Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by acechapman
Although it can be intimidating to replace your toilet at home, if you do it slowly and carefully you will be fine. To remove an old toilet can be a dirty and potentially difficult task, but with the right tools and some careful planning, it can be done successfully.
Remember that your toilet’s water supply line is likely just as old as the toilet you are replacing. It is a good idea to have this removed. Thus, allowing the toilet to function optimally. The removal of the water supply line will not add any additional work to the task.
Before You Begin
Turn off the shutoff valve on the supply pipe beneath the toilet tank to turn off the water supply. You can also mount the valve on the wall behind your toilet.
Materials you’ll need:
- Sponge
- Bucket
- Tongue-and-groove pliers
- Flathead screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Rubber gloves or latex gloves
- Rags
How To Remove A Toilet?
Disconnect The Water Supply Line
Disconnect the supply line behind the toilet. Then, grab an adjustable wrench and remove the hose that connects to the water shutoff valve. This is likely to be very tight, especially if the toilet has been around for a while. Spraying anti-corrosion spray onto the screws can be helpful to remove any rust. Also, make sure you have a rag to ensure that the spray doesn’t get everywhere.
Importantly, you should also pay attention to unscrewing the water supply lines from the walls or floors. You should only loosen the supply line to the toilet and not the entire connection to the wall or floor. Do not worry if water does come out of the supply lines after you loosen them. It is normal for water to leak from the supply line. So, you should be able to wipe it up with a towel or a rag.
Turn Off The Water Valve And Remove The Water From The Toilet
Once you have all the information, it is time to get rid of that old toilet. Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Turn the water shutoff valve located on the floor or wall behind the toilet. After you have turned the valve off, flush the toilet to drain all water from the tank. This is the water that’s used when you flush the toilet. However, since the water valve is off, the tank water will drain.
Your toilet bowl will not fill up with water from the tank as a result. There might be some water left in your bowl, so you can grab a plunger to drain the remaining water.
Empty The Toilet
You don’t want water in your toilet after you have finished using it. You might have some water in the tank. If that is the case, you can use large sponges to absorb any water and then transfer it to a bucket. If there is still some water in the tank, don’t worry. The water will not leak if you hold the toilet upright during the entire process.
Unbolt The Toilet
Once you disconnect the water supply line from the toilet, it is time to start unbolting this unit from the floor. If you’re working alone, it is a good idea to separate the tank and the bowl. This will make it easier to work with two smaller pieces. It is possible to separate the bowl and tank. It is possible that your model doesn’t allow you to separate the tank and bowl. In this case, it might be a good idea to hire a plumber.
Start by unscrewing bolts beneath the tank using a wrench. You will need a screwdriver to remove the bolts from the top. These bolts are located inside the tank. After removing the bolts, lift the tank off the toilet bowl and place it on the side.
You can now remove the floor bolts from the bowl. Begin with the toilet bowl caps at the base where they are located. To pry open the caps, you might need a flathead screwdriver. Next, use your wrench to loosen them and remove the washers. If the bolts are rusty or stuck, you can use your wrench to loosen them. You don’t have to worry about it, as your replacement toilet will include its own nuts and bolts.
Remove The Caulk From The Floor
Use a utility knife to remove waterproof caulking from the base of the toilet. To move the toilet bowl back and forth, use both of your hands on it to let it go from the caulk.
Pull To Remove The Toilet
The wax ring underneath the toilet bowl will be exposed when you lift it. The wax ring is a type of gasket made from beeswax or a combination of rubber and synthetic materials. To determine if the toilet bolts are in good condition, check the flange of your wax ring. Use a Paint scraper to remove the old wax ring. To prevent your tools from falling into the ring hole, roll up the rag and stuff it in. This will prevent any stinky odors coming from the sewage system from getting into your room. Now that you have removed the toilet, it is time to install the new toilet.
Wrapping up
That’s it! With a little bit of elbow grease and the right tools, you should be able to remove an old toilet and install a new one without too much difficulty.
The new toilet might have a different footprint from the one you had. You may be able to see the outline of your old toilet if the base is smaller. Make sure to remove all residue and color so that the outline of the old toilet does not remain. This is easier than doing it after the new toilet has been installed.
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