If you want to reinstall the same bolts, you need to clean the rust. So there should be two nuts on each bolt? If for any reason, the drilling hole remains small compared to the bolt size, after a few months or years, the bolts will spin. The bolts they give you are to long anyway and will need to be cut off so I see no harm in installing the washer and nut then clamping the top of the bolt with a pair of vice grips, tighten the nut, then just cut off the bolt. Replace both closet bolts, even if … Now it is the time for checking the hole for the bolts. When the bolts are rusted, it starts decaying the metal. New Everbilt Toilet Bolts with Caps 1/4 in. Schedule delivery. Hopefully it tightens and you have solved your problem. Schedule delivery. I bought an off brand wax ring that came with the bolts. Installed together with a wax ring, the HydroSeat technology ensures a tight, leak-free seal and features a self-centering rubber funnel that fits any toilet or closet flange. x 2-1/4 in. When I have problems with the closet bolt spinning for toilet removal, I use my Dremel with a cutting wheel, albeit my Dremel is a Bosch pencil grinder spins at 34,000RPM. This is much harder to do than it sounds. Stainless bolts would be a bear to saw off after installation. If an anchor bolt or the closet flange beneath the toilet breaks, however, replacing the bolts is necessary. When a plumber installs the toilet seat with the anchor bolts, the hole needs to be in the accurate size. So there should be two nuts on each bolt? Take a sharp bit for the drill machine and attach it. I tried applying a penetrant, gave it a few hours to let it sit, but when I went to attempt to remove the nut I found that I was just spinning the anchor bolt. The last reason that may lead the bolts to spin is moisture around the bolts. Well, for the toilet tank bolts, you can follow the same method as described in this article. You can usually get under the nut to get a grip on the bolt and then continue to remove the nut. It is easy to solve the toilet anchor bolts spinning issue by following the above methods. If you find something, clean that with a cloth and make sure nothing is remaining inside. Toilet anchor bolts, also called closet bolts or flange bolts, secure the base of the toilet to the floor. If you don’t fix the bolts initially, it may crack the bolts entirely and may damage the toilet seat as well. If you think the nuts and bolts are cheesy go buy a new set, their cheap. The 'tee' portion has to stay up inside of a recess in the flange to keep it from spinning. Do not give important mail to some private person or use a private bin or box for later transfer by someone else to the post office. If the wood is rotted the wood threads are probably just spinning without enough bite to back out. First of all, place a screwdriver inside the bolt hole to give it a fixed position. If it's concrete you may have to pull the anchor out and vacuum the hole out and set a new anchor in with epoxy. When you get them darn rusty toilet bolts that begin to come loose but then just spin. Then follow the following steps. Tighten the top nuts and mark the bolts above them. Never have to worry about them spinning out of the flange. The bathroom at your home is one of the most important places that need to function properly. Another common reason for toilet floor bolts spinning is a smaller hole for the anchor bolts. 3. No matter how often or how many times do you use the toilet, there would be some moisture in the bolt. Tighten the nuts on the closet bolts (that attach to the flange) such that the toilet is flat on the floor without rocking. In fact, they are commonly utilized in securing heavy weighted items of up to 200 pounds to a concrete surface. Remove the toilet---add a nut (and washer if needed) to the bolt and fix it in place before you replace the wax ring and reset the toilet. Author: North Carolina Plumber (NC) 1. How to Deal with a Spinning Bolt. Disassemble, then using a power grinder, grind the threads away above the marks so there are two flats on either side of the bolts using an open end wrench as a gauge. Lift the toilet up to position the base over the anchor bolts, and slide the toilet down onto the wax seal. New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--. Woods, a professional home improvement expert. Now, drill inside the previous hole to make it a bit bigger so that the deepness matches the length of the bolts. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. I replaced the brass ring over my toilet flange and the new (and old for that matter) bolts with the almost oval-shaped heads inserts into the flange in the wide spot of the slot but there's no way to keep them from spinning so how does one tighten the bolts since they just spin in place???? Slide the flat washer and lock washer onto the setting bolt as shown. Bolts Model# 1000055038 $ 4 27 $ 4 27. The time may one day come when you need to replace leaking toilet tank bolts; so, you should bookmark this article and keep it handy. A reguler toilet flange has a slot on the back side of it that stops the bolts from turning. Pull it with full force and at the same time move the screwdriver so that the bolts come off. Thanks for the reply btw. When the toilet anchor bolts spinning, the user of the toilet would find it is uncomfortable to sit there. Together they store toilet water until flushing. The anchor bolt is often carriage bolts. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I must be missing something. Hold the bolt steady while you turn the nut counterclockwise. The majority of toilets are made of two parts: the tank and the bowl. Won't the toilet now sit on the nuts instead of flush (no pun inteaded) on the flange? Once inserted into a 5/16" drilled hole in a wall, ceiling, or floor, the anchor accepts an included screw. Though nothing would happen in the beginning, after a certain time, the bolts start spinning. 2. Yes the old flange needed replacement. This article will let you know the reasons for toilet bolts spinning and how to keep carriage bolts from spinning. No Hot Water in Shower but Hot Water in Sink – Possible Reasons and Fixing Method, Hot Water Turns Cold After a Few Minutes – Possible Reasons and Fixing Methods. Simply remove the small plastic bolt caps at the base of your toilet (they will be on … The mix of moisture and debris works as a lubricant. Some plumbers will install a lock nut on the bolt to hold it in place and keep it from spinning. Toilet Anchor Bolts Spinning – The Reasons and Easy DIY Fixing Technique, Toilet Bubbling When Washer Drains – Possible Reasons and Easy Solutions, Yellow Water in Toilet – Possible Reasons and Easy Solutions, How to Remove Rusted Toilet Tank Bolts – Do This in Quick Way. Though it takes enough time to affect the bolts, it is not uncommon. When posting in forums, letting us know your location will help others give better feedback/advice/solutions to your questions. Once it begins turning, release the bolt and keep unscrewing the nut. Probably the easiest fix, your loose toilet may simply be due to your loose toilet mounting bolts needing to be tightened. You may consider calling a professional plumber to fix it. i just don't understand why the replacement brass ring doesn't hold the bolt heads in place without having to put an extra set of nuts on the end. If it’s too tight or there’s too much space, you’ll probably end up stripping your bolt. Now check the diameter of the bolts to match it with the hole size. Why Does My Shower Go Cold When I Turn Another Tap On – What to Do? The most common thing is rusted bolts. Helping You to Do It Yourself! Most problems are fixable with the right technique and essential tools. It requires fixing to keep the toilet stable. If there is anything that is working as lubrication and the bolts are moving. Then you need to know how to keep toilet flange bolts from spinning. Nut is rusted to a spinning anchor bolt; Author: CowboyRon (CA) I have a nut that is thoroughly rusted onto the toilet anchor bolt. Instead of reinstalling the old bolts, try to always install new ones. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We have found that, in some cases, people complain about toilet tank bolts spinning issues. From his years of experience, now, he is writing exclusively on iHomePark. Set your store to see local availability Add to Cart. If after a few days it does start to rock some just snug the nuts down once again. It will come off, and you are ready for the next step. below the floor and maintains a tight seal when common toilet and floor movement occurs. above the floor to 1-1/2 in. New Everbilt Toilet Seat Bolts Top Mount Model# 1000055048 $ 3 58 $ 3 58. Re: Size of toilet bowl hold down bolts; Author: hj (AZ) The heads are, but the bolts can be either 1/4" or 5/16" and 2 1/4" or 4" long. Toilet flange bolts spinning issues may happen for various reasons. Loose or Broken Closet Bolt Making Toilet Wobble . I did that a couple times, it works real good. 1). I say dollar store because they are cheap and super thin. Ahe bolts they give you are to long anyway and will need to be cut off so I see no harm in installing the washer and nut then clamping the top of the bolt with a pair of vice grips, tighten the nut, then just cut off the bolt.. Especially, any type of fault in the toilet could make things tough. Read more. Most of the time, the original bolts remain in place, even during wax ring changes. Some slots are a bit undersize and you have to tip the bolt … The socket head should fit perfectly on the bolt with barely any wiggle-room. Even if you’ve done everything right, there’s still a chance that you might end up with a spinning bolt. The cost of having a stainless toilet bolt manufactured with threads inside and out would never show a profit, most homeowners pick up the cheapest set of bolts on the shelf, brass plated. Craig A. Toilet anchor bolts spinning in place is one of the most common scenarios in an old toilet. Make it clean. If you find the hole size is a bit small compared to the bolts, you need to drill to make it bigger. You may have just a flat surface on the back side. Thanks folks. Before you get into the whole procedure, wear the rubber gloves on hand for safety and avoiding too much mess. Okay, now you have fixed the position of bolts, use the adjustable wrench or the plier to hold the bolts. A typical toilet attaches to the floor with a pair of bolts that stick up from the flange, a special fitting at the top of the waste pipe. Whether it is rusted or in a good condition, you need to remove the bolts from its place for fixing. One to hold the bolt to the ring and another on top of the toilet to hold the toilet in place? Wood subfloors typically used either a carriage bolt or a stud with wood threads on one end and standard nut thread on the other. Sleeve anchors are by far the most versatile fastener and can be employed in a plethora of projects, including those that include concrete as the base material. Keep drilling and when it is in the desired size, you can now reinstall the bolts. But fixing the bolts doesn’t require much expertise that anyone with the basic knowledge of bath fixture can do it. This article will let you know the reasons for toilet bolts spinning and how to keep carriage bolts from spinning. Works for me 8 out of 10 times, and it's fast. Take a pair of pliers and hold the threaded portion of the bolt and use a wrench to tighten the nut. Now use a piece of fabric to clean the rust from the bolts. Use an adjustable wrench to give it a gentle tight in place so that it attaches properly. You won’t have to spend hundreds of bucks to fix it. Now in the real world the bolt won’t be in a vise and in some cases it could proceed to rotate or spin around. Once the blade starts to make it’s way down it will make it’s own path and you can release the bolt. However, when they are old and corroded, they can seize up, causing them to spin and not tighten. Because it can’t go deep enough inside the hole. This can signal damage to one or more of your closet bolts. How to Fix Leaking Shower Without Removing Tiles – A Detail Guide, Toilet Leaking Into Basement – How to Fix It in Easy Ways, How to Remove Rusted Toilet Seat Bolts Without Damage – The Easiest Way, How to Change Toilet Paper Roll – A Step by Step Guideline, No Hot Water in Shower but Hot Water in Sink – Possible Reasons and Fixing …. One to hold the bolt to the ring and another on top of the toilet to hold the toilet in place? Shower Only Has Hot Water – How to Fix It Yourself? Lifesaving product for toilet installations. It accommodates flange heights from 1/2 in. So, did you find that the rust on the bolts? The anchor head is flanged for additional stability compared to a flush-mount head when installing into hollow material and has fins that grip the mounting material to prevent spinning … To install the new bolts or cleaned old bolts, check the bolts hole again. This works great when the bolts are new. Check the old bolts if it is already rusted. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Tighten it down a bit on one side then the other, then do it again. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. If the issue is not in the hole, probably the bolts are damaged. Don't cut the bolts but grind the flats the width of the grinding wheel above the marks on the bolts. SetFast bolts are the only toilet bolts in my book. Replace the toilet and bolt it down being sure NOT to tighten the nuts too tight and crack the toilet base. He regularly shares his tips and tricks in this blog for solving common home improvement works without calling a professional. What I do is I get my pair of dollar store wire strippers. Re: Toilet bolt hardware upgrade? This is because not only we should be careful not to harm the toilet bowl when removing the bolts, we should also be cautious when removing and replacing the bolts if they are rusted. Once the old bolts are out -- inserting new ones is a breeze. All good ideas. Toilet anchor bolts are located in the ground that keeps holding the toilet seat in place by connecting it with the flange and the floor. Compare. I'll let you know how it turns out. Because you can only move the bolts when it is not spinning. Removing Toilet Anchor Bolts. Now moisture mixes with debris and gets inside the hole of the bolts. A rocking toilet and/or rusted toilet closet bolts can result in water puddles on the floor. The bolts came with a high-end Kohler toilet. Once it is tight enough, you can use caps on it so that debris can’t get inside the hole again. Now place the bolts inside the hole with the washer. They only need to be snug only so the toilet does not rock side to side or back and forth (when using the toilet all the weight is going straight down only). Put Scotch Magic tape or other "permanent" transparent tape on all seams on the back of the envelope to prevent jamming in machinery or tampering of important mail. Use the lubricant spray on the bolts and let it soak for a few minutes. Sit on the toilet backwards (facing the tank - so you can see and reach the nuts) to squish the ring in place sealing the toilet to the flange on the floor. JavaScript is disabled. . Two bolts attach the tank to the bowl. When this happens I’ll just grab the nut with my leather-man tool or pliers until I get my saw blade started. If you find that the rubber pieces are spinning freely when trying to tighten the screws, you should pull up on the seat/screws. As a result, it can’t hold the weight of the toilet seat and starts spinning inside the hole. Even in a new toilet, it could happen. Why don't they include two sets of nuts with each new tiolet/ring combo? Your toilet is held securely to the floor along the sides of the waste pipe by a pair of bolts. Sometimes you can load them up with plumbers putty to hold them in place then lower the toilet straight down. Use your basic expertise and the right tools. Unlike wax rings, the Perfect Seal stabilizes toilet bolts and allows the toilet to be repositioned as needed. Fixing your toilet bolts can fix one of the most common problems you may have with your toilet. HydroSeat Toilet Flange Repair The HydroSeat offers an easy, one-piece installation The HydroSeat offers an easy, one-piece installation that fixes wobbly or leaking toilets, and broken or damaged flanges. It requires fixing to keep the toilet stable. However, it is nothing to be worried about. The heads was so much smaller then the old ones they just spun instead if catching in the bottom side of the slots. Toilet anchor bolts spinning in place is one of the most common scenarios in an old toilet. Screw a replacement anchor onto the setting bolt until the flat washer is snug up against the lock washer (Fig. Replacing bolts of a toilet is actually a much harder job than removing the toilet itself completely. Unfortunately, some common things will happen in the bathroom that needs to be fixed. Usually you don't need to nut the bolts to the flange--something in not normal with your set up---. Depending on the type of toilet seat, the bolts sizing may vary. He has vast expertise in bathroom and kitchen fixtures, plumbing solutions, repairing, DIY, and more. Once the old anchors have been removed, you will be ready to start the initial tightening of the new anchors. Follow the kit instructions for removing the old anchors, using the stabilization tool if the anchor is spinning. If there is too much rust, we would suggest using new bolts. Never need to bother with a hacksaw to cut them and they are bigger and stronger than any product in the market. How to Fix Toilet Bolts That Won't Tighten. No Warranty Means- If it breaks in half you get to keep both halves. To remove the anchor bolts, you need to remove the toilet. The anchors just spin in place when attempting to tighten them with the enclosed useless tool designed to do just that. Even in a new toilet, it could happen. Push down on the bowl to press the toilet into the seal. So, when someone sits on the toilet seat, it may start spinning in place. So, here you will have to use the pliers or the adjustable wrench. Leaking Toilet Tank Bolts. Or pliers until I get my pair of dollar store because they are cheap and super.. 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