How To Replace or Install a Toilet

The next time you remodeling or enclosing up the bathroom in your home, consider replacing your old toilet along with the other fixtures, that is easier than you think. And with today’s wide range of color and design choices, there is bound to be one that affection look. Now, before you go shopping you need to measure the distance from the wall trough the floor bolts. If it measures 12 inches, you are in luck, you have a standard toilet. Sometimes, especially in older homes, this is very so, no before you go. Once you have made your decision and brought your new toilet home, it is time to remove the existing one.

First things first, you want to turn the water off at the supply valve. And flush the toilet to empty the tank. Now remove any water left in the tank or bowl with a sponge and some rags and be sure to wear some rubber gloves to protect against bacteria.

Now, once the toilet is dry, remove the tank bolts and disconnect the water supply line. Now straddle the bowl and lift the tank up off the bowl and be sure you lift with your legs, this things can be pretty heavy. With the tan removed it is time to work on the bowl. Remove the decorative caps, they cover the floor bolts. And use a socket wrench or adjustable wrench to remove the nets. Once the bolts are off, rock the bowl back and forth until the wax seal underneath is broken and lift the bowl above the floor. Scrape away any remaining wax with the putty knife and plug up the drain opening with the rag so you do not have sewer gas whapping up into your home.

Okay, now for the new toilet. You may want to start by replacing the existing flange around the drain opening or at least replace the mounting bolts. Then fit a new wax ring around the hole on the base of the toilet. Now for the tricky part, lift the bowl up and land the toilet up over the anchor bolts. Once the bolts are fit through the holes, rock the bowl back and forth to seek the wax ring and then hand tighten the knots. And so it summed were needed to make the bowl level and then tighten the bolts up with an adjustable wrench. Tighten the bolts gradually, alternating from one bolt to the other and be sure you do not over tight and crappy the bowl. Cover the bolts with the supplied caps and place the tank on the bowl, guide the tank bolts into the corresponding holes. Tighten the bolts but do not over tight it and then install the toilet valve assembly. Reconnect the water supply, caulk around the base and you are all set.

So the next time you take on a bathroom takeover consider including a new toilet on your shopping list.


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