With the toilet removed, you will see the old wax and the toilet flange. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape all of the old, messy wax off the flange on the floor. Stuff a rag into the drainpipe opening to block sewer gases and prevent tools from falling in. Also, turn the toilet on its side and scrape the old wax from its outlet horn. Clean both the flange and the bottom of the toilet with rags. At this time, carefully inspect the toilet flange for any cracks, breaks, or signs that it is not securely fastened to the floor. If it's damaged, it must be repaired.
This guide provides comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for fixing a leak at the base of a toilet. The process involves shutting off the water, removing the toilet, scraping away the old failed wax ring, inspecting the mounting flange, installing a new wax ring and bolts, and carefully reinstalling the toilet to create a new, watertight seal.
Start your project
chat with your ai