The Basics of Replacing a Toilet Part- 1

You may be surprised that replacing a new toilet is actually not that hard. As long as you are installing it in the same place, you will not need a professionals help in most cases. This is a short primer. You should always read the instructions before installing.

Besides the code requirements for a new toilet, the main dimension to consider is the roughing-in size which is the distance from the wall to the center of the drain pipe.

You can usually determine this without removing the bowl. Just measure from the wall to the center of the two hold-down bolts that secure the bowl to the floor. The Rouging distance for the new toilet may be shorter than the old fixture, but it can be no longer or the toilet won’t fit.

Ideally you should pick out a model that is ready to install and has a flush mechanism already in the tank. With the toilet you will get the necessary gaskets, washers and hardware for fitting the tank to the bowl, but you may need to buy hold down bolts and a wax gasket.

You should also buy a can of plumbers putty to secure the toilet base to the floor and caps for the hold down bolts. You may also want to get a shutoff valve if the toilet did not come with one.

Master Faucet Products Installation Guide