What do I have to keep in mind when replacing a toilet.?

Question

I bought a new toilet, and I am tempted to replace it myself. I am handy, but never replace one before. Should I attempt it or is it too ambitious of me?

Answer 1

turn off the water

Answer 2

the first important thing is the wax seal that goes between the toliet and the floor also the system has to have a good venting system (soil vent ) or no matter what you do it won't flush right. For instance turn a gallong jug of water upside down and it glug glugs when the water is coming, but if you poke a whole in the jug the water runs much more efficently. Same principal. Also rubber deteriorates with time and if the toliet is bolted down properly it should never move and cause a leak with the wax.

Answer 3

several things, is the floor tiled up to the toilet or underneath?
Shut off water.

Make sure when you buy the toilet you purchase a fresh supply line and fresh bowl gasket.

You'll need channel lock plier and a crescent wrench.

Shutoff the water either at the stop valve underneath the toilet, if you don't have one shut off at the main.

Flush toilet.
Remove excess Water
remove the bolts (nuts from the base) lift off the bolts (you can possible re-use.
Lift toilet out.

When you remove the old toilet put a plastic bag over the waste to reduce the sewer gas fumes coming back into the room.

CLEAN OLD GASKET OFF THE FLANGE.

put new bolts in flange, new beeswax gasket on toilet careful not to ruin beeswax just seat not mush it down.

remove the rag/plastic bag from the waste pipe, line up bolts over holes in the base of the new crapper, and the rubber part of bowl gasket above the waste and seat into place rocking it lightly.

replace supply line (using pipe dope or thread tape) , tighten everything and check for leaks.

Answer 4

Turn off water to tank,remove lid on back, then flush while holding up the water stopper(small bulb in bottom of tank). This will drain most water from tank,now plunge water in bowl or dip all you can out.Remove water line and nuts at base to toilet. remove old one clean all of the wax ring off.If new toilet is already 1piece (bowl & back togather) your go to go. New wax ring with flange down in pipe ,sit toilet in place ,give it a little rocking motion and have someone sit on it while you reinstall the nuts,to hold it to the flore. Hook up water line turn on water look for leaks. DO NOT over tighen nuts as it can crack.IF you have 2 pice( bowl & back seperate) thoes must be put togather first, then proceed as a bove.

Answer 5

I recommend using a rubber gasket as opposed to a wax gasket. As time goes by, the toilet may shift slightly. The wax gasket does not conform as well to a shifting toilet, and may cause a small leak.

Plus wax is a pain in the butt to deal with.

Answer 6

the johnny ring, if you disturb the seal, you HAVE to replace it with a ew one each and every time, its not that hard to replace a toilet, and dry your water closet out, if you don't you will have a water all over your floor. it should take take about a half hour to do the whole thing

Answer 7

When you change the toilet, you should also check to see that the shut off valve (angle stop) is in good shape and works properly and does not have too much rust. It a good idea to change this valve with the new toilet.

Answer 8

You can do it, the job is quite easy, wax ring and two bolts holding it to the floor, 1 water source from floor hooked into the bottom, thats it not much more at all

Answer 9

You can do it! Just be careful when resetting it that you don't slide it and nudge the wax ring and mess it up. Drop it straight down over that ring. Have a spare ring just in case. Good Luck!

Answer 10

Its not that hard. Make sure you have it sealed well on bottom. Push toilet down on the wax seal firmly.

Answer 11

make sure u get new wax ring seal and try to set in dwn right the first time oh and don't tighten the two nuts down too tight it will crack porcelain