The Solution To A Rocking Toilet Is In Your Wallet (And It's Not A Credit Card!)

Sitting on a wobbly toilet sometimes gives you a funny feeling in your stomach. You don't know if it's going to tip over or work adequately. While a rocking toilet doesn't affect the function of it, you never feel at peace when you have to use it. The bolts connecting the base to the floor might be loose, making it rock back and forth when sitting on it. While tightening them is an easy fix, there could be more challenging issues that a professional would need to fix. However, you can save a lot of money by leveling the toilet yourself with a few coins. Sliding a few pennies under the base will help balance it and cease the rocking.

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Toilets have flanges that connect the entire base to the floor with a pipe fitting. It connects to the drain pipe, and the flange is mounted to the floor with flange bolts. There are often two to four bolts that secure the toilet in place. If those bolts become loose, it can cause the toilet to rock. Although, if you tighten the bolts but still feel it is moving, then the pennies will help level out the base.

How to stop your toilet from rocking

While a toilet is bolted and sealed to the floor with flange bolts and wax seal, they can become loose over time. Sometimes the flange can be placed higher than the rest of the floor, which makes everything unbalanced. Or, the seal wears down from getting wet. Always check for leaks or unsecured bolts. You'll need coins and caulk to fix the rocking toilet. Depending on how much space there is between the toilet and the floor will determine which size coin you'll use. Simply insert pennies through the opening until the toilet doesn't move when you shake it. Once there isn't any more wobbling, seal the gap with caulk to hide the pennies.

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Using caulk is easy, too — first, cut the tip at an angle with a utility knife. If you have a caulk gun, they have a small hole on the side where it'll cut the tip for you. Then, puncture the interior and secure the canister in the caulk gun. Line up the metal rod with the canister and squeeze the handle until caulk emits. Finally, apply caulk to the space and smooth it with a wet gloved finger to smooth the surface.

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