5 Tips for Removing a Toilet
Whether your about to begin a full bathroom remodel, or a simply changing out your toilet or replacing your toilets wax ring, there are 3 steps that you should follow to minimize your risk of making a mess.
#1 Clean the toilet
This should seem like a no-brainer, but its not. Often we get so focused on getting the project done, that we don’t think about the easy steps that can make the process so much more tolerable.
If you haven’t completed this type of project before please be aware that this is probably the most up close and personal you will ever get with your toilet. Why do I say this? Because your toilet doesn’t have handles or corners, and the weight of the toilet is not evenly distributed.
Toilets are awkward
These characteristics make the toilet very awkward to handle. As a result there is very good chance that you will find yourself hold all or at least part of your toilet close to your body in order to better control it and move it to where you want it to go. With that said, wouldn’t you want to make sure its clean before you begin?
Use your toilet bowl cleaner and scrub brush to give the interior of the commode a good once over. Take the time to wipe down the exterior of the toilet. This should include cleaning the seat, the cover, as well as the base of the toilet, the front, back and sides. Also, take time to clean the areas where the toilet is bolted to the floor. This is usually an area where lots of grossness tends to build up.
Removing Toilet Bolts
Remember that you are going to have to loosen the bolts from the floor and there is no other way to access these locations other than to stick your hands down there. And guess what? You’re going to have to get your face pretty close to this area in order to get any work done. I definitely recommend gloves if you have them. Nothing heavy duty is necessary, a pair of run-of-the-mill latex gloves should do the trick.
#2 Turn off the water
Now, I know what you are thinking. And, I know that it goes without saying that you will need to turn off the water at the shutoff valve next to the commode. However, as an added precaution, it’s a good idea to turn off the water inside the house as well.
Why? I’m glad you asked. The reason is simple: Most toilet shutoff valves NEVER get used. Meaning that the moving parts inside the shutoff valve sit in the same position for years and years, until the day that you decide that you want to remove your toilet. There is a pretty good chance that even after you turn the valve to the off position that the valve will not completely stop all the water from coming out of the water supply line. Shutting off the water further down the line gives you another layer of security. If you are working in a home that you are not familiar with, you probably don’t know the condition of the plumbing supply lines.
Toilet Water Supply Lines
Plumbing supply lines made of certain materials, such as PVC and CPVP, are more likely to become brittle over the years. The nature of turning the shutoff valve does require you to apply a twisting force on the valve. In some scenarios, this twisting force could cause the pipe to crack or break.
If the water line in the house is fully pressurized and you have a break occur, you will immediately have gallons and gallons of water coming out of the broken pipe. You haven’t lived UNTIL you’ve had this happen to you. Water will literally go everywhere and the space will immediately begin to flood.
At that point you’re going to have to find the shut off, and hopefully you know where it is and you have the tools to turn it off! If it’s not possible for you to turn off the water supply to the house, then be extremely careful as you unscrew the toilet water line from the toilet and pay close attention for signs that the line is not holding.
Keep a bucket handy
Usually, the water will begin to spill out or drip as you unscrew the waterline. After the initial loosening, you will be able to determine how bad it’s going to leak. You may be able to work around a minor leak by catching the water in a bucket or something similar. Oh, and don’t forget to flush as much of the water out of the tank and bowl as possible.
#3 Get a second set of hands or take the toilet apart.
The weight of the toilet is not evenly distributed and its not lightweight. This makes very awkward to carry. If you can find someone to help you carry the toilet out, then it’s definitely worth the inconvenience. If you can’t get any help and you are comfortable braving it on your own, you can eliminate some of the weight and awkwardness by removing the water closet from the toilet. It’s typically held together with two bolts. Depending on the age and condition of the bolts, you may or may not be able to easily remove them.
#4 Bag the toilet.
If the bathroom that you are working in is inside of a finished space take extra care to avoid spills. You want to ensure that you don’t make a mess as you transport your old toilet out to the curb or to the back of your vehicle for disposal. One easy way to do this is to bag up your toilet in contractor trash bags. Contractor trash bags are larger and much tougher and thicker than you standard kitchen trash bags. They also do a good job of keeping liquids inside. Carefully set you toilet inside your contractor bag, tie it off, and walk it out.
#5 Plug the sewer waste drain
Once you remove the toilet from the floor take an old rag and push into gently into the top of the opening in the floor. The rag will help keep sewer gases and odors from escaping from the waste line.
Conclusion
The difficulty level on this project can vary. If the bathroom was built in the last 20 years or so, the toilet replacement should be pretty straight forward. The older the property is, the higher the likelihood that you could run into something unexpected. Normally you will need to repair or address these unexpected issues in order to complete your toilet installation. Give yourself plenty of time to complete this project and if possible, identify someone that you can call to ask questions should a problem arise during your project. Good Luck, and stay safe.