How to Replace a Toilet Bowl

In the average American home, the toilet is the single largest user of water on a daily basis. Toilets account for up to 30 percent of an entire household's water usage. In fact, older toilets can use over three gallons of water per flush. One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce water waste in your home is to replace your older toilet bowl with a newer, more efficient model.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New toilet kit
• Adjustable wrench
• Channellocks
• New wax ring
• Trowel or flat edge scraper
• Rags
• Bucket

How to Remove a Toilet Bowl

1. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water supply to the tank.

2. Remove the lid to the water holding tank and flush the toilet as many times as necessary to remove as much water from the tank as possible. When no more water will exit the tank, place some old work towels inside the tank to help soak up the remaining water. This will help to keep it from getting all over the floor when you remove the supply hose. Keep in mind, there will still be some water left in the toilet, even when you are removing it. For the water left inside the seat section, use a cup to remove as much as possible.

3. Remove the water supply line where it connects to the water holding tank. The supply line connects the valve you turned off earlier to the bottom side of the tank. Unscrew it from the side of the tank. Place a bucket under the tank to catch any leaking water.

4. Loosen the two nuts that secure the toilet to the flange bolts. These are located on the bottom of the toilet body. Use the adjustable wrench to loosen and remove these nuts.

5. Gently start rocking the toilet back and forth to break the seal. Once it is loose, you will be able to lift it over the flange bolts to remove it. It is heavy, so having a second pair of hands may be helpful for this part of the job.

6. Scrape away the wax ring residue from the floor and flange and clean up the area of any leftover debris. Stick a rag into the drainage hole to prevent gases from seeping back up into the home.

How to Install the New Toilet

7. Inspect the flange and bolts to ensure that everything is still in good shape. If you had difficulty removing the original nuts, you should replace the bolts with a newer pair.

8. Remove the rag from the drainage hole.

9. Place the new wax ring over the flange so that it sits evenly. Insert the "neck" part of the ring into the flange.

10. Lift the bottom part of the toilet and set it down over the drainage hole. Both flange bolts should come through the holes on the base of the toilet with the base placed evenly over the wax ring. Make sure that the toilet is centered and properly seated.

11. Secure the toilet base to the flange by tightening the nuts down over the flange bolts.

12. Install the water holding tank to the toilet base using the nuts, bolts and washers that come with the kit.

13. Connect the water supply line to the bottom of the water holding tank and turn the shutoff valve counter-clockwise to allow water to enter the tank.

14. Set the cover over the water holding tank. Once the tank is filled, the water will automatically shut off.

15. Check around the toilet for any leaks, especially where the tank meets the base. Flush the toilet and check again for any leaks. About a week after using the new toilet, double-check the flange bolts to ensure that they haven't loosened. If they have, re-tighten.

References

• Toilet parts