Professional Documents
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Precautions
There are a few safety precautions to take while installing a toilet. In order to prevent flooding, you will
need to turn off the water supply going to the toilet. If there is no shut-off valve in the bathroom, you
will need to find you where the main water shut-off is in your house.
Handling the tank and bowl of the toilet may not be a one person job. It is advisable to have someone
help if either part is too heavy. Remember to always lift with your legs and not your back in order to
prevent injury.
Should you be required to use a hacksaw or utility knife, make sure your tools has a sharp (or new) blade
in order to reduce the risk of injuries.
Preparations
Remove the new toilet from its packaging to make sure you have all the pieces and check for any cracks,
chips or defects in the bowl, tank or lid. Set aside pieces on floor nearby but out of the way. A piece of
cardboard from the packaging should be underneath them so that they do not get scratched.
You should plan for a place to put the old toilet once you remove it. You can choose to take it outside or
place it in the tub temporarily. Protect tubs finish with some old towels.
Make sure you have all the tools and materials you need before getting started and gather them
together in the space where you will be working.
A bead of caulking may have been used at the bottom of the toilet bowl; you will want to remove that
before starting. This can be done with a utility knife. Gently score through the caulking, vertically,
several times until you are able to lift one end up a bit. Grab that end and pull to remove the caulking.
Items Needed
At the back of your toilet seat, on either side of the toilet seat
hinge (1) you will see two mounting bolts. You may need to
lift the caps up to expose these bolts (2). Secure adjustable
wrench (A) around the nut on the underside of the bowl. Use
screwdriver (B) to turn counter-clockwise to loosen the bolt.
If you have integrated bolts: (bolt and cap are one piece)
Turn the handle of the water shut-off valve (3) clockwise (in
some homes this may be counter-clockwise). The valve may
appear to not turn off completely due to corrosion, turn the
water on and off a few times without forcing the handle. If
you do not have a shut-off for your toilet, you will need to
turn off the main water supply for your house.
Flush the toilet a few times to get rid of most of the water.
Use a sponge to remove any water still left in the tank and
bowl.
Put a small bucket under the water supply line (4). Disconnect
the line by loosening the wing nut (5) using a wrench.
The top of the bolts (6) that secure the tank to the bowl can
be found inside the tank, while the bottom part with the nut,
is found on the underside of the bowl.
Use the screwdriver (B) in the slot at the top of the bolt to
prevent the bolts from spinning while you undo the nuts.
Once the nuts are removed from the bolts, lift the tank (7) up
and off the bowl (8).
Remove the bolt caps (9) found near the back of the toilet
bowl (8). Simply pull the caps up to reveal the bolts (10) that
hold your toilet to the floor. Use the wrench to remove the
bolts. Take off any washers that are on the bolts. You should
be able to lift the bowl off the bolts at this point.
Due to corrosion, you may find the nut is impossible to remove. This
will require a few extra steps in the toilet removal and installation
process. These steps will be detailed in italics.
Once the bowl is removed you will notice a waxy substance on the floor around the drainpipe. This
comes from the wax ring (11) that is used to provide a water-tight seal between the bowl and the closet
flange (12). Use a small putty knife (C), to scrape up any residue the wax ring left behind.
If you had to cut the bolts with a hacksaw in order to remove the
bowl, you will need to replace these bolts before you can install
the new toilet bowl. This will require the purchase of new bolts
(found at most home renovation stores).
Most closet flanges will allow you to thread the bolt head
(indicated by arrow in Figure 11) underneath the flange by using
the slightly larger opening. Slide the bold to the end of this
opening to secure it.
Turn the toilet bowl right-side up and slide it onto the bolts, this part may be tricky of you are working
alone. Only once the bolts have been threaded through, can you set the toilet down.
Straddle the toilet facing the wall and rock back and forth a few times in order to compress the wax to
the bowl. The base of the bowl must be touching the floor before proceeding any further. Put the
washer for the bolt caps on first, add a metal washer and then thread a nut onto each bolt.
Tighten using a wrench and alternate between the two bolts
as you tighten. One the nuts are snug against the bowl, use
the level (E) to make sure that bowl is level. Be careful to not
tighten the nuts to much as this will cause the bowl to crack.
Put bolt caps (9) back on over the bolts. If there is an excess
of the plumber’s putty visible after completing this step,
remove it using a putty knife.
New bolts will likely be too long. Cut the excess length off with
a hacksaw. Then put caps back on.
Figure 12 - Toilet Bowl
Place new tank on the bowl and make sure the rubber gasket
fits into the hole at the back of the bowl. Line up the holes
where the bolts go and thread a metal washer than a rubber
washer onto each bolt. Insert them in the holes on the inside
of the tank.
Connect the supply line to the tank and tighten wing nuts with
wrench. Open shut-off valve by turning it counter-clockwise.
Turn valve slowly at first in case the connection leaks.
Line up the holes from the toilet set with those in the bowl. Slide bolts through the holes and tighten,
alternating between left and right, until snug.
Tips
If you are replacing a toilet because it is leaking or if you suspect that the subfloor may be rotted
underneath, call in a professional to replace the subfloor before installing a new toilet.
When installing the toilet bowl or tank, make sure that you do not over-tighten the bolts as this will
cause the bowl (or tank) to crack. If that happens you will need to go out and buy a new one.
Resist the urge to take a sledgehammer to your toilet in order to remove it. It may look like fun on
television but in reality you may end up damaging your plumbing. Also, pieces may fall down the trap
(the pipe under the toilet where waste gets flushed out) and you will have to remove them from there
before proceeding any further.
Toilet seats generally have to be bought separately from the toilet, so make sure you remember to buy
when purchasing your toilet. You may be able to re-use the one you have though but only if it fits the
new toilet.
If any nut or bolt is corroded, making it difficult to loosen, simply apply a few drops of penetrating oil,
and wait a minute. This may loosen it up enough so you can remove it without cutting it off.
You will want to stuff the drainpipe with a rag or some paper towels as soon as the bowl in removed.
This prevents any sewer gases from entering your workspace. It will also prevent anything from falling
into the drainpipe. Just remember to remove the rag before you install the new toilet bowl.
As you can see removing and installing a new toilet is a rather simple and easy home renovation that
you can accomplish. Just think of the money you will save on labour by tackling this project yourself.