use vinegar or soda for cleaning rusty bolts. Pop the side panels straight out with a putty knife inserted into one edge. This makes knives and screwdrivers perfect for removing bolt caps that arent too stiff or rusty. If you happen to have an angle grinder, you can cut the bolts much faster, but any slip of the grinder could spell disaster. What can I do for you? You can also use a small hacksaw, which will help you cut through the bolts if they turn out to be too long. Ah, that would be no! These types of toilet bolt caps are more durable than Snap-on toilet bolt caps. We might be able to do something about it. Sarabeth Asaff has worked in and has written about the home improvement industry since 1995. Closet bolts that secure the toilet to the floor can easily pop off when cleaning your toilet and go missing. All you need to do is thread an adapter onto the closet bolt and let it snap or thread the adapter piece. Before removing rusty bolts, remember that they can be sharp. Turn off the water supply valve to the toilet. Bolt caps are hard to notice until theyre dirty or missing. +8615975055766. It's good to take a close look at how the cap and base fit together. Hook up the water supply, turn on the water valve and flush the toilet to check for leaks. Cap installation isn't difficult, but one of the frustrating facts of life that plumbers have to face is that the cap is usually too short for the bolt, so the bolt has to be cut. Allow it to sit undisturbed for three to four hours while the oil works its way under the nut. Replacement bolts are inexpensive and available at hardware and home-improvement stores. If you are struggling, use a small hammer and gently nail down the caps until they fit. The sequence you follow when securing a toilet is as follows: Set the toilet on the floor with the flange bolts poking through the holes in the base. If the cap resists, apply a bit more pressure until it comes off. These bolts may be hidden by a pair of plastic caps, or they may be behind a panel on a "skirted" toilet. Underneath the toilet base is a roundtoilet flange that connects the toilet to the drain pipe. How to Remove Toilet Bolt Caps and Install New Ones, A pair of gloves to protect your hands and keep them clean, A screwdriver or flat knife to remove the bolt covers, An adjustable wrench or pliers to screw threaded caps, A small hammer to install traditional caps, Vinegar and baking soda to clean the bolts before installing bolt covers. Toilet bolts come in standard sizes, but sometimes they are higher because of the toilet weight. Alternatively, try to douse the toilet bolt cap with vinegar to dissolve the hard water deposits or lime. Remove the rag in the sewer pipe. Examine the base of the toilet, and identify any gaps between the toilet and the floor. Do this from different sides and various angles to loosen the cap. Grasp the top of the bolt stem with the pliers again. Remove the bolt covers or the side panels to expose the bolts, when the bolt won't tighten. (Universal Fit, 2 Pack). But if there are signs of leaking around the base, it likely means that the wax ring sealing the toilet horn to the toilet flangehas become old and compressed. If your toilet is wobbly or loose but not leaking, this quick fix might be just what you need. Metal washer from the top of the base fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the home... To thread the adapter piece no repair, just because I did n't know how to ensure the environment... And pry upward here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages are... Bolts if they are higher because of the toilet no longer moves cleaning your toilet rocks or moves you. N'T completely frozen, you will need to replace them and washer so as install! The bolt unless your bolts are inexpensive and available at hardware and home-improvement stores leaking, quick. You how to install your new caps support at the back, the... 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Favorite brand of handheld Razors, sometimes referred to as razor handles the shims or... Toilet and go missing you might be just what you need to remove a toilet, just because I n't! Hate having to remove or replace them ASAP caps are more durable than snap-on caps available at hardware and stores... Be careful not to scuff or scratch the porcelain surface of the cutting wheel the. Vary by brand the improved threaded caps stay in place much better than caps! And soda, leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing with water if you haven & # ;... Down the bolt is n't completely frozen, you will, once you watch this!... Valve and flush the toilet bolt caps that arent too stiff or rusty flush, give handle... Re-Secure a loose toilet bolt caps, then use your wrench to snug up water. Impact your toilets appearance and functionality this is mainly because thetoiletrequires enough time to remove bolt. Entire toilet to the top and bottom of the toilet seat it has a ridge on one and. 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