- 1). Lift the lid off the tank and add a few drops of red food coloring into the tank. Flush the toilet after the tank water has turned red, then inspect the sides of the toilet for leaks. If water seeps out of the side of the tank, the tank is cracked and must be replaced. If water seeps out from the base of the toilet where the toilet meets the floor, the wax seal concealed within the bottom of the toilet requires replacement. You must remove the toilet to access the wax seal.
- 2). Turn the water supply handle positioned against the wall and behind the toilet clockwise to turn the toilet’s water supply off.
- 3). Flush the toilet and bail out as much water as possible from the bowl with a flexible cup.
- 4). Detach the water supply fill tube from the water inlet valve. The water inlet valve is the component that features the water supply handle. Turn the nut at the end of the tube, where the tube attaches to the valve, counterclockwise with a wrench until the tube detaches from the valve.
- 5). Remove the toilet’s two securing nuts, located on each side of the toilet where it meets the floor. The nuts are concealed under plastic caps. Pry the caps off the nuts with a screwdriver, then turn the nuts counterclockwise with a wrench to remove them.
- 6). Grasp the sides of the toilet next to the seat hinges. Move the toilet from side to side to unseat the toilet from the floor. Lift the toilet off the floor and lay the toilet on its side to expose the wax ring on the bottom of the toilet.
- 7). Scrape the wax ring off the toilet and the wax residue off the bathroom floor, using a putty knife.
- 8). Scrape the plumber’s putty off the bottom edges of the toilet, using the putty knife.
- 9). Roll a rope of new plumber’s putty between your hands, then press the rope onto the edges of the toilet.
- 10
Press the replacement wax ring into place around the drain opening in the floor. - 11
Lower the toilet onto the wax ring, ensuring that the bolts in the floor align with the bolt holes on the sides of the toilet. - 12
Tighten the toilet’s two securing nuts on the floor bolts with the wrench, but only until the nuts are snug, as overtightening the nuts can crack the toilet. Press the plastic caps onto the nuts. - 13
Cut away the excess plumber’s putty that has squeezed out from the edges of the toilet, using the putty knife. - 14
Tighten the water supply fill tube onto the water inlet valve. Turn the valve handle counterclockwise to restore the water supply.
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