What is the most significant thing that makes your morning pleasurable? Of course, it is the toilet in your washroom. If you spend quality time here, it is more likely to pass your whole day without any unnecessary pressure. But what happens if your toilet rocks back and forth after you sit on it? No king likes to sit on a wobbly throne. A toilet provides sheer comfort, and it is not a rocking chair that produces back and forth movements.
A wobbling toilet produces some serious problems like the sewer gas may leak through the gap and pollute the bathroom ambiance, or it may cause damage to the drainage pipe and also can cause lots of discrepancies. Surely you do not want to endure such an issue, and you might be searching for a foolproof guideline. Congratulations, because your search is over. This article will provide a complete approach to fixing a loose or wobbly toilet.
What is a wobbly toilet?
Generally, a toilet has a plane bottom to be fixed with the ground. But in some cases, the bottom of the toilet is not plane, but it has an oval shape. Any kind of irregular shape of the bottom of the toilet makes it difficult to foster the toilet in its place. Sometimes the bolts of the toilet get damaged as it becomes old; this also makes the toilet out of order and creates a gap between the floor and the toilet. Then the toilet becomes shaky and wobbly. There could be some other reasons for the wobbling of the toilet.
Why is your toilet loose from the floor?
There are some disguised causes behind a rocking toilet, and those causes are described below,
Dismantled Toilet flange
The toilet flange is the main corridor that evacuates the waste from the toilet. Sometimes the flange gets dismantled from its own place. If the flange gets damaged, then the evacuation of the wastes becomes impeded. And if the flange does not get in the actual place, the entire toilet shakes and becomes uneven from the ground. If the toilet flange becomes too thick, the toilet does not set onto the flange, and a gap remains in place.
Damaged or uneven floor
It is common to think that the toilet will not fit harmoniously if there is any sort of chipping on the floor or if the floor is not flat. You always need a plane floor to fix on the toilet. You must have an even floor so that the toilet can be set up decently. However, you may use the shims to make up the distorted surface for uneven surfaces.
Loosen toilet bolts
The toilet is strongly tightened with the base on the floor with some notorious toilet bolts and nuts. The overaged toilet bolt may be loosening up as time advances. These loosened toilet bolts must be replaced or tightened with the help of a wrench. 
Inexperienced installation of the toilet
There might be no issue with the uneven floor, and even the toilet bolts are decently tightened. But there are some hidden issues with the installation of the toilet. Suppose an experienced plumber installs the toilet. He might not have known the actual process of installing a toilet. He might have made some sorts of mistakes. That could have been not tightening the bolts and the screws efficiently, or there must be some sort of negligence in installing the whole parts of the toilet, so always try to install the toilet with an experienced plumber.
Disadvantages of using a loose, wobby, or rocking toilet
A rocking and wobbling toilet may be harmful to the ambiance of the toilet. The disadvantages of a wobbling toilet may soar beyond its limit. A loose toilet can be annoying in some manners; those disadvantages are discussed below,
- The wobbling toilet may injure you shamelessly by being destroyed completely. It may not hurt you that much, but the toilet can feel the agony of this damage.
- The water may have leaked out from the toilet through the bottom side. Unless you use the caulk, it incessantly continues to flow, which may spread a stinky smell throughout the bathroom.
- A wobbly toilet may harm the supply of water to the toilet.
- It may create an unhealthy ambiance in the bathroom.
A complete repair guide for a loose and wobbly toilet
There are a lot of considerations in fixing a loose toilet. Those considerations are described below,
Changing the toilet flange
The toilet’s flange is one of the most necessary parts of the toilet that is situated under the toilet. Here I will illuminate you some of the amazing types of toilet flange, and those are.
The knockout flanges
an integrally molded test cap that prevents debris from entering the drain line during rough-in and allows for testing of the DWV system. They appreciate its quality and the completeness of the line, and it has six different types of connecting features, in ABS or PVC, one-piece, or with a stainless steel swivel ring.
The Offset flanges
The unique offset flanges support the plumbers to solve everyday problems like a mispositioned pipe or an inconvenient floor joist. Both are found in ABS or PVC, and both are standard with a stainless steel swivel ring.
Specialty flanges
The Sioux Chief’s famous brand offers a wide range of closet flanges for specialty installations. From cast iron compression flanges for commercial settings to brass rings for repair or remodeling, the particular projects in homes with lead bends. This type of flange is used in the urinals to connect the wall-mounted urinals in the commercial bathroom.
Spacer & Repair Rings
Spacer and repair rings are used to repair or adapt closet flanges for specific applications, such as when new or thicker flooring is added. For repairs of cracked or broken flanges, plumbers can fit the stainless steel Ring instead of the damaged flange for a rapid, solid repair without removing the damaged flange.
Repair the toilet flange
The flange is made for all industrial and domestic toilet installations and is designed to secure the toilet to waste piping connection and floor. Cast Iron Top Ring and base ring with corrosion-resistant coating, Instant Set drain pipe attachment. No additional hardware is required; stainless steel fasteners, Models with test caps eliminate the need for additional drain pipe sealing caps for inspection and are Compliant with Uniform Plumbing Code. 
How to remove an old toilet flange?
The first step is to remove the toilet from its actual place and then preserve it in a safe and secured place. For that, you need to shut off the water valve. Completely turn off the water supply of the toilet. After that, you need to flush the toilet so that all the water can be drained out from the toilet. You can also utilize a soft and small sponge to soak up all the water.
Then use the wrench to lose the bolts and remove the bolts from the toilet. After that, break the wax seal by lifting it up and down the toilet. After the toilet is loosened then, remove it from its actual place. When the toilet is removed, then take a rug to close the entrance of the flange. Otherwise, the bad odor may disseminate all over the washroom. Sift through the flange condition; if it needs any kind of repair, then do it. But keep in mind that the wax ring must be replaced as it can not be used again. Also, check the evenness of the toilet ground or floor.
Tools you need:
For replacing the toilet, you need to have some of the significant toilet materials and tools, and those are the,
- A brand new toilet flange
- Flange bolts, nuts, and washers
- Toilet shims, caulk, sponge
- Adjustable wrench
- Flange repair kit, hacksaw
- Wax ring or the rubber seal
Installation of the toilet flange and wax ring
The installation of the toilet flange is the major change in the whole toilet system. First, check the flange to see if it has any type of crack. The corroded flange is always a bad thing for the toilet. If The flange is in decent condition, then you do not need to buy the bolts, washers, and nuts. But you must incorporate a brand new wax ring, and a wax ring cannot be reused or reutilized. The floor or ground condition can waste some of your time. If it is wet, soft, or rotten, you should repair it first before fixing the toilet. A weak floor will always make a toilet wobble. Check the wax ring and the screws.
Reinstall the toilet
After the wax ring and flange are installed in the right place, it is time to reinstall the toilet. Take the toilet and put that into the entrance of the flange. Put the toilet in a way that the flange bolts are harmonious with the bottom of the toilet. Use a wrench to tighten the bolts; after you have tightened the bolts, use a bolt cap to cover their bolts. Use shims if there is any gap between the floor and the bottom of the toilet. Apply caulk at the base of the toilet and wait for it to dry before using the toilet. Turn on the water supply line and enjoy a wobble-free toilet.
Apply Shim under the toilet
What are the shims? Actually, shims are the plastic blocks that are used to support the wobbly accessories, just like wardrobes or toilets. You can find many types of shims in the market but only use those that seem sturdy. Before applying shims, loosen the bolts of the bottom of the toilet with a wrench. Then place the shims where you find large gaps. Use a sharp and smooth knife to cut off the edge after it has been put underneath the toilet. Then apply the caulk to the bottom of the toilet. And finally, turn on the water supply line.
Tighten the toilet bolts
There are two flange bolts on the sides of the toilet. Check them carefully if they are corroded or rust. Clean the rust by applying any cleaning agent. Then again, install the bolts and tighten them with the use of a wrench. That might stop the wobbling of the toilet. Repair the floor if it has any type of cracks.
Final words
Repairing a wobbling toilet could be a hard task and an expensive one too. If you call the plumber, that may cost you a lot of money, and if you follow the guide carefully, you can fix this issue by yourself. But if you do not have experience in these chores, then there is no other way but to call in a plumber. Repair this trouble as soon as possible otherwise, and it may create future inconvenience for the toilet.
We are really lucky to have a hard-working, multi-skilled plumber on our team. Collin D. Gallegos, a professional plumber who has worked with us since 2012, is an expert in vent, septic, and drainage systems. He is a Certified Master Plumber and has worked on various commercial plumbing projects. He usually helps our readers resolve plumbing and pipe-related issues with a proper DIY troubleshooting and repair guide.
