There are quite a few reasons why you might need to replace a toilet: perhaps you want a new, modern one that goes with the rest of your bathroom suite; it might be leaking around its base; part of it might be cracked and needs replacing. Carrying out the job isn’t hugely complicated, but as with anything else involving bathrooms, if you are unsure you should call in a professional.

This is especially true if plumbing issues are involved, as they are likely to be with the toilet – work will need to be carried out by a certified plumber in line with building codes. However, read on to find out more about the process of replacing your bathroom toilet.

Measuring

Before you choose your replacement toilet, you need to take some measurements. This includes the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the centre of the floor drain. You also need to measure the distance from the wall to the bolts that hold the toilet into place. This is so you know how much space you’ve got to work with.

Choose a new toilet

Once you’ve got your measurements, you can choose a new toilet based on them. You might like to consider the rest of your bathroom furniture as well to make sure you get one that goes with the rest of the room. Choosing a colour is important, if you already have black bathroom furniture you may want to get a black toilet.

Choosing toilets at the same time as bathroom suites is common. Again it’s important to note the style of the bathroom, modern bathroom suites generally won’t fit well with old fashion styles.

Water supply

Before starting the installation process, the water supply to the toilet tank needs to be switched off. Empty out the water from the tank and the bowl – you should be able to get most of it out by flushing the toilet and then using a sponge or towel to get the rest.

Remove the tank and the toilet bowl

Removing the tank is your next job. You may have to undo bolts inside the tank if it is connected to the wall, as is the case in some traditional bathrooms. There will also be bolts at the bottom of the tank, which connect it to the bowl; these need to be removed, too. Move the tank out of the way and then move onto the nuts that hold down the bowl. This should loosen the bowl so that you can carefully remove it – lay it down onto a soft surface to stop it cracking.

Reverse the process

Now you essentially need to carry out similar actions but in reverse to put the new toilet into place. Make sure the drain is clear before you begin, and then use setting compound on the base of the bowl to help it stay in place. Put it into position and use a spirit level to check it is level. Then hand-tighten the nuts and, if the tank is separate, install that afterwards. Check everything is properly connected up before the water is turned back on.

This is an overview of replacing a toilet; different bathroom suites have different installation processes so you should always make sure you know what you’re doing before starting – and, if in doubt, seek help from a professional.