How do I stop my toilet from rocking front to back?

A toilet that rocks or wobbles when you sit on it can be annoying and make you feel like the toilet isn’t securely installed. There are several reasons why a toilet may rock and a few ways to fix it.

What Causes a Toilet to Rock?

Here are some common causes of a rocking or wobbling toilet:

• Loose toilet mounting bolts – The bolts that secure the toilet to the floor may be loose, allowing the toilet to pivot back and forth.
• Improper wax ring seal – If the wax ring that makes the seal between the toilet and drain pipe is worn or incorrectly installed, it can allow movement.
• Uneven floor – If the floor is uneven or slopes slightly, it can cause the toilet to not sit level and rock.
• Damaged flange/floor – Sometimes the closet flange on the drain pipe or the floor around it may be cracked or damaged, preventing a secure connection.
• Old/soft mounting hardware – Over time, the bolts, nuts and washers holding the toilet down can corrode or become brittle, causing looseness.

How to Stop a Toilet from Rocking

If you have a loose, rocking toilet, here are some step-by-step instructions on how to fix it:

Things You’ll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Crescent wrench
• Putty knife
• Screwdriver
• New wax toilet seal ring
• Toilet mounting bolts

Instructions

1. Turn off water supply valve – Locate the water supply line behind or below the toilet and turn the shutoff valve clockwise to shut off water.

2. Flush toilet to empty tank – Once water is off, flush the toilet to empty the tank. Use a sponge to soak up remaining water in bowl.

3. Disconnect supply line – Using an adjustable wrench, disconnect the flexible water supply line from the fill valve and remove supply line.

4. Remove old mounting bolts – From behind toilet, hold the bolts stationary with adjustable pliers and loosen the nuts with crescent wrench, then remove nuts, washers and bolts.

5. Rock toilet to loosen – Sit on toilet and rock back and forth to help break the wax ring seal.

6. Lift toilet off flange – Carefully lift the toilet straight up off the flange/closet bolts and set it on its side, resting on paper or cardboard.

7. Clean flange area – Use a putty knife to scrape off the old wax ring from base of toilet and the flange. Remove old bolts and clean area thoroughly.

8. Check floor stability – If floor or flange appear damaged, they will need to be repaired for a stable toilet installation.

9. Install new wax ring – Place a new wax ring around the closet flange, pressing it into the flange to adhere it.

10. Set toilet and press down – Carefully set toilet back onto flange, with bolts poking up through bolt holes. Press toilet down firmly to set wax ring.

11. Install new mounting bolts – Slide new stainless steel washers and hex nuts onto closet bolts. Hand tighten nuts to secure toilet.

12. Alternately tighten bolts – Using crescent wrench, tighten one nut, then the other, working back and forth to evenly tighten and level toilet.

13. Reconnect water supply – Attach water supply line back to fill valve and turn on shutoff valve.

14. Check for leaks – Look for leaks at supply line, base of toilet and fill valve. Flush to test.

By replacing the wax ring seal and installing new stable mounting bolts, you can stop a rocking, wobbly toilet. Make sure bolts are very snug but take care not to crack the porcelain. This should result in a solid, stable toilet.

Tips for Stopping a Rocking Toilet

Follow these useful tips for the best results when fixing a loose, rocking toilet:

• Replace the old brittle bolts and rubber washers with new solid stainless steel hardware.
• Use a plastic (not wood) toilet shim if one side is lower to level toilet.
• Make sure flange bolts are centered in slotted holes before tightening.
• Alternate tightening side-to-side to evenly tighten bolts.
• Don’t overtighten nuts – tight enough to compress wax ring is sufficient.
• Double check tightness by trying to rock toilet after install.
• Consider replacing older toilets with a new modern high efficiency model.

Why It’s Important to Fix a Loose Toilet

It’s important to fix a rocking, wobbly toilet right away because the problem will likely get worse over time. Here are some reasons why you don’t want to delay fixing a loose toilet:

• The rocking motion can eventually crack the porcelain base.
• Leaking will occur as the wax ring seal becomes more damaged.
• A loose toilet is unsafe and can suddenly shift or tip if too much weight is applied.
• The problem is inconvenient and makes the toilet feel unsanitary.
• Leaking around the base can cause water damage and rot wooden floors.
• Looseness indicates deteriorating mount hardware that should be replaced.

Taking the time to properly re-secure the toilet with new hardware ensures it will be stable and reliable for years of regular use.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While fixing a loose toilet is straightforward, here are some mistakes that should be avoided:

• Not tightening the bolts evenly – Can lead to cracked porcelain.
• Reusing old corroded bolts – These will easily get loose again.
• Putting toilet back down crooked – Causes poor wax ring seal.
• Forgetting to replace the wax ring – Toilet will still wobble and leak.
• Cracking tank by overtightening nuts – Just needs firm, even pressure.
• Using shims on both sides – Shims should only be used on one side if needed.
• Not checking for level – Can cause issues with toilet operation and flushing.

Carefully following the step-by-step process and using high quality hardware will prevent these mistakes and get your toilet solidly mounted.

When to Call a Plumber

While do-it-yourself repairs are ideal for basic toilet looseness, there are some cases where you may need to call in a professional plumber:

• If the closet flange is cracked or broken and needs replacement.
• If you find damage or rotting of the floor beneath the toilet.
• If the toilet drain pipe or water lines leak after resetting toilet.
• If you can’t determine the cause of the looseness and rocking.
• If the mounting bolts have damaged the porcelain base.
• If you don’t feel comfortable doing the work safely yourself.

A licensed plumber has specialized expertise to handle more complex repairs and correction of damaged or faulty drain plumbing or corroded pipes. Get professional help any time you feel you’ve reached the limits of your own DIY abilities.

Conclusion

A rocking, unstable toilet can be very frustrating, but in most cases it can be fixed yourself in just an hour or two. By carefully following the steps to remove the toilet, replacing the wax ring, and installing new mounting hardware, you can permanently stop the rocking and have peace of mind knowing your toilet is solidly mounted.

Taking quick action to fix a loose toilet prevents further damage, avoids leaks, and provides a solution that will last for many years before any looseness recurs. Be sure to use high quality bolts and wax seals, tighten the bolts evenly, and take care not to overtighten them. Avoiding common mistakes and calling a plumber for complex jobs will ensure long term success.