Don’t raise the bowl from the floor while making adjustments. As the bowl meets the floor, make sure it is level and square with the rear wall.
Lower it gently, making sure the bolts in the floor pass through their openings in the bowl base. You also can create a seal with the wax ring around the edge of the bowl’s base, which is what I’m going to show you today.Ĭarefully line up the toilet over the flange. Place the new wax ring over the drain hole in the floor with the rounded side up. The toilet goes back on basically the way it came off. If they are rusty, consider replacing them. If the bolts that hold down the toilet are still in good condition, you can reuse them. You’ll also want to wipe the floor where the toilet was sitting and remove any caulk or putty that may have been used around the edges of the toilet. Use a putty knife and paper towels to do this. Then remove any of the wax that may be stuck to the flange in the floor. Tip the toilet to the side to get the wax ring off of the bottom of the toilet. The next step is to remove the old wax ring. Have a towel handy, as there may still be some water stuck in the trap that could spill on the floor. Tanks can be heavy, so you may need help with this step. Once the bolts are removed, lift the tank away from the bowl and place it on a towel on the floor so you don’t scratch it. To keep the bolt from moving while you loosen the nut, use a large screwdriver to hold the top of the bolt inside the tank. If you try to force them, you could break the tank. If they are difficult to remove, use penetrating oil to loosen them. To do this, underneath the tank, you’ll see bolts that go through the tank and bowl flange. You might also want to remove the tank first to make it lighter, as I have. Toilet bowls can be heavy, so you might need some help with this step. Once it’s loose, pull the entire toilet up until it clears the bolts on the floor.
Loosen the bowl by rocking it to break its seal with the floor and toilet flange. Then, using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nuts. Remove the caps that sit over the bolts at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Now we need to remove the toilet from the floor. You may need an adjustable wrench or a pair of channel locking pliers for this step. Next, disconnect the water supply from the tank. Then use a sponge or a towel to get the rest of the water out. Drain the water out of the tank by holding down the flush lever. First, take off the lid to the tank and shut off the water. Let’s get started by removing the old toilet. The other two videos you’ll want to watch are “Installing a Flush Valve” and “Installing a Fill Valve.” Both of these projects will be part of the complete toilet installation. The wax ring creates a seal between the toilet bowl and the drain in the floor.
HOW TO INSTALL TOILET BOLTS TO TANK HOW TO
Most of this video will demonstrate how to replace the wax ring, a critical part of replacing the toilet. If you have different type of toilet, consult with your local independent home improvement retailer for further advice. In either case, here I’ll show you how to replace a standard, two piece toilet with a tank that mounts on top of the bowl. Or, you may need to fix a leak by replacing the wax ring. You may want to give your bathroom a new look with a new toilet. Changing out your toilet is a project that will only take you a few hours.