How to Disconnect and Drain a Toilet
When you replace the toilet in your home, you need to remove the old one first. This can be a somewhat messy procedure that requires careful planning. Even after the water is shut off, you need to clean and drain the toilet before you remove it to prevent residue water from creating a mess. Disconnecting a toilet and removing it is not very difficult, as long as you follow the right process, and only requires basic tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sponges or old towels
- Plunger
- Bucket or rag
- Garbage bags
- Pliers
- Ratchet wrench
- Wrenches
- Hacksaw
- Cardboard
- Rag
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Instructions
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Turn off the water supply valve to the toilet. The shut-off valve is typically located on a small pipe right beside the toilet.
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Flush the toilet to drain the water out of the tank.
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Use sponges or old towels to soak up any residual water inside the toilet tank. The drier you get the tank, the less messy the job will be when you disassemble the toilet. Use a plunger to force any water left in the bowl out of the system.
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Disconnect the water supply line from the toilet. If you can't twist it off using only your hand, grip it with a pair of pliers and remove it from the tank. Place a bucket or rag under the line when you take it off, as some water is likely to drain out.
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Take off the bolts holding the tank onto the bowl of the toilet with your ratchet wrench. Move the tank immediately over the tub or some plastic in case any more water needs to drain out of it.
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Loosen the nuts on the bolts holding the bowl onto the ground with a wrench. These nuts often corrode onto the bolts. If you can't loosen them, cut them off with a hacksaw.
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Wiggle the bowl back and forth until it comes loose. Have someone help you pick it up from the floor and set it on a piece of cardboard to prevent the dirty seal from getting on your floor. Stuff the rag down the hole so sewer gas doesn't vent into the home.
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References
Resources
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