Toilet Not Level On Floor

When you are replacing a toilet or resetting an existing toilet after a repair there are a few key things to check to ensure a good seal and prevent leaks.

Toilet not level on floor. Lay a level lengthwise on the back of the toilet tank then sit backward on the toilet straddling the bowl and shifting your weight to make the toilet level. If it is level enough to your liking the toilet is now fixed. If your toilet seems to move when you sit on it and there s no apparent damage to the floor or if it just feels crooked chances are it s out of level. Hammer a shim gently between the floor and the toilet base to bring a low side up.

This is not only annoying but it can make the flushing action of the toilet less efficient. Toilets usually rock because they are not resting flush against the floor. Toilets are sealed to the floor flange with a wax ring but the height of the flange and the tightness of the flange bolts. Reconnect the water supply line and open the shut off valve again to turn it back on.

Place the carpenters level across the toilet bowl side to side and note where the bubble level is. If not you may need to make additional minor or major adjustments. The seal must not be broken once it has been seated so do not rock from side to side. Toilet installations sometimes get undesirable results when not properly set up.

Underneath the toilet base is a round toilet flange that connects the toilet to the drain pipe. If the flange is a little higher than the surrounding flooring the toilet becomes raised slightly in the center allowing it to rock to either side. This can be a very serious issue since it can cause some sewer gases to leak around the bathroom. Leveling a toilet takes just minutes with some plastic shims from your local hardware store.

Sit on the toilet again and rock back and forth or use a carpenter s level to precisely measure how even the floor is.