Replacing an old toilet can be a great way to learn the basics of plumbing and saving money on plumber’s bills. Installing your own toilet can be tricky, especially the wax ring. Failure to correctly set the wax ring can result in a leaking toilet; and some of the leaking fluid may not be water.
To begin, you’ll need to turn off the water to the toilet. In the rear of the toilet there is a valve with a handle; turn this off. If there is no valve, you may need to shut the water off to the entire house. You can find this valve by the intake pipe near city water gauges or near well heads.
Now that the water is shut off to the toilet, flush the toilet until all of the water is gone. Use an old bucket and cup to remove any remaining water from the toilet and tank. You can also use a sponge or old towel to soak up hard to reach water that a spoon or cup just can’t reach. Make certain all water is removed prior to removing the bowl and tank.
Remove the water connection with an adjustable wrench. A little water will drizzle out of the end; just use a paper towel or sponge to clean up the mess.
Now remove the seat bolts, otherwise known as Johnny bolts, that hold the bowl secure to the ground. Replace any rusty, worn or stripped bolts with new bolts. You may need to cut off rusty bolts with a hacksaw.
Once the toilet is removed, scrape away any remaining wax ring residue with a putty knife or other flat screwdriver. Be careful not to push any residue or debris down the open drain pipe. You may need to cover the open drain with an old rag as you clean.
Place the new wax ring in place on the new or old cleaned up toilet. Press it down firmly with both hands onto the open discharge or horn on the underside of the toilet.
Install the new or old bolts onto the floor drain flange. Align the bolts to fit the toilet exactly. Use a temporary guide such as tape to show the exact placement of the bolts as the toilet is over the top. It can get kind of hard to see them with a huge and heavy toilet looming over the top.
Once the bolts are in place, press down on the toilet and pop a squat. Gently rock back and forth until the toilet is in place; just don’t over do it.
Tighten the bolts down hand tight and a little extra with an adjustable wrench. Reattach the water hose to the back of the toilet and turn it on. Allow the toilet to fill up and check for leaks after several flushes. If all goes well, your new wax ring is in place.
