How to Install a Residential Toilet

Installing a residential toilet isn't quite the arduous task it seems at first. The main tricky part is making sure that the toilet outlet is aligned properly with the sewage inlet in your bathroom floor (also known as a closet flange). It's a good idea to have an assistant around to help you make sure you've got everything set correctly. Once the toilet is in place, the rest of the installation is just a matter of tightening some nuts and bolts.

Things You'll Need

• Flange bolts
• Washers
• Nuts
• Wax ring
• Residential toilet (including tank bolts and fittings)
• Assistant
• Plumber's putty, goop and tape
• Wrench
• Hacksaw
• Caulk

Instructions

1. Clear the floor area around the toilet flange of dust and debris. Insert the two bolts into the flange so that the threaded ends are pointing up. Press the wax ring firmly into place around the flange hole, making sure not to cover up the bolts.

2. Turn the base of the toilet over. Apply a thin bead of plumber's putty to the bottom of the bowl. This will help ensure a tight seal.

3. Turn the bowl over, and gently lower it over the flange. Pay close attention to this operation because not only must you make sure that the bowl outlet makes contact with the wax ring, but you also must make sure that the flange bolts poke up through the holes in the base of the toilet. Have an assistant help you, especially if this is a heavy toilet.

4. Press the toilet down gently. You should feel the wax ring compress.

5. Thread the nuts, metal and plastic washers onto the flange bolts. Tighten these by hand. Using the wrench, tighten one side one turn, and tighten the other side. Repeat this process until the toilet is secured.

6. Set the toilet tank on top of the bowl, making sure to align the tank cone gasket that protrudes from the bottom with the inlet at the back of the bowl. Also align the two bolt holes at the bottom of the tank with the ones in the toilet base.

7. Thread the rubber and any other washers onto the tank bolts. Drop these through the holes in the bottom of the tank. Secure them to the bowl with the rest of the tank washers and nuts. Tighten these as you did with the bolts at the base, tightening one side and then the other.

8. Apply plumber's goop or tape to the inlet on the tank to help ensure a watertight fit. Attach the inlet hose.

9. Turn on the water supply, and allow the tank to fill. Flush the toilet, and check for leaks.

10. Use a hacksaw to saw off any protruding parts of the flange bolts at the base. Cover with the plastic caps.

11. Caulk around the base of the toilet.

Tips & Warnings

• If the closet flange sits below your floor level (such as in a new tile floor) or is otherwise out of the way, install flange spacers to bring it up to level.

• If you are installing a low-flow toilet, the steps are basically the same except for attaching the tank. Most low-flow toilet models come with an integrated tank.

• Do not overtighten the bolts as this could crack the porcelain, ruining your toilet.

References

• This Old House - Installing Toilets

Resources

• Toiletology - Toilets 101