Toilet Plumbing – How to Replace a Toilet

Aside from a few minor details, toilet plumbing and replacing a new toilet is not very difficult. You may need some assistance to handle the heavy components, but you should be able to handle it.

Obviously, the first step is to cut the water supply to the toilet. Typically, there will be a valve below the toilet that will shut off the supply. Sometimes it may be necessary to shut off the main water supply to the house. It's unusual to have a shut off for the bathroom by itself.

At this point, try to get as much water as possible out of the existing toilet. If the water supply is shut off, you may be able to flush much of it out. Unfortunately, the rest of the water will have to be bailed out. Some people leave this remaining water in it, but it's not advised for a couple of reasons.

Leaving just a few gallons of water in the toilet can increase the weight by about 25 lbs. Water weighs around 8 lbs per gallon. You also risk splashing this water all over as you are moving the toilet out of place. This is especially dangerous since this water usually contains various contaminants. You also may find water leaking out of whatever hole or crack that caused you to replace the toilet in the first place.

There is a water hose attached to the toilet that will need to be removed. The nuts and the caps covering them on each side of the toilet will also need to be removed. You may also need to scrape away any caulking that was applied around the toilet on the floor.

Due to the sealant that the toilet is seated on, it may prove somewhat difficult to remove during toilet plumbing installation. This sealant is not really an adhesive, but it will harden, making it act as one. This is where you may need assistance to lift the toilet up and break it loose from the sealant. Usually a quick jerk will break it loose.

After removing the toilet, you need to make the surface of the floor and the pipe are as clean as possible. Clean the residue out of the pipe and scrape up any left over sealant on the floor from the old toilet. Your new toilet will not sit properly if this is not done.

Now, most of the hard toilet plumbing part is done.

Your new toilet will most likely set on a thick, waxy sealant that goes around the hole it will sit on. The old style grease sealant is also effective. Try to avoid using rubber mats since they will often warp over a period of time.

At this point you and your assistant can carefully lower the new toilet into place. Make sure it goes directly down over the hole and the mounting bolts. Once it's down, you don't want to have to move it again. This will possibly damage the sealant and cause water leaks.

Before you secure the toilet to the floor, attach the water hose and turn the supply back on. If you detect no leaks, you can then bolt the base of the toilet, and you're done with your toilet plumbing project.