If you want to or need to replace your toilet – you may want to try to do it yourself. Of course, if you are a handy type of person this may not be very intimidating but for most homeowners – this is a task that is best left to the professionals.
But – we’re here to help so let’s go through these 13 steps on how to properly and safely remove a toilet.
1. Clean the toilet out by pouring about 1/4 cup of bleach or toilet bowl cleaner into the toilet. Flush it 3 or 4 times.
2. Turn off the supply of water to the toilet. This is normally on the wall near the bottom of the toilet.
3. Remove the lid of the tank and place it aside.
4. Remove any water in the toilet tank with a sponge, mop, towel, etc.
5. You will now need to remove any remaining water out of the toilet bowl but before you do this, wear rubber gloves to protect yourself.
6. Use a sponge (larger ones are better) or a towel to soak up the water and remove as much as you can out of the toilet bowl. Make sure to remove the gloves and wash your hands once you are completed with this task.
7. Use a wrench to loosen and then unscrew the nuts and bolts at the base of the toilet bowl. You will find them on the right and left of the toilet’s base.
8. Rock the toilet bowl from side to side to loosen it. This should break the wax ring seal.
9. Once you feel that the toilet bowl is loose enough – lift the bowl up off the floor. This may take some strength so be prepared and if you feel you cannot do this by yourself, get someone else to help you to lift the toilet bowl.
10. Remove and throw away the old wax ring.
11. Remove any putty or residue off the floor using a scraper or putty knife.
12. Use bleach or some type of disinfectant to wipe down the closet flange (the hole in the ground).
13. Stuff the hold that is left with an old towel or rag.
If you are unsure of any of these steps – we recommend that you contact a professional plumber to do the job for you.
Can I Remove A Toilet Myself?
As you can see from the steps outlined above, the process of removing a toilet requires a little bit of strength, a few tools and a few hours.
It’s a project that some homeowners are certainly able to do – but only as long as you are able to manually manage moving and lifting the toilet bowl.
If you have any questions about removing a toilet, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.