Replacing a toilet sounds like a job for a plumber, but it is genuinely one of the most DIY friendly plumbing jobs there is. There are no pipes to cut, no soldering, and no special skills required. The whole process involves disconnecting the old toilet, dropping the new one in place, and making three simple connections.
Most homeowners who have never touched a toilet installation complete this job successfully in two to three hours. The heaviest part is lifting the old toilet out and the new one in so having a second person helps, but it is manageable alone.
What You’ll Need
- New toilet (measure the rough in distance first most are 12 inches from wall to bolt center)
- New wax ring (usually included with toilet or buy separately for a few dollars)
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Sponge and bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Putty knife
- Hacksaw (in case old closet bolts are too long)
Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1: Shut off the water and drain the toilet
Turn the shut-off valve behind the toilet clockwise until it stops. Flush the toilet to drain as much water as possible from the tank and bowl. Use a sponge to soak up any remaining water in the bowl and tank you want both as dry as possible before moving the toilet. Disconnect the water supply line from the bottom of the tank.
Step 2: Remove the old toilet
Pry off the plastic caps at the base of the toilet to expose the nuts on the closet bolts. Remove the nuts with an adjustable wrench. The toilet is now only held by gravity and the old wax ring. Rock it gently side to side to break the wax seal, then lift it straight up and set it aside on old newspaper or a drop cloth. Have a helper for this a full porcelain toilet is heavy.
Step 3: Prepare the flange
The floor flange is the fitting in the floor that the toilet bolts to. Clean all the old wax off it with a putty knife. Inspect the flange for cracks or damage a damaged flange needs to be repaired before the new toilet goes in. Insert new closet bolts into the slots in the flange, positioning them so they are equidistant from the wall.
Step 4: Install the new wax ring
Place the new wax ring on top of the flange with the wax side facing up, or press it to the underside of the new toilet either method works. The wax ring creates a waterproof seal between the toilet and the drain. Use only one wax ring stacking two creates a weaker, less reliable seal.
Step 5: Set the new toilet
With a helper guiding the closet bolts through the holes in the toilet base, lower the toilet straight down onto the flange. Press firmly downward do not rock it side to side, as this distorts the wax seal. Sit on the toilet briefly to press it fully into the wax. Hand-tighten the nuts onto the closet bolts, then snug them with a wrench. Alternate sides to keep even pressure. Do not overtighten you will crack the porcelain base.
Step 6: Connect water supply and test
Attach the water supply line to the bottom of the tank. Turn on the shut off valve slowly and let the tank fill. Check every connection point for drips. Flush several times and watch the base carefully for any water on the floor, which would indicate a wax ring leak. Apply a bead of caulk around the base of the toilet for a clean finished look, leaving a small gap at the back to allow leak detection.
Pro Tips
Before buying your new toilet, measure the rough-in distance the distance from the wall to the center of the closet bolts or the drain pipe. Most homes use a 12 inch rough in but some older homes use 10 or 14 inches. Installing a toilet with the wrong rough-in measurement means it will not fit properly.
If the closet bolts that came with your new toilet are too long after installation, use a hacksaw to cut them flush with the top of the nut. Long protruding bolts prevent the decorative caps from fitting properly.
Final Thoughts
Replacing a toilet is one of those DIY accomplishments that seems more impressive than it is. Once you have done it, you will wonder why anyone pays a plumber for this job. The whole process costs the price of the toilet and wax ring save hundreds of dollars and gain the confidence to tackle bigger plumbing projects next.