What am I doing wrong with this toilet install?

[Lapkritis]

Seconded on no shims to attach tank to base. It does require proper alignment when you tighten. Also, tighten each a few turns at a time. If you tighten one too much without tending to the others then the tank can become crooked. Apply appropriate pressure with your hand inside the tank at the bottom to compress the tank to base gasket for the final few turns. The gasket should be completely compressed and tank should contact base securely and completely. The tank is not tight enough if still wobbly or crooked. If crooked, start over.

The base to floor is a different matter. Make sure the flange in the floor isn't contacting the base. The wax seal should span the gap. I recommend the thicker wax ring for a buck more than the thinner. If the floor isn't level then I second the caulk method above.

[vash]

ZERO clue:

but i do notice the lack of a professional plumber

[Racerbvd]

[Rick Lee]

Ah yes, the Bumper Dumper.

Just finished replacing all the tank hoses and pipe couplings on the walls. Pain in the butt, but should be good for a long time now.

[bt1211]

I'm not a plumber but I have installed lots of toilets (I own rentals).

No shims between the bowl and the tank. If you did shim it too much, water will come rushing out when you flush. There are thicker gaskets for different brands but they all have the same diameter.


There are plastic shims that go beneath the bowl and the floor, if your floor is not level. Use them sparingly, cut off the part that sticks out and then caulk. Using a level will of course be helpful.

You are going to have to sit on the toilet in order to set the wax ring. A taller than needed ring is better than not tall enough. I always go with the taller ring as it cuts out the guessing game.

I have installed toilets and the tank just seems to be tilted, it bothered me but after playing with them, I let them be.

[911_Dude]

Shim the floor, dont just crank the bolts down or you will break it. You can shim the tank as well. Some kits come with tank shims. They are usually much smaller and thicker than the plastic floor shims. They look sort of like half a cloths pin clip (the old wood kind).

[Rick Lee]

Ok, new issue. The water supply to one toilet is leaking at the wall. I replaced the coupling on the copper pipe in the wall and replaced hose to the tank. I used teflon tape. I thought I had it pretty snug, but when I turned the water to the house back on, it was spraying. I tightened it a lot more, to the point that I thought I was going to break it. That appeared to stop it. Since it was wet all around from the spray, I put a folded towel underneath it. I checked it a few times and the towel kept getting more damp. Now it's pretty wet, but I can't even notice a drip from the joint. Do I just cinch it down some more and hope that stops it? Or do I pull it apart, dry it all off and cover with pipe dope before reattaching? Or just wrap it in pipe putty?

[Lapkritis]

The metal braided supply lines should be installed without Teflon tape. They have a rubber washer seal up inside. Tape could be fouling the seal there. Disconnect, clean out tape and inspected the rubber seal.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Lapkritis

The metal braided supply lines should be installed without Teflon tape. They have a rubber washer seal up inside. Tape could be fouling the seal there. Disconnect, clean out tape and inspected the rubber seal.

I didn't use metal braided hoses and I only used teflon tape on the joint from the copper pipe in the wall to the 1/4 turn valve.

[Lapkritis]

Have a pic of the copper pipe coming out of the wall? I prefer to sweat those connections in.

[Rick Lee]

Will get one in a bit.

[Rick Lee]

I just swapped the towel out and it was pretty wet, but I can't feel any wetness in front of or at the joint. When I pulled on the pipe, I feel like the wetness is behind the joint and wall cover. But that doesn't make sense. Maybe the water is flowing backwards due to an almost invisible down angle and then running down the wall.

[VincentVega]

I quit using teflon tape and havent had an issue with pipe joint compound instead. Take off your hose and see if it still leaks.

[Rick Lee]

So you've been using the pipe joint compound with success?

[VincentVega]

100% Last time I used teflon tape was on a dishwasher that wouldnt stop leaking. Brushed on a little compound and leaving it for a day or so in the middle of the kitchen no leaks. Havent looked back, no more teflon here.

[Rick Lee]

I can't turn off the water to the house for half a day. I work from home and need to go to the bathroom and wash hands once in a while. How long does it take for pipe dope to cure before you can reconnect it? The only stuff I have is for PVC, so I'll have to run to Lowe's again.

[carnutdallas]

I always use braided steel lines. Always, always.

There are two different type of flanges on the valve and two different types of hoses. You cannot mix them up. I cannot recall the names, but you will see them standing in Lowes.

On my new to me house, I replaced all fittings and line when I first moved in. Used 1/4 turn shark fittings and new lines. Tank alignments is key with flushing quality. One piece helps, but the 3 bolt tank pattern on most higher end brand solves that as well. I use only the best reusable high end rings that are silicone and wax. I also buy flange repair kits and replace the flanges. The new ones are super strong and you can really get it tight and level.

Good luck. No fun job and the problem is, even plumbers do it wrong! Takes lots of effort and patience to get it right. Taking the throne seriously is important.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rick Lee]

I have always used steel braided lines in the past, but the guy at Lowes said these hoses were just as good. I think the leak is where the 1/4 turn valve connects to the copper pipe, so that's all metal. How much more can I tighten that without breaking it? I can probably get it tighter, but it feels like that's gonna be too tight.

[Lapkritis]

Teflon on plastic is a no-no. I would recommend the same as my previous post. The copper pipe from the wall I would like to know more about. Did you use shark on there or was the male connection already sweated on?

[Rick Lee]

I don't know what sweating is. This is the 1/4 turn valve I put on the copper pipe coming from the wall.