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A toilet gasket is the round rubber seal that is placed between the tank and bowl so as to prevent leaks whenever you flush the toilet. However, as with all other toilet parts, this gasket slowly wears off over time and when you spot water leaks under the tank whenever you flush, this part needs a replacement.
Although rubber is very durable, it tends to dry out with age to the point that it eventually cracks and this is what causes the leak. When this happens, simply follow the steps below on how to replace toilet gaskets.
Turn off the water supply
Before commencing on this DIY project, the first thing to do is to shut off the water supply. This will keep you from flooding up your bathroom floor once you dismantle the parts.
Simply locate the shut-off valve at the back of the toilet and turn the knob clockwise to cut off the supply.
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Flush the toilet
The next step is to flush the water in the tank. Hold the flush handle down for about a minute so that it drains as much water as possible. Empty the remaining water in the tank using a sponge, squeezing out the water inside the bowl.
Remove the water supply hose
Disconnect the water inlet hose from the fill valve by turning its fastening nut counterclockwise. Once removed, unscrew the back nut that holds the fill valve in position, then remove the fill valve from the tank.
Separate the tank from the bowl
With the fill valve out of place, the screw heads of the screws that secure the tank to the bowl should all be exposed. Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the screws until the tank is freed, then lift it and place it aside.
Replace the gasket
Removing the tank from the bowl should expose the rubber gasket. Remove the worn-out gasket and clean the area where it was placed on both the bowl and tank. Ensure that you get rid of all the gasket pieces that are stuck on the ceramic because these might cause the new gasket not to sit properly when installed.
After this, fit in the new gasket on the threaded end of the flush valve that protrudes below the tank, then insert new screws with new rubber gaskets on their slots from inside the tank.
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Reseat the tank
With the gasket and screws replaced, put the tank back on the toilet bowl while making sure that the parts align. Insert washers and nuts into the bolts that protrude below the bowl from the tank and tighten them so as to tightly secure the tank to the bowl.
Put back the fill valve
Fit back the fill valve and secure it in place using its back nut. That should just about be the final step and all you need to do after this is to reconnect the water supply by tightening the inlet hose to the fill valve, then turn the shut-off valve counterclockwise to let in the water.
Conclusion
If everything is done using this process, your toilet tank should not leak again when you flush. However, after this replacement, ensure that you test whether everything works as good as before and the task will be complete.
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