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The toilet bolts should not be overtightened, but they should be tight. If you hear the sound of metal on porcelain, stop tightening. But if you still feel the bolts tightening against the wax ring, keep going.
How tight should toilet tank bolts be?
Most toilets have a space between the bottom of the tank and the top of the bowl anywhere from a ¼ of an inch to a ½ inch. Tighten too loosely and the tank will leak underneath the rubber washers and down the bolts; tighten too much and risk the tank cracking.
Are toilet bolts supposed to be loose?
If your toilet rocks or moves when you sit down, a loose bolt is probably the culprit. Over time, these bolts can slowly freeze to the nut, which makes tightening them a difficult job. If the bolts can’t be tightened because they are stripped, however, you will need to replace them.
How tight should I tighten bolts?
In general, you should make the bolt tight enough so that the items it is holding together stay together, but not so tight that you damage the bolt’s threads. You should tighten bolts properly so that the bolt performs properly.
How do you know if a bolt is tight enough?
One convention is to follow the “snug-tight” method where bolts are tightened until first sign of resistance and then given another quarter turn. Another convention is to use direct tension indicators. Direct tension indicators are washers that have small protrusions on them.
What happens if you overtighten toilet bolts?
Toilets are made of vitreous china and if you put too much stress on them they can crack. If you continue to tighten toilet bolts, the toilet will crack, so you have to know when to stop. The only problem is that usually only comes with experience. I would first suggest using a very small wrench.
How do you replace a toilet bolt without removing the toilet?
We will have to use a wrench since these toilet bolts of fixed really tight holding the toilet onto the floor. In order to replace toilet bolts without removing toilet. You will have to unscrew the toilet bolts with an anticlockwise movement. While holding the nut with the other hand.
What happens if you over torque bolts?
The Importance of Proper Torque Typically, an under torqued bolt will deform and be unable to provide as much clamping force as needed. An over torqued bolt will break.
What happened to screw if you over tighten them with a screwdriver?
Screws can become stripped if you over-tighten them with a screwdriver. A stripped screw, as shown in Figure 2, may get stuck in the screw hole, or it may not tighten firmly.
Can you over tighten bolts?
Everyone who has ever worked with fasteners has accidentally messed one up at some point. One of the most damaging ways to do that is by over-tightening, or over torquing the fastener. This can result in stripping screws, snapping screw heads and damaging pre-tapped threading.
Is it bad to over tighten screws?
Anyways, YES it is always bad to overtighten a screw. By definition. But if it is tight, and you dont need to remove the board, then no harm no foul. As long as you didnt crush the board your OK.
How hard should you screw?
A drywall screw should be screwed in to where the head is just barely under the paper on it’s face. They make drills, and drill accessory bits, specifically for this task. For everything else, run the screw in until your material is tight.
Why does my toilet moves side to side?
If the flange is a little higher than the surrounding flooring, the toilet becomes raised slightly in the center, allowing it to rock to either side. This problem can develop over time, such as when the wax seal becomes faulty or when a surrounding floor settles a little.
Why do toilet anchor bolts rust?
Moisture around the base of the toilet can corrode the anchor bolts. This moisture may be the result of water escaping from the toilet because of an imperfect seal or, in basements near sea level, it may come from condensation or poor drainage.
Are there different size toilet bolts?
The job of the toilet bolt is to help create a watertight seal between the toilet bowl and the toilet flange and to secure the toilet to the floor. There are three possible measurement distances you can get from the wall to the toilet bolt: 10 inches, 12 inches, or 14 inches. The most common is 12 inches.
How do you fix a toilet that is moving side to side?
To steady a rocking toilet, cut plastic shims to fit and slip them underneath (you may have to remove caulk before adding shims). Then caulk around the toilet and snug down the nuts on the bolts. But don’t crank them down super-tight; that can crack the toilet.
Why is my new toilet rocking back and forth?
One of the most common things that causes a toilet to rock back and forth are loose flange bolts. These are the bolts that hold the toilet down at an even level with the floor in your bathroom. A toilet does not screw directly into the ground. Instead, it screws into what’s called a toilet flange, or a closet flange.
Should a toilet sit flat on the floor?
Level the Toilet If it does not sit perfectly flat, it will rock and is more likely to leak over time. To correct this problem, slip toilet shims between the base and the floor to stop the rocking before bolting it down.
What holds a toilet to the floor?
The toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is the part of the toilet that secures the unit to the floor and connects to the drain pipe. Usually made of PVC, rubber or metal, this piece is circular in shape and usually secured in place with a few bolts.
Can a loose toilet cause a leak?
A loose toilet can cause a leak at the sewer line, and worse, flood the bathroom floor. It can lead to rotted wood and mildew and mold problems. If neglected, the leak can destroy the floor, leading to costly repair and replacement. When the bolts become loose, the toilet can rock back and forth.
