How to Replace a Toilet

People replace toilets for various reasons; the old one is worn or broken, remodeling or updating to a water saver or maybe one of the kids wondered what would happen if he hit it with a crowbar. Whatever the reason, replacing a toilet is a simple task just about anyone can do. The hardest part will be deciding which toilet to buy, what color, what height, style, what are the rough in dimensions and how much do you want to spend? By the time you get to install the toilet, it will be a cinch.

Before you purchase a new toilet, measure the rough in by measuring from the finished wall behind the toilet to the bolts coming up from the base of the toilet. Generally, twelve inches is standard, but it could also be ten or fourteen inches. Give this number to your sales man when you choose your new toilet.

The tools you will need are: Adjustable wrench, hacksaw, putty knife, standard screwdriver, bathtub caulk/sealant, caulking tool

Step 1 Turn water off to old toilet. Flush toilet, holding handle down allowing water to drain from both bowl and tank. Use a sponge to remove any water remaining. Disconnect water supply line at toilet. Remove toilet in one piece remove the bolts at base of toilet using adjustable wrench, grasp toilet bowl at the rim and rock back and forth to loosen it from its wax base and lift straight up. Put old towel in the waste drain to prevent gases from coming into the house. Scrape old wax gasket from the flange on the floor and clean caulking from floor where old toilet sat.

Step 2 Turn the new toilet bowl upside down next to the rough in. Remove wax gasket from box, remove the plastic cover from the ring. Place the wax gasket around the drain port of the toilet pressing firmly so it will stay in place when you turn it over to set it in place. Run a generous bead of caulking around the bottom edge of the bowl.

Step 3 The flange bolts should be placed at about center of the flange. Carefully lift the bowl and turn it over, lifting now by the inner edges of the bowl. Slowly lower the bowl, aligning the bolts with the holes at either side at the base, until the bolts are through and the bowl is on the floor. Using your weight, press downward on the bowl to seat it in the wax. You may need to twist it very slightly to get it to seat fully, ensure it is square or straight to the wall and tighten the bolts with the adjustable wrench, not too tight, you do not want to crack the bowl. Cut the bolts with a hacksaw and snap the bolt covers on. Use caulking tool around base to clean excess caulk.

Step 4 Place the toilet tank on the bowl using the rubber washers, bolts, washers and nuts that came with the new toilet (check the parts list and instructions to ensure you have the right parts)and tighten the nuts enough to make a good seal but not tight enough to crack the tank or bowl.

Step 5 Connect toilet to water line, turn on water and allow tank to fill. Check for leaks and repair if any.

Step 6 Attach toilet seat by placing it on the bowl and aligning the hinge holes with the holes near the tank. Insert the bolts through the holes and from the underside of the bowl thread the nylon nut on to the bolt and tighten using a standard screwdriver. Snap bolt covers in place.

Tip: Never use toilet bowl cleaners in the tank, these type cleaners are corrosive, causing damage to the parts in tank.

Comments (2)

tracysmith159 said:

	... Wonderful article on replacing toilets. I'm glad my husband does this apart. The old wax rings look yucky and the back of the toilet don't look nice either. lol. I seen him do this lot of times when we managed apartments though.
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January 27, 2011
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Carl Benjamin said:

	... This is very helpful. I have done this before as well.
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January 27, 2011
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