You have decided it’s time to replace the toilet. You are not looking forward to the job, so you are seriously considering hiring a plumber. Bringing in professional help isn’t a bad option. But if you cannot afford the bill, DIY replacement is possible.
There may be a limited number of municipalities that require toilet replacement to be handled by a licensed plumber. But they would be the exception to the rule. In most cases, toilet replacement is a fairly benign job homeowners can do by themselves.
In Utah, Superior Water & Air provides all sorts of plumbing repairs and installations. They replace toilets. They also recommend that homeowners with little to no DIY skills bring in a professional to handle the job. Those with moderate skills can go ahead and try it on their own.
You Need the Right Tools
Assuming you have moderate DIY skills and you don’t mind plumbing, you will need to start the toilet replacement job by assembling the right tools. In addition to the new toilet itself, you are going to need:
- New toilet bolts
- Water tubing and connections
- A new wax ring
- Plumber’s tape
- Silicone caulk
Take a look in your toolbox as well. You’re going to need all the usual suspects: utility knife, screwdriver, adjustable or pipe wrench, putty knife, and measuring tape. Also keep a bucket and some old rags on hand. The job could get messy.
Superior W&A says some plumbers recommend investing in new flange reinforcement and flange height adjustment kits. They say it’s also a good idea to invest in an extra wax ring to keep on hand – just in case the toilet begins leaking around the floor a few years down the road.
The Basic Replacement Process
Assuming that you won’t have to modify the actual plumbing that goes into the toilet, replacement is fairly simple, at least in principle. A homeowner with moderate DIY skills should be able to complete the job in an hour or so.
Note that your existing toilet is secured to the floor with bolts. Depending on the age of your existing installation, the bolts might still be usable. You have replacement bolts just in case they aren’t.
Removing the old toilet is a simple matter of disconnecting the water line, undoing the bolts, and lifting the toilet up. You may need a pry bar to break it loose from the floor. If all goes well, the old toilet will lift the existing wax ring along with it.
Reverse the Process for Installation
Installing the new toilet involves reversing the process you just completed. You apply the new wax ring, set the toilet in place, and tighten down the bolts. Then you reconnect the water line and try everything out.
There may be more steps depending on the current state of your existing installation. For instance, you may have to apply plumber’s tape to the connection between the water line and the toilet. It’s pretty simple to do.
You might also want to wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear while removing the old toilet. You never know what could come flying out of the unit while you’re pulling it up. Those rags you kept on hand will plug up the discharge, protecting your house as you carry the toilet outdoors for disposal.
It’s Your Call
Do you need a professional plumber to replace your toilet? It is your call. Companies like Superior W&A are more than happy to take care of it for you. But if you want to try it on your own, toilet replacement isn’t particularly hard.