How to Replace and Install a Toilet
Learn to safely disconnect an old toilet, prepare the closet flange, seat a new wax ring, mount the bowl and tank, and seal against leaks.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free voice help.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Adjustable wrench
- ✓ Putty knife
- ✓ Small bucket and sponge
- ✓ Torpedo level
- ✓ Mini hacksaw
- ✓ Caulk gun
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ New toilet (bowl and tank kit)
- ✓ Wax ring with horn
- ✓ Toilet closet bolts and plastic retainers
- ✓ Braided stainless steel supply line
- ✓ 100% silicone bath caulk
- ✓ Old rag or shop towel
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Plug the open drain pipe with a rag immediately after removing the old toilet to block toxic sewer gases.
- • Lift the porcelain bowl with your legs, keeping it close to your core to prevent back strain or dropping the brittle ceramic.
- • Never over-tighten bolts against porcelain; excessive torque will shatter the ceramic instantly.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Shut Off Water and Drain Toilet
Turn the water supply valve clockwise until completely closed. Flush the toilet and hold the handle down to empty the tank. Use a sponge and bucket to soak up all remaining standing water in both the tank and the bowl trap.
- • Shut-off valve handle turned perpendicular/fully clockwise.
- • Both the tank interior and the bottom of the bowl are completely bone-dry.
- • Leaving residual water in the bowl trap, causing a spill when lifting.
Remove Old Toilet and Scrape Flange
Disconnect the water supply line from the bottom of the tank. Pry off the bolt caps at the base, remove the nuts with an adjustable wrench, and lift the toilet straight up off the floor. Scrape old wax off the closet flange using a putty knife and stuff a rag into the open drain hole.
- • Old toilet removed and resting on cardboard or drop cloth.
- • Metal/PVC flange completely free of yellow wax residue with a rag securely plugging the central drain hole.
- • Forgetting to plug the drain, allowing sewer gas or dropped tools to enter the plumbing.
Install New Closet Bolts and Wax Ring
Slide new brass closet bolts head-down into the flange slots on the left and right, securing them upright with plastic retainers. Remove the rag from the drain. Firmly press the new wax ring (cone side down) directly into the floor flange or onto the bowl discharge horn.
- • Two brass bolts standing perfectly vertical and parallel to the back wall.
- • Wax ring centered evenly over the drain opening without any tears or distortion.
- • Leaving the rag inside the drain pipe before setting the wax ring and bowl.
Set and Seat the Toilet Bowl
Lift the bowl above the flange and carefully guide the two floor bolts through the mounting holes in the bowl base. Lower the bowl straight down onto the wax ring. Apply steady downward body pressure onto the bowl seat area without twisting or rocking side-to-side.
- • Both brass bolts protruding clearly through the base holes.
- • Base resting flat on the floor with the bubble on the torpedo level centered across the bowl rim.
- • Twisting or lifting the bowl after making initial contact, which ruins the wax seal.
Fasten Bowl and Mount Tank
Slip plastic washer caps, metal washers, and nuts onto the floor bolts, tightening them by alternating side-to-side until snug. Mount the rubber tank-to-bowl gasket onto the tank base, lower the tank onto the bowl, and tighten tank bolts underneath by hand then wrench until level.
- • Bolts snug and trimmed with a hacksaw just above the nut so bolt caps snap shut.
- • Tank sits firmly and level against the bowl without rocking.
- • Cranking the wrench hard on the mounting nuts, resulting in a sudden loud crack in the porcelain.
Connect Supply, Test, and Caulk Base
Thread the braided water supply line to the tank fill valve hand-tight plus a quarter turn. Slowly open the wall shut-off valve, let the tank fill, and flush 3-4 times while watching for floor leaks. Apply a bead of silicone caulk around the front and sides of the base, leaving a 2-inch open gap at the very back.
- • Clean, smooth bead of caulk sealing the bowl to floor along the front and sides.
- • Bone-dry floor around base bolts and supply valve after multiple flushes.
- • Caulking the entire 360-degree perimeter, which traps hidden leaks under the floor if the wax ever fails.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Lowe's Home Improvement — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Wax ring with horn? Rubber foam zero-mess toilet seal
- No Mini hacksaw? Standard hacksaw blade wrapped in tape for a hand grip