How to Install a New Toilet in 5 Easy Steps

If your toilet is old and in need of repairs, it's cheaper to replace it by installing a new one. This is very easy to do and can be completed in a day. However, if you intend to install a toilet in a new place, you'll have to extend supply pipes and drainpipes to the desired spot, a job you might want to leave to a plumbing contractor.

Most bathrooms are offered with the necessary gaskets, washers, and hardware for fitting the tank into the bowl. However you may need to get a few parts. Here's a list of everything you need to complete this task:

Components: Toilet bowl, Toilet tank, Toilet seat, 2 1/4" bolts for bowl to flange, Wax ring, 20" water supply with fitting at valve or flooring link and Tools: Pair of channel pliers, bucket, screw driver.

1. Shut off the water into the toilet, use a bucket and a cloth or a sponge to remove the water left in tank and bowl after you flush the toilet.

2. With a set of channel pliers, or a small pipe wrench (8"), remove the nut where the water fastens to the ballcock valve under the left side of the base of the tank. Next use a small crescent wrench, remove both 1/4" nuts holding the bowl to the floor flange. Remove old toilet. Remove the water line in the valve or fitting at wall or floor.

3. Now you're ready to set up your new bathroom. Put both 1/4" bolts in the side holes of the flange with the bolt head at the flange. Place some of the wax in this place to hold the bolts straight up and across from one another. Place new wax ring flange, flat side up if tapered.

4. Set new bowl only right down so it centers on wax ring and both bolts come through holds on each side of bowl. Sit on bowl facing wall until your weight puts bowl flush with the ground. Place metal washers and nuts on bolts and tighten until snug. Don't over-tighten as you can crack the bowl. Tighten these again after bathroom is totally installed and full of water.

5. Next place 2" rubber gasket on tank where it places on the bowl, put rubber washers on bolts supplied under the bolt head so that they'll be on the inside of the tank. Pick up tank and place on bowl holes in bowl where bolts go through. Sit on bowl facing wall. Put bolts from the interior of the tank in bowl, put on metal washers and nuts and tighten. Hold tank level and tighten so that it brings tank down level. Use a large screw driver inside tank and a crescent wrench or end wrench to back up nut beneath bowl. Tighten with screw driver. Hook water supply to tank, turn on water, check for leaks, and snug up the bolts to ground. If there's a distance between the back of the tank and the wall, place a spacer of sort there to brace tank. A piece of wood or hard rubber works fine.

Maintenance:

At least twice a year clean out the inside of your toilet tank. When cleaning the toilet tank, turn off the water, flush toilet once, add small amount of cleaning detergent inside tank to water remaining and use a cloth or brush to clean. Also clean out holes under toilet seat and rim of the bowl in addition to the 3/4" hole in the bottom of toilet bowl. Replace rubber tank ball at this time if necessary. Maintaining your new bathroom will keep the plumber off and lower your plumbing bill.