How to Replace a Toilet

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Changing out your toilet is a project that will only take you a few hours. You may want to give your bathroom a new look with a new toilet. Or, you may need to fix a leak by replacing the wax ring. In either case, here I’ll show you how to replace a standard, two piece toilet with a tank that mounts on top of the bowl. If you have different type of toilet, consult with your local independent home improvement retailer for further advice.

Most of this video will demonstrate how to replace the wax ring, a critical part of replacing the toilet. The wax ring creates a seal between the toilet bowl and the drain in the floor.

The other two videos you’ll want to watch are “Installing a Flush Valve” and “Installing a Fill Valve.” Both of these projects will be part of the complete toilet installation.

Let’s get started by removing the old toilet. First, take off the lid to the tank and shut off the water. Drain the water out of the tank by holding down the flush lever. Then use a sponge or a towel to get the rest of the water out.

Next, disconnect the water supply from the tank. You may need an adjustable wrench or a pair of channel locking pliers for this step.

Now we need to remove the toilet from the floor. Remove the caps that sit over the bolts at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Then, using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nuts.

Loosen the bowl by rocking it to break its seal with the floor and toilet flange. Once it’s loose, pull the entire toilet up until it clears the bolts on the floor. Toilet bowls can be heavy, so you might need some help with this step.

You might also want to remove the tank first to make it lighter, as I have. To do this, underneath the tank, you’ll see bolts that go through the tank and bowl flange. Unscrew these, and be careful. If they are difficult to remove, use penetrating oil to loosen them. If you try to force them, you could break the tank. To keep the bolt from moving while you loosen the nut, use a large screwdriver to hold the top of the bolt inside the tank.

Once the bolts are removed, lift the tank away from the bowl and place it on a towel on the floor so you don’t scratch it. Tanks can be heavy, so you may need help with this step.

Have a towel handy, as there may still be some water stuck in the trap that could spill on the floor.

The next step is to remove the old wax ring. Tip the toilet to the side to get the wax ring off of the bottom of the toilet. Then remove any of the wax that may be stuck to the flange in the floor. Use a putty knife and paper towels to do this.

You’ll also want to wipe the floor where the toilet was sitting and remove any caulk or putty that may have been used around the edges of the toilet. If the bolts that hold down the toilet are still in good condition, you can reuse them. If they are rusty, consider replacing them.

The toilet goes back on basically the way it came off. Place the new wax ring over the drain hole in the floor with the rounded side up. You also can create a seal with the wax ring around the edge of the bowl’s base, which is what I’m going to show you today.

Carefully line up the toilet over the flange. Lower it gently, making sure the bolts in the floor pass through their openings in the bowl base. As the bowl meets the floor, make sure it is level and square with the rear wall. Don’t raise the bowl from the floor while making adjustments. You only get one shot at setting the bowl per ring. If you break it by pulling the toilet back up, you’ll have to go through the setting process all over again and replace the ring.

As you set the bowl, gently rock the bowl until it sits completely on the floor.

Place washers over the hold-down bolts and thread on the brass nuts. Tighten the nut with your hand, then finish it off with an adjustable wrench. Over tightening could break the bowl. Put the plastic caps back on for decoration, and also to keep water off the bolts.

Finally, put the tank back on inserting the brass tank bolts into the bowl and hand-tightening the nuts evenly. Remember not to over-tighten them or you risk cracking the tank.

Reconnect the water supply and turn on the water. Then test the toilet to make sure it’s not leaking between the tank and the bowl, and especially where the base meets the floor.

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement project, be sure to read our list of Frequently Asked Questions for this video. And be sure to print out our Project Instructions, which includes a Tools and Materials checklist, before visiting your local independent home improvement retailer. That’s where you’ll find all the products and helpful advice to complete your project. If you’re not sure where to find your local store, check out our Store Locator.

Good luck with your project and thanks for watching.