by the Professional Power Tool Guide Crew
Installing a toilet is not something that most people look forward to doing. Even for experienced plumbers, changing a toilet can present problems that we would prefer not to deal with. However, there is a method to the madness. Once you understand the basic steps to the process, replacing a toilet becomes a painless process.
When you are installing a toilet, the first thing that you need to do is gather everything that you will need. Your list is probably going to include a new toilet, a screwdriver, a set of wrenches (or at least a basin wrench), a wax ring and a set of bolts. You also might need a mop and bucket for clean up, but that part comes later. After you have your materials, you should shut off the water that is leading into the toilet and then flush to rid the bowl of any excess fluid. To make things easy on yourself, empty the water out of the toilet tank as well. Next, disconnect the tube that is bringing water to the toilet.
Now that the tank is empty, you can move on to the next step of installing a toilet. Reach down into the tank and remove the bolts that are holding it in place. Set the tank aside and move to the bottom of the toilet. You will notice that there are two bolts holding the toilet itself in place. Remove them and then shake the toilet loose. Remember that the toilet is made of porcelain. That’s means it’s breakable. Be gentle. This is a good time to clean the area where the toilet used to rest and move on.
Replace any fixtures or screws that were holding the old toilet onto the floor. Place a new wax ring into the hole where the new toilet is going. Gently set the toilet on top of the ring and press down until the toilet and the seal are firmly connected. Replace the bolts that were holding it in place, but don’t tighten them completely. First, check to make sure that the toilet is level. After that crucial step, tighten the bolts by hand as firmly as you can without damaging the toilet. Place your new toilet tank atop the toilet. Reach down into it and attach the bolts that will keep it firmly attached to the toilet. Now, reattach the tube that brings water to the toilet. Turn the water to the bathroom back on, checking for leaks. If everything worked out properly, flush the toilet and you have now finished installing a toilet. Congratulations.
