Install New Toilet

Installing a new toilet is one of the easy things to do in life if you are not afraid of a little water, nasty smells, drilling a hole or two in ceramic tile or figuring out what to do with the old toilet, if any of this bothers you call a professional and this is what he will do.

The first step to install a new toilet is to turn off the water; there is a shut off valve behind the toilet, then flush the toilet to get as much water out of the tank, not all of the water will be gone so keep this in mind. Disconnect the water line to the tank, usually on the left, some water will run out, wipe it up.

Water is off! Proceed to free the toilet from the floor, there are bolts on each side of the toilet, just loosen them until you have the toilet free, wiggle the toilet a little to free it from the wax ring and lift the toilet up off the bolts, the toilet is heavy and there is still water in it so have a rag ready. There will be a messy wax ring showing after you remove the toilet, take an old rag and get the wax ring up and take another rag and stuff it in the open sewer pipe to stop the smell, just do not shove it in too far as you have to pull it back out.

You have the new toilet and a new wax ring; it is time to install the new toilet. The box the toilet comes in will have template to help you drill new holes for the new bolts that are needed to secure the toilet, use the template to mark the drill spots for the new bolts, place masking tape over the drill marks, this will keep the drill bit from slipping, now using a small masonry drill bit drill pilot holes for the new bolts, the pilot holes will keep the tile from cracking when you drill the larger holes for the connecting bolts. When all holes are drilled, remove the rag from the sewer pipe and set the wax ring into place.

The new toilet now needs to be positioned correctly, lining up with the new bolts and sitting on the new wax ring. Carefully secure the toilet by tightening the bolts on each side. Once the new toilet is in place, put on the seat – this part is easy.

The last thing to do to complete the job is to reconnect the water line, turn on the water and check for leaks. Do not over tighten the water line; just tighten enough to stop any leaks. Inside the toilet tank adjust the water valve and you should be back in business.

It is simple to install a new toilet if you have the correct tools and some skill, but without the correct tools and a little skill you can have a huge mess on your hands. Access the situation and if you are not confident call a professional and things will be great in an hour.