Is your toilet old, cracked, or ugly? Does it waste more water than a sprinkler system left on all day just to water someone’s lawn? Did you win a new toilet in the company raffle and now you don’t know what to do with it?
If so, here’s a handy guide to replacing your own toilet.
Now look – it’s best if you give us a call before replacing your toilet. Let a professional residential household plumbing contractor take care of it. So you might think it’s a little weird that we have this article on here in the first place.
And I’d rather you call us. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches. But if you’re the type of person who’s going to do it yourself anyway – because you like to tinker and learn how stuff works, you want to save some money, or you’re just too stubborn to ask for help – then you may as well at least read an article on it from someone who knows what they’re doing.
So here’s how to install a toilet.
Step 1: Turn Off The Water
If you didn’t know that this is THE VERY FIRST STEP when you replace any plumbing fixtures, stop what you’re doing and call us. Seriously, this one’s a no brainer. Undoing your old toilet with the water turned on will be a complete nightmare for you.
Step 2: Drain The Tank
Flush the toilet to empty the toilet out. If you turned the water off properly, it shouldn’t fill itself back up. Soak up anything that doesn’t drain out with a rag – you want it as bone dry as possible.
Step 3: Remove The Tank
Disconnect the water supply line underneath the tank and the flapper chain inside the tank. Then unscrew the bolts holding the tank in place and remove it.
Stick it outside, or lay down an old towel and put it on there.
Step 4: Remove The Bowl
Unscrew the bolts on the floor holding the bowl in place. Then rock it back and forth a bit to loosen it up. Pick the bowl up and carry it outside or put it on the towel. I hope you don’t plan on using that towel again, because the wax on the bottom of the bowl is going to ruin it.
Step 5: Clean The Drain
The drain hole is going to have some wax left over on it. Clean away as much of it as you can. Check out the bolts too – if they’re rusty, you should replace them.
Step 6: Get The New Toilet In Place
Get out your new wax ring and attach it to the bottom of your toilet. Then get ready to line up the ring with the drain and with the two bolts sticking out of the floor.
You only get one shot at this, so if you miss you need to get a new wax ring. There are no second chances here.
Once it’s in place, rock it back and forth to seal it in place, then bolt it down
Step 7: Attach The Tank
Remember how you removed the tank? Yeah do all that again, but in backwards order.
Step 8: Reattach The Water
Once it’s finished, test for leaks. Be ready with some old towels to soak the water up in case of emergency.
What Can Go Wrong?
This might seem like a simple process, and it kind of is. As far as plumbing installs go, a toilet is one of the easier ones. But that doesn’t mean it’s idiot proof.
If you read this and it still doesn’t make sense, it’s probably best for you to call a professional plumber, like the team we have here at London Plumbing. We can help you install your new toilet, sink, bathtub, or any other plumbing fixture you’re planning on replacing.
Stuck? Give Us A Call
Once you’ve shut the water off, take a deep breath, and give us a call. Here at London Plumbing, we’re here to help, no matter your plumbing needs.
London Plumbing
Serving London Ontario and the surrounding area
https://g.page/londonplumbing
At London Plumbing we pride ourselves on top quality plumbers and plumbing solutions for residential and commercial customers in London Ontario.