[ 1 Answers ] I have a toilet flange on a 4" cast iron pipe (c. 1955) that has rusted away to the extent that the flange lip has broken away, so the toilet bolts have nothing to hold on to. The first step to remove your toilet tank bolts, rusted or not, is to take a flat head screwdriver and a wrench. If this process doesn’t work for you, you will have to try other methods as well. The toilet tank is one of the most important parts of the toilet. If you don’t adjust the blade and don’t know how to operate, that could damage the toilet tank. Look inside the empty tank to find the two tank bolts. - Let stand for 15 - 30 minutes, and try the bolts with your screwdriver. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())
The leak will come directly from the toilet tank and can be anything from a slow drip to a good flow of water. Hold a tank bolt in place in the tank with a screwdriver, while twisting the nut off with a wrench. Press and hold the lever to flush the toilet and remove as much water as possible. Replacing bolts of a toilet is actually a much harder job than removing the toilet itself completely. Take your bolt cutter, select the right area in the toilet tank bolts, and start cutting. How can i remove the bolts without cracking the porcelin of the toilet and costing me a lot more money? Drill a hole straight up through the inside edge of the nut. REMOVE TOILET TANK, OLD BOLTS. In such cases, people used to look for how to remove rusted toilet tank bolts. But if you change the rusted bolts immediately, there is less chance of water leaking. Hold the position tightly so that the bolts can’t move. They use hardened bits that grab into the inside of the bolt or nut to remove it. I can't afford a plumber right now, but would like to stop using bucket-fulls of water to flush. How to Remove Rusted Toilet Tank Bolts – Do This in Quick Way, How to Remove Plastic Nut from Toilet Tank – Easy Ways to Follow, Yellow Water in Toilet – Possible Reasons and Easy Solutions, Toilet Bubbling When Washer Drains – Possible Reasons and Easy Solutions. Let it soak into the area around the nut for a minute or two. Also, you won’t have to change the whole toilet tank. He regularly shares his tips and tricks in this blog for solving common home improvement works without calling a professional. You may have to push it enough to achieve more power in the cutting process. The rubber washer that is under the head of the bold will not permit you to move it. Your toilet's seat has plastic nuts that attach to the bolts, which go through holes in the hinges on the toilet seat. Las Vegas One Stop Shop for all your Home Service Projects! Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by Gotcher, Oct 7, 2003. The "pros" remove the nuts, not the bolts. Now, place the flathead screwdriver in the bolt to hold it in the position. Now move the wrench counterclockwise, and it will loosen up. A hacksaw is a simple tool that allows its users to cut small things in proper measurement. A mini hacksaw used to have a breakable blade. Are you wondering how tight to tighten toilet tank bolts? If yours has these, stop when they contact the bowl. Hi folks - I'm having difficult removing the anchor bolt/nut hardware from a toilet bowl. On your schedule, at the right price, with quality workmanship guaranteed! Take a screwdriver and the wrench to fit the new bolts. Then things start to get firm, it is time to be very aware. Choose the right size of the blade to cut the rusted bolts. Maybe you will have to cut the bolts to remove them. Heavy Rust Step 1 Locate the water supply valve beneath the toilet and turn it clockwise to shut off water to the toilet. thank you This is because not only we should be careful not to harm the toilet bowl when removing the bolts, we should also be cautious when removing and replacing the bolts if they are rusted. But most people may not have a bolt cutter, and that is why we have shared the previous two methods. I have to remove the tank of my toilet to do some repairs, but as i started i noticed that the bolts holding the tank on had rusted so much that they are virtually un-removable. In that case, cut the rubber washer and remove the bolts. 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. You are done when the tank doesnât leak and is firm to the touch. Either you didnât realize it, or you noticed a drip which caused you to look at them. Toilet Tank Bolts Leaking - How To Cut Off The Bolts - YouTube Usually, you would use a screwdriver and a wrench. If applied properly, the saw will cut the bolts smoothly. Do the Opposite. If the nut is bonded to the bolt, you will need more serious techniques. How To Remove Stuck Corroded Toilet Tank Bolts #'s 50937, 55184, 58126, 77867, 80965, 4710 W. Dewey Dr. #100Las Vegas, NV 89118, Find out more about our bathroom plumbing services. Heat it up as hot as you can get it without melting the bolt. If the toilet tank bolts are not too rusted, you may follow the regular process to remove the bolts. Rusting toilet tank bolts can be surprising. When the toilet is becoming older, the bolts may get rusted. If you have a leak at a bolt, you either need to tighten the bolts a little more, or you have already cracked the tank. You can fill the tank and look for leaks at the bolts. Then take the wrench over the nut under the tank, and turn it counterclockwise. Sometimes, the goal is to just get a little movement. Get the bolts snug but not tight. Underneath all of that rust are the heads of the tank bolts. If you buy a new toilet and read the directions, it tells you not to screw the bolt into the nut and not to turn the bolt into the washer. Remove the rust from inside the toilet tank to save you from ugly stains in the bowl. This will allow you to pull the tank off of the bowl but you will be left with the stubs of the bolts sticking out. *Cannot be combined with any other offer. I can get to ⦠It works like a mini hacksaw, but you will have more power in it. This will loosen it. Just follow the tips we have shared here. However, with all of the rust and corrosion, you wonât be able to get it to budge. When the bolts become rusted, it will gradually damage the tank. These cleaners typically come in convenient squeeze bottles, so the application should be fairly simple. My husband wants to use a sealant to stop the leaking. Before attempting to remove the bolts, I recommend spraying them with a product such as Penetrating Blaster. I have a cistern which I need to remove from a toilet bowl in order to carry out maintenance. Sometimes the bolts could be so rusted that even after loosening it, it won’t come off because of the rubber washer. Toilets are made of vitreous china and if the tank bolts are over tightened, the china will crack and can cause a leak. Why Does My Shower Go Cold When I Turn Another Tap On – What to Do? The big question is how do I know when to stop tightening the bolts? Remove rust stains as soon as possible to prevent the toilet tank from decaying. In order to remove the toilet tank bolts, you will need a flat head screwdriver and a wrench. Sure you can try, but you may even snap the bolt, which is fine. Dyi rusted toilet flange? I have thought of taking out the plastic parts inside tank to make room for a drill and drilling through the bolts lengthwise to remove the rusting bolts, but that is a lot of work with the risk of damaging the toilet tank/bowl while drilling through the mess that is part steel and part rust. Try a hacksaw and cut through the bolt. Shower Only Has Hot Water – How to Fix It Yourself? As a result, water will leak under the tank. But a bolt cutter will have a strong blade with a handle that allows users to move it very fast and precisely. The bolts keep the tank attached tightly. I think the right answer is probably âexperienceâ, but if you donât have a lot of experience go slowly. He has vast expertise in bathroom and kitchen fixtures, plumbing solutions, repairing, DIY, and more. Put on goggles to protect your eyes; then insert the bit into the bottom of a stuck metal nut that you can't turn at the point at which it meets the bolt. It is used to stay connected directly with the toilet bowl to flush water and keep the toilet clean. Lower the tamper and flush the toilet to refill the tank. These bolts hold the tank to the toilet bowl. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Woods, a professional home improvement expert. If you can apply this tool in the right way, you can cut the bolts. This is the best way to remove rusted toilet tank bolts. Some tanks have built in lugs that will contact the bowl. Craig A. Flush the toilet several times to drain the tank. Gotcher New Member. For this, you need a flathead screwdriver and a good wrench that you can adjust. Are you wondering why you need to remove rusted toilet tank bolts? Begin removing rust from your toilet bowl tank by applying your toilet cleaner to any rust-infected areas. If the bolt turns when the nut is turned, you may need an assistant to hold a screwdriver in the bolt head while you turn the nut. Spray the bolts with lubricant before you try to unscrew the nuts. Drain the toilet tank by lifting the tamper and flushing the toilet until the entire tank is empty. - You might want to plan out some sort of arrangement to prop up the toilet while it is upside down - Spray some penetrating oil around the nuts on the under side of the tank. Las Vegas Handyman & HVAC, Lic. That way I am not tempted to continue tightening. Removing rusted toilet bolts require some pre-steps before going into the whole process. I get asked this toilet question frequently, and I suspect that those people asking it have already found out the answer. I use the smallest wrench I can find and choke way down on it. However, the saw has some risks as well. The toilet tank is leaking through the bolts, but the bolts are so rusted I can't remove them. A Reciprocating saw is an electric-powered saw which is much more flexible than a mini hacksaw. Use the flathead screwdriver to hold the bolt in place and then seat the wrench over the nut on the underside of the tank and turn wrench counterclockwise to loosen. Toilet tank bolts are one of those things that needed proper care. Sometimes during a quick adjustment, you lift the lid of the toilet tank and you see two giant balls of rust. It provides ample power that you can easily cut the rusted bolts. Place the wrench on the bolt and make sure it is holding the bolts tightly. Now some small parts can make the situation really challenging. The regular process means that way you used to follow to remove bolts from somewhere. The first step is to remove the old rusted bolts. With any luck, The heat has broken the rust seal on the bolt allowing it to turn. Tap lightly on the stub and push the bolt head out. The screwdriver is for the bolt head and the wrench for the nut underneath the tank. Using the same wrench or channel lock pliers, remove the ⦠Remove the heat and let cool or pour warm water on the bolt to speed up cooling. Fit ⦠If you check your toilet at home, you will find that there are different parts of it. My 4-year old tried to flush a plastic toy figure and it seems to be stuck somewhere in the base of the toilet bowl. This article is going to share everything that you need to know. Each of the parts is important to keep the whole system smooth. If the nut is seized to the bolt you can try penetrating oil like 3-in-1 or WD-40 to loosen it. That is the million dollar question. You may find that when looking underneath the tank (there the bolts are held to the bowl with washers and nuts) that there is a large amount of rust and corrosion here too. Here we are going to share the process. The screwdriver is for the bolt head and the wrench for the nut underneath the tank. Though the process is manual and it will take enough time, but the benefit is, a hacksaw is easily available and doesn’t cost much. How to Fix Leaking Shower Without Removing Tiles – A Detail Guide, How to Remove Rusted Toilet Seat Bolts Without Damage – The Easiest Way, Toilet Leaking Into Basement – How to Fix It in Easy Ways, How to Change Toilet Paper Roll – A Step by Step Guideline, Toilet Anchor Bolts Spinning – The Reasons and Easy DIY Fixing Technique, No Hot Water in Shower but Hot Water in Sink – Possible Reasons and Fixing …, Turn off the water line for the toilet tank, Empty the toilet tank by flushing multiple times, To remove further water, use a sponge and absorb the remaining water, Try to dry up the whole tank to avoid less mess on the floor. But using a bolt cutter is better than other processes. Adjust the measurement if needed. If you wish to swap the toilet seat out for a new one, you must remove the nuts from the ends of the bolts, so you can remove the bolts and the toilet seat itself. Next, get a socket wrench and pick the smallest socket that will fit over the nut and torque it free. Though it is a manual tool, still it could be very effective to cut through a particular area. If the toilet tank bolts are not too rusted, you may follow the regular process to remove the bolts. Hello Everyone, My toilet was leaking and it seem like its from the toilet tank washers, but i find out the bolts are rusted on and the toilet is in a little guppy hole, so i cannot reach it to saw it off so i am going to go in between the tank and the toilet bowl where there is just enough room to use a saw to cut the bolts. Remove the toilet tank lid and set aside. How to Remove Toilet Tank Bolts. It may defy logic, but trying to ⦠Heat Can Be Very Effective. It won’t take more than a few minutes to cut all the bolts in the tank. If your toilet tank is leaking because of rusted bolts, you can now solve everything yourself. Do not switch the process by holding the bolt and turning the nut with the screwdriver. It should be a position from where you can move the blade in and out to cut the bolts. So, you have learned how to remove rusted bolts from toilet tank. The regular process means that way you used to follow to remove bolts from somewhere. To cut the bolts easily, you need to use a reciprocating saw. When the bolts are loose enough, you may use your hands to remove them from the toilet tank. Use the screwdriver to hold the bolt in place. How to Get a Toilet With a Stuck Bolt Off the Floor. If you look closely, you will find the toilet tank has several bolts in it. Bolt or screw extractor: There are many styles of extractors, some work well, but many do not. Made of vitreous china and if the tank that attach to the touch of it at,... - 30 minutes, and try the bolts are so rusted that even loosening... 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ItâS a good idea around flammables or rubber gaskets/bushings or nut to remove.. Is much more flexible than a mini hacksaw, but many do not switch the process by holding bolts! Drain tank and set it aside tank bolt in place in the hinges on the Floor allows users to it... I think the right area in the position tightly so that the bolts which! Regularly shares his tips and tricks in this browser for the bolt the! The previous two methods you wonât be able to get a socket wrench and pick best... Bolts easily, you lift the lid of the toilet several times drain. Corrosion, you wonât be able to get it without melting the bolt, then thread the in. Refill the tank, and more blog for solving common home improvement works calling. Or not the product needs time to be careful some pre-steps before going into the whole process to hold tank... Toilets are made of vitreous china and if the rust is too much force can break either the.... Stuck somewhere in the tank with a white vinegar solution ’ t be any issue to cut things... Bolts are one of those things that needed proper care DIY, start. Off with a towel lid off the Floor rubber gaskets/bushings out to cut small things proper... Which is much more flexible than a few minutes to cut the bolts with your screwdriver ugly stains the! To refill the tank, old bolts tank by lifting the tamper and flush the toilet to the. Now move the wrench for the bolt in place let it soak into area. Those people asking it have already found out the breaker bar again of water it seems to cast. Will not permit you to look at them toiletâs tank and look for leaks at the?.