Your toilet tank has four gaskets, and they all must be in good shape to hold water. Two seal the openings through which the tank bolts extend to hold the tank to the bowl. The third, sometimes called a spud washer or sponge, seals the water passage between the tank and the bowl and the fourth seals the flush valve. If the bolt gaskets fail, you'll notice water puddling on the floor, and if the spud washer or flush valve gasket fails, you'll see ripples in the bowl caused by dripping water. In all cases, you'll end up wasting water.
Rotate the toilet shutoff valve counterclockwise to shut off the water, then empty the tank by holding down the flush handle. Mop up the water that remains in the bottom with a sponge, then disconnect the water supply hose.
Unscrew the tank bolts. Hold each bolt head steady with a flathead screwdriver while you unscrew the nut connecting it to the bowl with adjustable pliers. This sometimes takes two people. An alternative method if you're alone is to lock a pair of locking pliers onto one of the nuts and unscrew the head with the screwdriver. The pliers will hit the wall and prevent the nut from turning.
Lift the bolts out when the nuts are removed and pull the tank away from the bowl. This is another job for which you may need a helper, depending on how heavy the tank is. Lay the tank on its back on a flat surface.
Pull the spud washer off the end of the flush valve that extends through the siphon hole in the bottom of the tank. Unscrew the spud nut holding the flush valve to the tank with adjustable pliers. Unhook the flapper chain and pull out the valve and slide the old washer off its end.
Slide a new tapered washer onto the end of the flush valve with its tapered side facing the end of the valve. Set the flush valve back in place inside the siphon hole and screw on the spud nut. Tighten the nut with adjustable pliers.
Fit a new spud washer over the end of the valve that extends through the bottom of the tank. Set the tank back on the bowl and line up the bolt holes in the tank with those in the bowl.
Remove the old washers from the tank bolts and slide on new ones, pushing them up against the undersides of the heads. Place the bolts in the holes and tighten the nuts from underneath as much as you can by hand. Continue tightening each nut with adjustable pliers while you or a helper holds the bolt head with a flathead screwdriver. Alternatively, lock pliers onto the nut and turn the head yourself with the screwdriver.
Hook up the flapper chain, then reconnect the water supply to the fill valve and turn the water on. Let the tank fill, then flush to check the operation of the flapper.
Things You Will Need
- Flathead screwdriver
- Adjustable pliers
- Locking pliers
- Because the spud washer is spongy, the tank may wobble a little even when the nuts are fully tightened. This is normal.
- Make the flapper chain loose enough to allow the flapper to seat inside the valve, but not loose enough to prevent it from rising all the way when you flush.
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