Oftentimes, we need to replace the internal components of our toilets.  The plastic and metal parts wear out and need to be replaced for the toilet to function properly.

Fortunately, this is an inexpensive and easy home improvement project.  Most hardware stores carry a “toilet repair kit” that costs around $18-20 that includes all the components you’ll need for this project.  In fact, you’ll have some parts leftover, because the kits come with lots of parts to cover various types of toilets you may be using with the kit.

As noted in the video, you need to start by tearing the old components out of the toilet.  Of course, you’ll do this after shutting off the water supply — typically a valve right next to the toilet, close to the floor.

Once the old parts have been removed, there will be some necessary clean-up, especially where the tank attaches to the toilet base.

Now, you just need to install the new parts from the toilet repair kit.

This is a fairly easy DIY project that may require a second person, just because the toilet tank can be somewhat awkward to move.

What challenges do you have with your toilet?  Leaking flapper valve, running fill valve, etc.?  Let us know your toilet issues in the comments section and we’ll do a new post!

Do you have a threshold in your laminate floor that just keeps popping up?  In this post, we’ll show you how to fix that, permanently.

Laminate thresholds normally fit into a channel that’s been screwed or nailed into the subfloor.  Sometimes, people just pop the threshold into that channel without any adhesive.  Sometimes, they just use the wrong adhesive.

With the example in this post, the installers used regular siliconized acrylic caulk.  While this is great for filling holes and gaps, it’s not the best adhesive.  To repair the threshold, you need to clean the old adhesive material off the channel and the threshold to assure a good adherence with the new adhesive.  Then, apply the new adhesive (use a construction adhesive like Liquid Nails) into the channel.  Do not apply it to the threshold, especially to the “flanges” of the threshold, as this will cause the adhesive to leak out onto your floor and make for a tough clean-up.  When you put the adhesive in the channel, it will ooze out into the flange area without leaking out onto the floor.

To re-install the threshold, you just carefully place it back in the channel.  This may require a little force and you might want to use a clean towel on top of the threshold to prevent marring the finish.  Once it’s back in the channel, be sure to place something heavy on top of the threshold to keep it in place while the adhesive sets (generally, about 12 hours).  Again, you will want to have some sort of protection between the threshold and the heavy object(s).