5 Easy Steps to Install a New Toilet

Date Added: January 03, 2008 03:10:16 AM

Is your toilet old and in need of repairs? It is probably less expensive to just replace it with a new toilet. Installing a new one can be a fairly easy project which can be completed in an afternoon. If however, you need to install a toilet in a new location, you will want to contract a plumber for the job. Running supply and drainpipes to the new location can be a difficult task and one that you need experience to accomplish.

Most toilets come in kits that contain the needed washers, gaskets and any hardware needed for the job. You will need to have a few things outside of the kit to complete the job and here is a complete list.

Toilet bowl, toilet tank, two ¼ inch bolt for bowl flange, toilet seat, wax ring, water supply line (20”) with a fitting at the floor valve, bucket, screw driver, crescent wrench and pair of channel locks.

Before you begin shut off the water to the toilet and then use the bucket and a sponge to remove any water that remains in the tank or bowl after you flush the toilet.
On the bottom of the tank at the left side use the channel lock pliers to remove the nut where the water line fastens to the ballcock valve. Now use a crescent wrench to remove the two ¼” nuts that hold the bowl to the floor. When they are removed, remove the toilet and then the water line from the valve at the floor or wall.
With the old toilet out of the way we are ready to install the new one. Put your two ¼” bolts in the holes on the side of the flange with the head in the flange itself. Place a little of the wax from the old wax ring with the bolts to hold them in place straight up. Place the new wax ring on the flange with the holes matching and the flat side up if tapered.
Now you can place only the bowl straight down on the wax ring so the bolts come through their holes on each side of the bowl. Sit down on the bowl to put weight on it and gently pressure it down on the wax ring until the bowl is flush with the floor. Place your metal washers and nuts on the bolts and tighten them until snug. Over tightening these bolts could crack the porcelain bowl. After the installation is complete and water filled come back and snug these bolts up again.
Place the two inch rubber gasket where it sets on the bowl. Put your rubber washers that have been provided on the bolts provided. This way they will be on the inside of the tank. Now take the tank and place on the bowl lining up the holes where the bolts go through. Sit down on the bowl facing the tank and put the bolts in the holes from the inside of the tank. Put the metal washers and nuts on the bolts. Now hold the tank so it is level and slowly tighten the bolts without over-tightening. When snug, hook the water supply up to the tank and turn on the water while checking for leaks. Now re-snug the floor bolts holding the bowl.

For maintenance on the toilet you should clean out the inside of the tank at least twice per year. You can do this by turning off the water and flushing the toilet. Then take just a bit of detergent to the inside of the tank with the water that remained and wash it clean. Replace any internal rubber parts that need it. By properly maintaining the toilet you will help keep that plumber away.

Ed Begley Jr. - Replacing a toilet.