Index

How To Install A Toilet

If you need to change a toilet or remove one for renovations, you have come to the right place. By following these few simple steps, the job will be a snap.

How To Remove The Old Toilet

1/ Start by turning off the water supply to the tank. There may be a shut-off tap at the wall, if not turn off the main water shut-off to the house.

2/ Flush the toilet to drain the tank, then remove the water from the toilet bowl by bailing. An old turkey baster works great for sucking up the water.

3/ Use a screwdriver to pry off the plastic caps over the hold down bolts on either side of the toilet base and remove the hold down nuts.

4/ Rock the complete toilet sideways, to "break" the seal of the toilet to the floor or remove the toilet in two sections by separating the tank from the base (remove the two bolts that hold it together.)

5/ Remove the toilet from the work area, remove the hold down bolts from the flange, then scrape off the old wax ring from the floor flange with a putty knife or large screwdriver. Finish cleaning with a rag and also clean up the floor before installing the new toilet.

6/ Stuff a wet rag into the sewer pipe to prevent sewer gases from entering the house, until you are ready to install the new toilet. Make sure you have a string tied around the rag and attached to something solid; this will prevent the rag from being sucked down the sewer pipe when someone flushes another toilet in the house.

How To Install A New Toilet

1/ First determine the resting position of the toilet. Place the toilet bowl over the sewer floor flange. Line up the holes in the toilet bowl with the holes in the holding flange; this is where the toilet will rest. Place some pieces of masking tape on the floor around the toilet to show where the toilet will rest. When you are ready to lower the toilet onto the flange you will have a guide to follow.

2/ Remove the toilet and turn the toilet bowl up-side-down, place the wax seal onto the toilet flange and heat the wax seal with a hair dryer. Heat the wax seal with a hair dryer until the wax is soft and slightly sticky; this will insure a good bond of the wax seal to the toilet. Place a strip of plumbers putty around the outer base of the toilet and press firmly onto the base of the toilet. Leave a quarter inch gap of the putty at the back side of the toilet base to provide any indication of leak; water will exit here if there is a leak under the toilet. The bonding of the plumbers putty between the floor and toilet base helps prevent any rocking of the toilet. Any rocking can break the seal, especially when the wax seal is cold. A bead of silicone around the outer base of the toilet will also help to prevent rocking, and also make floor cleaning around the toilet easier.

2/ Turn the toilet over and lift into position over the sewer flange, using the masking tape as a guide for position, then gently lower the toilet base into place. Sit on the toilet; your weight will help the wax seal to flatten and form to the flange in the floor. Then gently tighten down the hold-down nuts. Do not over tighten as this could crack the toilet porcelain. Try and get the toilet into place in one motion, this assures a good seal. If you have to place and lift the toilet a few times the seal could be in jeopardy and not may not be trustworthy.

3/ Next you will be placing the tank onto the toilet bowl assembly. If the valve and float are not in place; then place some sealant onto the threads and washer and install. Tighten down with finger pressure. Then tighten additional half-turn with water pump pliers. There is no water pressure in the bowl, and only the weight of the water is there, so there is very little chance of any leakage. Also place the flapper assembly in place.

4/ Next you will be placing the tank onto the toilet bowl assembly. Place some sealant onto the threads and washers of the hold down bolts and place them in the tank. Place the donut seal onto the toilet bowl assembly. Gently lift the tank and place it on top the toilet-bowl. Tighten the two holding bolts enough to prevent any leaks, but do not over tighten.

5/With the connecting pipe, connect the water shut-off to the tank . Do not over tighten; always leave some further adjustment to take care of any leaks that may happen later.

6/ Place the flush handle onto the tank. The threads are left handed and you turn the holding nut counter-clockwise to tighten. Do not over tighten. Connect the pull chain from the flush lever to the flapper assembly. With the flapper fully closed you should still have some slack in the chain.

7/ Turn the water fully on and watch for any leaks. Keep an eye on the rising water and adjust the float arm for a water level one inch below the over-spill pipe. Adjust the float arm for a course adjustment and then use the Float-valve adjustment screw for a fine adjustment. If necessary you can bend the float arm a bit. On some float assembly there is a separate float adjustment for the float drop. Adjust the float drop so it drops, but doesn't interfere with the the action of the flapper assembly. If you have to assemble the float arm to the float; place some sealant on the threads to prevent water from entering the float and water logging it.

8/Place the seat-lid assembly onto the toilet bowl. Place the lid onto the tank. Flush the toilet a couple of times and check for leaks.

9/ You are done.

Tip - While preparing the toilet for installation, stuff a wet rag into the sewer opening; this will keep sewer gases from coming into the house. Remember to remove the rag before installing the toilet!

Adjusting Toilet Lid
If the lid will not stay up on it's own, you can adjust the position of the toilet seat to decrease the angle when it is in the upper position. Loosen the hold-down bolts and pull the toilet lid forward and then re-tighten the hold-down bolts. There is usually enough space for the bolts, to do this.

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Instructions on how to remove and install a toilet, for the average person