How to Fix a Broken Toilet Gasket
- 1). Close the water supply to the toilet by turning the shut-off valve completely clockwise. The valve extends from the wall behind the toilet.
- 2). Flush the toilet to remove most of the water. Lift off the toilet tank lid and set it aside. Use a sponge and bucket to remove as much residual water in the tank and bowl as you can.
- 3). Unfasten the water supply hose from the bottom of the flush valve sticking through the tank. Loosen the fitting by turning counterclockwise with the pliers.
- 4). Lift off the toilet bolt caps on either side of the toilet base. Turn the nuts counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. Remove the nuts by hand once they are loose enough. Use both hands or an assistant to lift the toilet straight up, then set it out of the way.
- 5). Lay newspaper on the floor next to the toilet flange. Use a putty knife to scrape off the old gasket and place it on the newspaper. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the debris. Wrap the debris in the newspaper and dispose of it in a plastic garbage bag.
- 6). Place the new gasket around the edge of the flange without covering the drain hole. If you use a wax gasket, tear off the paper from the sticky side and place that side against the flange.
- 7). Lower the toilet carefully onto the flange, aligning the toilet bolts with the holes in the base. Don't disturb the gasket as you set the toilet in place.
- 8). Fasten the nuts onto the toilet bolts by hand so they don't become cross-threaded. Tighten with an adjustable wrench, then replace the bolt caps. Reconnect the water supply hose to the bottom of the flush valve and restore the water supply. Flush the toilet several times and check for proper operation with no leaks.
