How to Tell if Your Rough Plumbing Is Right for a Toilet?

You must measure to ensure a toilet will fit.

Rough plumbing consists of the toilet drainpipe. The drainpipe is the pipe that connects to the bottom of the toilet. The pipe is mounted through the floor and you cannot move it easily once installed. For this reason, you must measure the rough plumbing to ensure that you have enough room to install the toilet. If the tank of the toilet gets in the way, you cannot line the toilet up with the plumbing.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure from the wall where you plan to place the backside of your toilet to the center of the drainpipe for the toilet. Use a tape measure. The exact measurement is not critical since a toilet uses a large wax seal to compensate for small imperfections. However, obtain an accurate measurement to within 1/2 inch.

2. Measure the distance from the back of the toilet tank to the center of the hole in the bottom of the toilet pedestal tank. The numbers obtained in Steps 1 and 2 must be within 1/2 inch.

3. Measure the distance from the side wall to the center of the drainpipe if the toilet will rest in a corner of the bathroom.

4. Measure the distance from the edge of the toilet tank to the center of the hole in the bottom of the toilet pedestal. If your toilet tank lid is wider than the toilet tank, take your measurement from the edge of the lid. The measurements obtained in Steps 3 and 4 must be within 1/2 inch.

References

• Plumbing Help: Toilet Rough-in
• Learn-Basement-Renovations.com: Basement Toilet