Ella Walter
Fitting a new toilet pan is a challenging task, but with careful planning, the right tools, and a step-by-step guide, it can be completed without professional help. This job requires measuring, drilling, and plumbing, so it's important to be prepared and follow safety precautions. Whether you're replacing an old toilet or installing a new one, you'll need to disconnect the water supply, remove the existing toilet, and then install the new pan and cistern, ensuring a watertight seal and secure connections. Let's dive into the details and explore the process of fitting a toilet pan.
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What You'll Learn
Removing the old toilet
Before you begin, make sure you have all the tools and materials you need. As well as a new toilet, you will need a supply of old towels, an old washing-up bowl, a bucket, etc.
To remove the old toilet, start by switching off the water supply to your toilet. You can do this by turning off the cistern supply or switching off your home’s water supply at the mains. Take off the cistern lid and flush the toilet to make sure the supply is off. Next, remove the screws from the existing toilet base. Gently ease the toilet away from the pipework to the rear. Cap off the soil pipe to prevent any odours. Bear in mind that toilets can be quite heavy, so have assistance nearby if you need it.
If your old toilet has an outlet underneath, remove the soil cover and add a new wax ring. If your toilet seat is secured by bolts, use a screwdriver to unscrew them, then lift the seat away. If the bolts are rusty or difficult to remove, apply some lubricant. If your toilet seat is wobbly, check the bolts underneath and tighten them with a screwdriver.
Once the old toilet has been removed, carefully inspect your new toilet or suite before installing it. You don't want to discover a fault, crack, or missing part when your bathroom is out of action.
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Preparing the new toilet
Preparing a new toilet for installation requires careful planning and preparation. Here are the steps you need to take:
Unbox and Inspect the New Toilet
Before removing your old toilet, carefully unbox and inspect your new toilet for any faults, cracks, or missing parts. Most new toilets come in two separate packages: the cistern and the pan. Make sure you have all the necessary parts and identify any specific instructions for assembling them.
Gather Tools and Materials
In addition to your new toilet, you'll need a supply of old towels, a bucket or washing-up bowl, and any necessary tools for installation, such as a screwdriver, drill, and a pipe and cable detector.
Disconnect the Old Toilet
Start by turning off the water supply to your old toilet. You can do this by shutting off the cistern supply or switching off the home's water supply at the mains. Remove the screws from the existing toilet base and gently ease the toilet away from the pipework at the rear. Cap off the soil pipe to prevent any odours from escaping.
Prepare the Area
Use a cable and pipe detector to check for hidden obstructions in the walls or floors before drilling. If your cistern has fixing holes, mark their positions on the wall with a pencil. If your toilet has an outlet underneath, remove the soil cover and add a new wax ring.
Install the Cistern and Pan
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to assemble and install the cistern and pan. Fit the flushing mechanism to the cistern, ensuring that all seals and gaskets are in place to prevent leaks. Line up the toilet in position and mark the holes on the wall where the cistern will connect. Drill pilot holes, and then drill with a suitable bit, using the appropriate drill bits and wall plugs for the surface.
Connect the Water Supply
Reconnect the water supply to the rear of the toilet, being careful not to tighten it too much. This will allow for easy disconnection in case of emergencies or leaks. Wrap PTFE tape around the water inlet threads before reconnecting.
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Connecting the cistern to the wall
First, ensure the cistern is level. Use a spirit level to check if the cistern is straight. If it is not level, adjust it by adding packers underneath until it is straight. Next, mark the fixing holes on the wall. If your cistern has fixing holes, use a pencil to mark their position on the wall. This will be where the cistern connects to the wall.
Before drilling, it is essential to check for hidden obstructions such as pipes or cables. Use a cable and pipe detector to avoid accidentally drilling into any hidden pipes or cables. Once you have confirmed it is safe to drill, mark the fixing points and drill pilot holes. If you are drilling into concrete, use a masonry drill bit and appropriate wall plugs.
Now you can attach the cistern to the wall. Lift the cistern into position, lining up the drilled holes with the fixing holes in the cistern. Insert the long fixing bolts through the holes in the cistern, using the supplied rubber and large metal washers. Secure the cistern by tightening the bolts with an impact driver. Ensure the bolts are tight, but be careful not to over-tighten them.
Finally, reconnect the water supply. Reconnect the incoming water supply to the rear of the toilet. Do this carefully, and avoid tightening it too much. This will allow for easy disconnection if needed in the future.
By following these steps, you will successfully connect the cistern to the wall, ensuring a secure and functional installation.
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Securing the pan to the floor
First, ensure that the toilet is connected to the soil pipe. You can do this by fitting the pan connector to the soil pipe and then pushing the piped part of the back of the toilet into the pan connector. This will allow you to secure the pan to the floor effectively.
Next, use a spirit level to check if the pan is level. If it is not, adjust it by adding packers underneath the pan until it is level. This step is important to ensure the toilet is stable and does not wobble. Mark the floor where the holes are, and then disconnect the toilet and place it upside down. This marking will guide you on where to drill the holes to fix the pan to the floor.
Now, you can drill the holes in the floor. If you are drilling into a solid floor, use a hammer-action drill to make the holes and then plug them. If your toilet has L-shaped brackets, fix these to the floor and then screw the bolts into the brackets from the outside. This will secure the pan to the floor.
After drilling the holes, push plastic protective inserts through the holes in the base of the pan. These inserts will protect the bolts and provide a stable base for the toilet. Insert the retaining screws through the inserts and into the floor. Tighten these screws securely, but be careful not to over-tighten, as this can crack the toilet pan.
Finally, cover the screws with the provided caps. This will hide the screws and give your toilet a neat, finished look. Once the pan is secured to the floor, you can install the flexi-pipe and connect it to the cold water supply and the toilet inlet valve.
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Final checks and adjustments
Once the toilet is connected to the soil pipe, you need to secure it to the floor. Screw each bolt halfway to begin with, and then tighten each one carefully. It is important not to over-tighten these bolts as they can crack the toilet pan. Some toilets have two or four screws that go into the floor, while some have L-shaped brackets fixed to the floor and hidden inside the toilet base. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for securing your toilet to the floor.
After securing the toilet to the floor, you can install the flexi pipe. Connect it to the cold water supply and into the toilet inlet valve. Then, install the toilet lid. Place the flush through the appropriate hole on the lid and apply the nut at the bottom of the flush mechanism. Tighten the nut by hand until it is secure. Once tight, place the lid on the toilet and check that the flush button is working.
Now, you can connect the toilet seat. Start by connecting the hinges to the seat and securing it to the pan using the provided fixings. Once fitted, apply a final line of silicone sealant around the base of the toilet for a polished look. Check that the toilet seat is adjusted to sit in the correct position.
Finally, turn the water supply back on and test your toilet to make sure everything is working and that there are no leaks.
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Frequently asked questions
First, remove the screws from the existing toilet base and lift the seat away. Then, gently ease the toilet away from the pipework to the rear. Cap off the soil pipe to prevent any odours.
You will need a new toilet, an old washing up bowl, bucket, old towels, a screwdriver, a spirit level, a drill, a flexible hose, a supply of silicone sealant, and PTFE tape.
Insert the long fixing bolts through the holes in the cistern, using the supplied washers. Lift the cistern onto the pan so that the bolts fit through the holes. Fit washers to the connecting bolts and tighten the wing nuts.
Once your pan connector is fitted to the soil pipe, push the piped part of the back of your toilet into the pan connector. Mark the holes on the wall where the cistern will connect, then drill holes in the wall. Reposition the toilet and screw the cistern into place.
Remove the lid to the cistern and disconnect the water supply. Lift the cistern away from the pan. When flushing, you will see the mechanisms and the items that need to be replaced. Install the new mechanism and ensure the seal is fully sealed when the cistern is placed back on top of the pan.
