Marianne Martinez
Removing a toilet pan is a relatively simple task that can be done without professional help. Before removing the toilet, it is important to drain the toilet bowl and tank of water. This can be done by flushing the toilet and soaking up the remaining water with a sponge. You can also use a plunger to remove water from the bowl, or siphoning with a hose. Once the toilet is drained, disconnect the water supply line and the toilet connector tube. Remove the mounting bolts and lift the toilet bowl, placing it on its side on a towel. If the toilet is cemented to the floor, use a cold chisel to free it. After removing the toilet, clean the area and seal the drain hole with a rag to prevent sewer gas from entering your home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Relatively simple for DIYers, but heavy lifting may require assistance |
| Tools | Protective gear, cleaning products, gloves, eyewear, old blanket, rags, toilet cleaner, sponge, mop, bucket, hacksaw, wrench, utility knife, chain pipe cutter |
| Steps | 1. Turn off the water supply. 2. Flush the toilet to drain water. 3. Disconnect the water supply line, overflow pipe, and flush pipe. 4. Remove remaining water with a sponge or siphoning. 5. Unscrew mounting nuts and bolts. 6. Rock the toilet to break the wax seal. 7. Remove the wax ring and clean the floor. 8. Install a new wax ring. 9. Reassemble and connect the water supply. |
| Disposal | Contact local waste management, Public Works centers, junkyards, upcycling stores, or charities for pickup/reuse |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the area and yourself
Before you begin, make sure you have the right tools and protective gear. You will need protective gloves and eyewear, an old blanket or rags, toilet cleaner, a sponge, a mop, a bucket, a spanner, a hacksaw, and a cold chisel. It is also recommended to have a strong buddy to help with lifting the old toilet out.
Clear the area around the toilet to make space for working and placing your tools and bucket. Place an old blanket or rags on the floor under the toilet to soak up any remaining water and to protect the floor from getting dirty.
Turn off the water supply at the shut-off valve, which is usually located on the wall behind the toilet but may be installed on the floor instead. Flush the toilet as many times as needed to empty the tank and bowl. Use a sponge to absorb any remaining water from the bottom of the tank and bowl, and squeeze the excess water into a bucket.
If your toilet is clogged, use a plunger to remove the clog and flush the toilet again. You can also try pouring hot water down the toilet to help break up clogs, but be careful not to use boiling water as it can damage the piping and porcelain.
Now that the toilet is drained, you can begin the process of disconnecting the water supply line and removing the toilet pan.
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Turn off the water supply
Before you start removing the toilet pan, you need to turn off the water supply. This is done by locating the shutoff valve and turning it clockwise until it stops. The shutoff valve is usually on the wall behind the toilet, but it can sometimes be installed on the floor.
Once the water supply is turned off, you can flush the toilet to send any remaining water in the bowl and tank down the drain. You may need to flush multiple times to empty the tank and bowl completely. If the toilet is clogged, you can use a plunger to remove the clog and force out the water.
After flushing, there may still be some water left in the tank and bowl. Use a sponge or small bowl to absorb and remove this excess water. You can also use a wet/dry vac or a handheld pump to remove the remaining water. Be sure to have a bucket or towel nearby to collect any standing water that may drain from the line.
Now that the water supply is turned off and the toilet is empty, you can proceed to disconnect the water supply line and remove the toilet connector tube at the shutoff valve. If you have a two-piece toilet, you will need to separate and remove the toilet tank before proceeding with removing the toilet bowl.
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Drain the toilet
Draining a toilet is a necessary first step when removing it and replacing it with a new model. It is important to note that simply bailing out the water at the bottom of the toilet is not enough, as you must also remove the water from the trap (a hidden cavity below the bowl). However, there are several methods at your disposal for draining a toilet, such as plunging, bailing, siphoning, and force flushing.
Firstly, turn off the water supply by locating the shutoff valve, which is usually a small knob or small valve with an oval-shaped handle at the toilet's base. Turn the knob or handle clockwise until it stops. Next, flush the toilet, holding the flush lever until the tank is as empty as possible. If your toilet is clogged, try the plunging method first. Place the flange of a toilet plunger into the drain hole in the bottom of the bowl and plunge with an up-and-down motion to remove most of the water. Flush the toilet again and use a sponge to soak up any remaining water in the tank and bowl.
Alternatively, you can use a siphoning method to drain the toilet. This requires a short, flexible hose. Wear waterproof gloves and dip one end of the hose into the toilet bowl, directing the other end into a bucket placed on the floor. Ensure that the bucket end is lower than the water surface in the bowl. Release your thumbs from both ends of the hose and the water will drain as long as the bowl end is submerged.
Another method is force flushing, which involves pouring 3 gallons (11 litres) of water into the bowl to force the water through the drain. Lift the toilet lid and slowly pour the water into the bowl, lifting the bucket as you pour. This will draw the water out of the bowl. Finally, use a sponge, wet vac, or turkey baster to remove any remaining water from the tank and bowl.
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Disconnect the toilet
Disconnecting a toilet is a two-stage process. First, the tank, then the bowl.
Before you begin, it is important to clean the floor and toilet pan with disinfectant and flush. Place a blanket or old rags on the floor under the toilet to prevent the floor from getting dirty and to soak up any remaining water.
Turn off the shutoff valve on the water supply line. Flush the toilet as many times as needed to empty the tank and bowl. Use a sponge to dry any excess water from the tank and bowl. Disconnect the toilet connector tube at the shutoff valve. Have a bucket or towel nearby to collect any standing water that may drain from the line. Disconnect the connector tube at the toilet tank.
If you have a two-piece toilet, separate and remove the toilet tank. The tank is held onto the bowl with mounting bolts. There will be two or three mounting bolts: one on each side of the tank and sometimes one in the middle. Use a ratchet wrench or basin wrench to remove the nuts from the mounting bolts. Lift the tank carefully off the bowl and place it on a towel.
If you have a one-piece toilet, you can skip the previous step and move on to removing the toilet bowl. To do this, you will need to break the seal of the wax ring that seals the bottom of the toilet bowl to the toilet flange on the floor. Straddle the toilet and gently rock it from side to side to break the seal. Lift the bowl and lay it on its side on a towel.
Scrape away the old wax from the toilet flange and the bottom of the toilet with a paint scraper or putty knife. Dispose of the old wax in a bucket lined with a plastic bag. Clean the flange and horn with a stiff wire brush. Stuff a rag into the drain hole to prevent sewer gas from entering your home.
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Remove the wax ring
Before removing the wax ring, you must first remove the toilet. To do this without making a mess, have a bucket, sponge, and towels nearby to catch water drips when you turn off and disconnect the water supply line. Before replacing your toilet, ensure the water supply is shut off. Drain, dry, and then disconnect the water supply line from the bottom of the toilet tank. There will be a little water in the line, so have your bucket ready.
Remove the protective caps covering the bolts at the base of the toilet, then remove the nuts and washers from the bolts using an adjustable wrench. If the bolt spins while turning the nut, hold it with a separate pair of pliers. If you are not using new bolts, nuts, and washers, store the existing ones to avoid losing them.
Now, grab the toilet under the sides of the bowl and gently rock it back and forth to break the old wax seal. Lift the toilet off the floor and set it on a protective covering. If the toilet is caulked to the finished floor, score the caulking around the toilet base with a razor knife.
Finally, put on some gloves and use a putty knife to scrape the old wax seal off the toilet’s base and the pipe fitting in the floor, known as the toilet flange. Clean and dry the flange completely before preparing to install the new wax ring. If the flange appears dented or damaged, you might want to call a plumber for an assessment before proceeding.
Some wax rings are self-adhesive, and there may be small design differences among brands, so you should refer to the instructions on your packaging.
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Frequently asked questions
Before you start, make sure you have the right tools and safety gear. You'll need gloves and eyewear to protect yourself from debris and disinfectant. You'll also need a sponge, a mop, a bucket, a spanner, and a hacksaw. If your toilet pan is cemented to the floor, you'll need a cold chisel.
First, turn off the water supply at the shut-off valve. Flush the toilet to drain the water from the tank and bowl. Then, disconnect the toilet connector tube at the shut-off valve and the toilet tank.
If the mounting bolts are too damaged to be unscrewed, apply lubricating oil to loosen them. If this doesn't work, use a hacksaw to cut through the screw bolts.
Stand over the toilet and rock it gently from side to side to break the seal of wax. Then, lift the toilet pan and place it on a blanket or towel in an upright position.
Contact your local waste management company to see if they accept large items for pick-up. If your old toilet is in good condition, you can reach out to junkyards, upcycling stores, or charities that accept donations of building materials.
