Replacing a Toilet with Easy Do-It-Yourself Instructions

You would like to replace the toilet in your bathroom, but you wonder how much it will cost to call the plumber to do it for you. There is no need to call the plumber. Replacing the toilet is one of the easy do-it-yourself jobs. The only problem is the weight. You might have to get a friend or relative to help you remove the old toilet and put the new one into place.

The first job of course is to find a replacement toilet. There is a multitude of choices available and you should easily find one to your liking. The new models are often not only more comfortable, but also will provide savings due to the reduced amount of water they use per flush. However, you need to make sure your new toilet will fit into the space of the old one. Thus, take measurements before you leave the house to look for a new one.

Once the new toilet is in your home, you can go to work. First you have to turn off the water supply to your old toilet. Underneath the tank you can find a supply valve, usually located to the left side. Turn it to shut off the water. Lift the top off the tank and flush the tank until the tank and the toilet bowl are empty. Any remaining water should be sponged off. Next you need to disconnect the water supply line that runs from the supply valve to the tank. If the water supply line does not need replacement, you only need to disconnect it at the tank side. Then you take out the connector inside the tank.

The next step is to remove the old tank. You start by unscrewing the bolts inside the tank. You should use pliers to hold the nuts on the underside of the tank while you do this. You can lift off the tank and set it aside.

Next you move on to removing the old toilet bowl. To make your job easier, you should remove the old toilet seat. Check for remaining water in the bowl and sponge it off, if necessary. Then you remove the bolts at the base of the toilet. You might have to remove anything that is covering these bolts as well as any plumber's putty that might surround the bolts. These bolts are usually on very tight. Use lubricant to loosen them up a little. Once the bolts are removed you can just lift up the toilet and set it to the side.