I had linoleum installed in my bathroom earlier this week and today I discovered that one of the toilet flange bolts is completely loose, i.e. as I tried to tighten it the durn thing pulled out completely. Is it possible to get it back in place without removing the toilet or do I have to bite the bullet? The toilet isn't wobbly at all but I suppose I oughta take care of it before I forget about it...

 

I would pull up the toliet and reinstall with new wax ring and flange, you dont want it leaking all over the place, you would have a real mess. very easy...it will take you longer to get the water out of the tank than repairing the toliet.

and make sure you get all the old wax ring cleaned off

 

You need to remove the toilet to check and see if the flange is broken.. It is easy to break them.. Hopefully the bolt just came out of the slot.

Good Luck

 

I'd bolt it down and hope for the best.

Ryan

 

Get a set of bowl bolts that screw into the floor. You put on the cap nut and thread the wood screw portion into the floor.

If the floor is too far gone for that (hole reamed out) get a short 1/4" or larger lag bolt and a washer and screw the bowl down. I have done this many times on floors that were soft, or if the flange was broken.

A galvanized bolt and washer will not rust.

 

I'd purchase a closet bolt kit and wax ring and then pull up the toilet.

Hopefully the closet bolt just worked itself loose.

And don't over tighten the bolts.

 

great advice.... cause at that point, not only do you get to start over, but you're outa toilet as well.

 

and a quick drain for the bowl... shop--vac. when they reset the toilet they let the closet bolt turn out of the flange. get the wax ring w/ the plastic flange and new bolts. if the floor flange isn't broken or loose from the floor guys, you'll be ok

 

check and see if your local ACE hardware partner has the extra thick wax rings for reinstallment. Last thing you want is the crap oozing all over your floor.

Ryan

 

OK, looks like I'll be dancing with the toilet soon. Thanks for all the advice.

 

have a bucket and some paper towels nearby to capture any remaining water from tank when you loosen the water line.

 

I decided to call the installer and he came out and repaired it free of charge. As it turns out, the (PVC) flange was cracked where the bolt went. Hence it wouldn't stay in place. Bolted a little metal plate to the top of the flange and everything seems happy now.

 

jeffh, I hate plastic, especially in closet flanges.

Now you're good to go.

 

Jeffh, Stephen Colbert would be very upset to see your avatar. Don't you know the countless hours he has put in to warn the public about bears?!?! "These Godless, soulless killing machines..." As an avid watcher of the Colbert Report I can tell you hardly a weeks goes by that bears, in some form or fashion, do not appear on the "Threat Down"...beware the choices you make in life, sir, you reap what you sow.

 

Hmm, I could go back to the BuBi Bear avatar I had a while back...