Reinstall Toilet & Secure Bolts
At 8:06 in
Replacing a Wax Ring...Avoid a Plumbing FAIL!
What happens here
Carefully lift the toilet bowl and align the bolt holes on its base with the new bolts installed in the flange. Gently lower the toilet onto the wax rings, ensuring the bolts pass through the holes. Once the toilet is in place, apply firm, even pressure directly down onto the toilet bowl to compress the wax rings. Add a plastic washer and a nut onto each bolt. Hand-tighten the nuts initially, then use channel locks or an adjustable wrench to tighten them securely. Alternate tightening each nut a small amount at a time to ensure even compression and avoid cracking the porcelain. The toilet should be firm but not overly tight. Check that the toilet is level and doesn't rock.
Goal: Mount the toilet securely and create a tight seal.
Tools and materials
- Adjustable Wrench — Tightening the nuts onto the toilet bolts
- Nuts — Securing the toilet to the bolts
- Plastic Washers — Distributing pressure and protecting the porcelain when tightening nuts
- Safety Gloves — Protecting hands