Toilets: Expert Guides and Resources

Fixing a leaky toilet tank is a common plumbing repair that you can do yourself. Leaking toilet tanks can be repaired by changing out the rubber gaskets around the tank bolts and the spud washer, which can deteriorate and fail due to hard water and minerals.For this project you'll need the following tools: a screwdriver, adjustable wrench, small wire brush, sponge, white vinegar, and rags.

Water on the floor next to the toilet bowl usually indicates a damaged gasket seal. This DIY step-by-step video shows you how to shut off the water; drain the toilet; and move the toilet in order to replace the seal and fix the leak. It's easier than you think!

Replacing a toilet seat is quick and easy. If you know how to replace a toilet seat, you can make a cosmetic improvement to your bathroom in just a few minutes. Seats get damaged or cracked, but most often the goal is to simply freshen up the look of the toilet. Replacing a toilet seat may be the easiest bathroom repair to make because you don’t even need to turn off the water.

Take a few minutes to figure out why you have a run-on toilet, and then you can repair it. You have a run-on toilet if each flush doesn’t end with a gurgle but instead continues with a hissing sound, with water running into the toilet bowl. To find the source of the trouble, remove the toilet tank top and place it in a safe location.

When it comes to choosing a toilet, begin by pinpointing who the primary users are and how often it will be used. A good choice for an infrequently used powder room is a distant cousin from one that’s used in a family’s one-and-only hall bathroom. A standard toilet has a 15-inch rim height, but many of today’s toilet manufacturers are now offering 17-inch rim heights, which are more comfortable for most adults and meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

You install a two-piece toilet in three phases: First, you secure the toilet base to the floor, then you fasten the tank to the base, and finally, you connect the water supply to fill the toilet with water. A one-piece toilet is installed in the same way as a two-piece unit except that it’s more cumbersome to handle.