Having a durable toilet does not mean it will last forever, it will develop problems like cracks, unfixable leaks, or wastewater when you flush at a point in time that will make you consider a replacement. 

Installing a new toilet is not as hard as you think — it is something you can do in your homes without a plumber if you have the required tools and materials. If your toilet is old and needs replacement, you can always rely on Emergency plumber Islington to help you install a brand new toilet. If you do not feel you should include toilet installation as part of your project because of some reasons, this article will give you the basic on how you can uninstall and replace your toilet.

Gathering tools and materials:

The first thing you can do when removing and installing a new toilet is to assemble your tools and the materials you will need to complete the job.

Here are the tools you need for this job:

• New toilet
• Adjustable wrench
• A plastic scraper, small metal saw and a sponge
• A toolbox for a flange repair in case of damage (optional)
• Toilet supply line
• 2 Self-adjusting closet bolts
• Wax ring
• Leveller
• Toilet Shims or pennies
• Screwdriver

Removing the old toilet

The old toilet must be removed first before you can think of installing a new one.

 Here are the steps to take when removing your old toilet:

• Put on protective rubber gloves to guard you against any harmful bacteria around the toilet environment.
• Measure the distance between the floor bolts to the wall. (Standard toilets measures 12 inches)
• Turn off the water from the supply valve to prevent water from rushing into the basin
• Drain the water in the bowl by flushing the toilet
• Unscrew the tank bolts that fasten the bowl to the basin and remove them
• Unscrew the nuts holding the flow cap with an adjustable wrench, break the sealant pedestal and remove the toilet seat.
• Scrape away remaining sealant pedestal with a scraper and plunge with a rag.

Installing the new toilet

Installing the new toilet after the successful removal of the old toilet is very easy. The following are the stages of installation starting from assembling the part until it is finally mounted. 

Assemble the toilet

• Attaching the tank to the toilet bowl.
• Attaching the toilet seat as well to the floor (be careful not to over-tighten the nuts, so that you will not crack the porcelain).

Preparing the flange

• Scraping away any wax ring residue left behind.
• Repairing flange with tools in your toolbox if there is any damage.
• Fix the washer with a bolt to hold it in place on the flange
• Fix the wax ring on the flange directly.

Position the toilet

• Lifting the toilet so that the flange holes fit the closet bolts.
• Press the toilet firmly to the floor and place a level around the sides of the toilet bowl rim to make it level.
• Align it with a toilet ship if it is not levelled or you can use stainless steel washers or pennies under the toilet to align it.
• Fix the nylon and regular washers that came with the toilet on the closet bolts and tighten them. Make sure you use bolt caps, and you should be careful of overtightening to prevent the porcelain from cracking.

Attaching a water supply line to the toilet

• Attaching the connector at the bottom of the toilet tank to the water supply line with an adjustable wrench. You may not need to wrap the thread water line with a Teflon tape if you are using toilet supply line with rubber gaskets.
• Allowing the water into the tank by opening the supply valve. Flush the toilet, check if there is any leakage and fix it

I hope this eductive piece has been of help to you. You can contact Emergency Plumber Islington if you need further clarification.