Plumbing - Toilet - Replacing a toilet

• Turn off the water supply to the toilet.
• Protect the surrounding area from spillage with old towels.
• Remove all water from the cistern. To do this flush the toilet, then hold the lever down until all of the water has drained from the toilet. Mop up any remaining water from the tank and bowl with a sponge until no water remains.
• Remove any screws attaching the toilet to the floor or wall. Some toilets have screws attaching from inside the cistern. Be careful to support all parts of the toilet to prevent them falling when the screws are taken out. If attached to the floor by cement it may be necessary to break the pan outlet pipe with a club hammer. Pull the toilet away from the wall (be careful if you have broken the outlet pipe to pull away or up (if it is a down-pointing outlet) from the break to stop pieces splintering and falling into the outlet.
• If you had to break the outlet pipe, fill the hole with old rags to stop debris falling into it. Chisel away the remaining parts of the pipe and any cement left around the collar of the drain socket.
• Clean up the whole area, removing any debris from around the outlet (and, if necessary, remove the rags inside being careful not to drop any debris down the hole). Take care to clean the floor as the new toilet may lie differently to your old one.
• Fit a plastic push-on connector to the toilet pan outlet pipe. Manoeuvre the pan into position and check the connector fits between the outlet pipe and the soil pipe. Attach the connector to the soil pipe with a rubber gasket if required or just push the connector into the soil pipe.
• The cistern can now be lifted onto the pan and attached.
• Now insert the screws and tighten by hand. Check that the toilet is all level using a spirit level. If not unscrew the pan, lift and insert strips of vinyl flooring until level, then securely tighten all screws being careful not to damage the new toilet in the process.

Got a subject you want us to cover? Ask Bubsy!