Have issues with your toilet seat? Is it spinning and you are embarrassed by it?
Well, I’m here to shorten exactly this for you.
What are the possible causes for toilet bolts spinning?
You can simply follow 4 steps to solve this issue. You have to remove the bolts, examine the holes, drill new holes and insert bolts into holes. Just following these simple steps carefully, you can easily resolve this problem all by yourself. And if it’s still troubling you, then you need experts to help.
No, I’m not done yet. I have noted down all the details of every mentioned step. If you are interested then why wait?
Let’s dive right away!
What is Toilet Bolts Spin
Undoubtedly a properly functioning toilet is a must for any house. But sometimes we face unexpected difficulties that we have no control over. All we can do is fix the issues beforehand and take proper precautions.
If you are already worried then just calm down. Most of the toilet issues are fixable and you prevent them too. And now we will be discussing one of the very common problems regarding toilets.
Toilet bolt spinning is not an unfamiliar problem to people. This especially happens to the old toilets. It requires quick fixing to prevent further.
The toilet bolts are basically screws that hold the toilet seat. It is located on the ground. And the sizes of the bolt will vary depending on the size of your toilet seat.
Why Toilet Bolt Spins: 3 Main Reasons
Toilet bolt spinning is one of the most common issues with older toilets. Among several reasons, a rusted bolt is one of the most common.
Some of the most familiar reasons are-
Rusted Bolt
It is quite obvious for the bolts to get rusted as they are open to oxygen and water. And when the bolt becomes rusted it becomes decay-prone. And the decay leads to bolt spinning.
It is difficult for the decayed bolt to hold the seat, hence it starts spinning. But it is quite difficult to keep the bolt moisture-free. In fact, tile problems can also cause trouble with rust.
Smaller Holes
Another common reason is that if the bolt is smaller than the required size, it might cause spinning. That means, smaller holes lead to the toilet bolt spinning. So it is really important to drill in the proper size of the hole for bolts.
Perfect-sized holes help to keep the toilet seat placement proper and firm.
Debris around holes
Exposure to moisture also causes debris. And the debris caused bold spinning. The fact is you cannot stop the moisture from getting in touch with bolts. If you have both shower and a toilet in the same bathroom, it is even more difficult.
And the worst part is, that the mixture of moisture and debris is dangerous for your toilet bolts. It plays the role of lubricant. And thus the bolts start spinning.
But don’t stress too much about it. It’s a long process to occur.
Products You Will Need to Solve Spinning Bolt Problem
Here are some must-haves you might be needing for solving the spinning bolt problem.
- Adjustable Wrench
- Peiler
- Spray Lubricant
- Toilet Bolt
- Nuts
- Washer
- Plastic cap
- Cap holder
- Hand Gloves
Stop Toilet Bolts Spinning: 4 Simple Steps
Until now we know what toilet bolt spinning is and the probable causes behind it. The moment you will notice the bolt spinning in your toilet, fix it as early as possible. If you don’t take any instant action, you might face even worse problems.
If we don’t fix the toilet bolt spinning right after the problem arises, there is a chance of toilet seat permanent damage. In fact, you would feel uncomfortable about it. .
The good news for you is that you can solve this issue very easily. In fact, you can do it all by yourself by following some simple steps. To know the steps in detail, follow the steps carefully mentioned below.
Step 1: Removing Old Bolts
The very first step for resolving the bolt spinning issue is to remove the old bolts. Toilets bolts are located on the ground to keep the toilet seat in its place. For removing bolts, you can use an adjustable wrench or plier as well.
One thing to keep in mind is if your bolts are still spinning, you cannot take them off. To stop them spinning, you have to narrow down the bolt hole. To do that you have to insert a screwdriver into the hole first.
After that, hold the bolts with the adjustable wrench. And take it out of the hole. Don’t forget to take off the screwdriver along with the bolts.
Step 2: Examine the Holes
After taking the bolts off, you have to do the most important part. Which is examining the holes carefully. Remove the rust and the debris from the hole with the help of a piece of cloth.
And now you have to check for the size of the hole. You have to figure out whether it matches the diameter of the hole or not. If not then take your necessary decisions accordingly.
If you find the hole is not as big for the bolt then you have to drill it bigger. So that it matches the bolt size.
Step 3: Drill Holes Accordingly
After figuring out the bolt sizes and the hole sizes, you need to work on the holes. Make holes according to the bolt diameter. If the previous hole is small in size, just make it bigger by drilling.
If the hole is already bigger, try to shrink it. Maybe make new holes that match the size of the bolts.
Step 4: Reinstall Bolts
Here comes the step to inserting the bolts into the hole. Now one thing you have to make sure of before inserting the old bolts is to check. Check that your bolts are as good as you can reuse them again.
If there is still rust in it just clean it up with any lubricant. You can also use alcohol spray for it.
And if you find the bolts are damaged then pick the brand new one. And finally, insert them into the hole and tighten them properly.
You can purchase your necessary tools from the following suggestion box-
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These are one of the best products available on the market. You can go for them without any hesitation.
People sometimes also face shoot on the toilet seat issue.
Suggestions
There are a few things that you should keep in mind when you are continuing the process-
- Wear a safety glass.
- Use gloves.
- Make sure the electronics that you are using have proper grounding.
- Make sure that you don’t over-tighten the toilet bolts.
How to Prevent Toilet Bolt Spinning Problem
It is really difficult to ensure that the problem will not arise in the future. In fact, it can even happen for new toilets too. However, we can still take some precautionary steps to prevent this problem.
Those are-
- Try to keep the floor and tile dry.
- While setting up the toilet make sure you double-check the hole size and the diameter of the screw.
- If you find any difficulties with your toilet seat, do not make a delay. Try to solve the issue as early as possible.
That’s all.
FAQs
What happens when you over-tighten toilet tank bolts?
If you over-tighten toilet tank bolts, it might crack the toilet tank. Or sometimes it can even break the bowl attached to it. Toilets are usually made of ceramic or porcelain. They are hard and prone to crack. Since the material is not flexible for blending or any kind of movement, it might crack due to over-tightening.
Why does a new toilet move back and forth?
A loose flange bolt is a common reason for the toilet moving back and forth. Flange bolts are used for keeping the toilet attached to the ground. There might be some other reasons as well. For example, floor damage, sewage leakage, damaged flange, displacement in the flange, etc.
Why does the toilet keep spinning?
If the float of your toilet is set too low, it produces a weak flush. On the other hand, if it is set too high, it causes overflow, and a water spill occurs. The water level of the tank is basically controlled by an adjustable float. So it is very important to set the bolt properly to avoid spinning.
Final Note
That’s all! Hope I have resolved your issues with toilet bolts spinning. If you are still facing issues, then I think you need someone professional.
If I have to summarize, you can just follow 4 simple steps. And hopefully, you will be spotted with your toilet bolt issue.
Until next time, stay healthy!