Need to remove your toilet but don’t know where to start? In this article we’ll share 8 steps to remove your toilet from the bathroom.
You’ll be pleased to know it’s an easy process. The hardest part is unscrewing a few bolts but the most important part of the process is turning off and disconnecting the water.
Don’t forget to use the plunger to get extra water out of the bowl.
You can remove your toilet using household tools and we’ve shared them below. You’ll also want to use cardboard or a towel to minimize contact of the toilet with your floor.
Be sure to watch the video below that provides a visual walk-through. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Turn Off The Water Valve
Before you begin messing with the toilet make sure the water to the toilet is turned off. To do this you don’t need to turn off water to the whole house, instead, there is a valve at the back of the toilet that shuts off water to the toilet.
Turn this valve clockwise. Usually it’s easy to turn but sometimes, especially if it’s a really old toilet, it will be hard to turn.
If turning with your hand is tough, you can use Ridgid’s faucet and sink installer. The tool fits around the handle and provides much more leverage for easier turning (can also turn with wrench if you have adequate space).
Step 2: Flush The Toilet (And Hold Down The Handle)
The reason we turned off the water valve is to stop water filling the toilet. But we also need to remove water already in the toilet.
Flush the toilet and while doing-so hold down the handle so the tank empties completely. At this point you should have removed the lid of the tank and you can see how much water remains.
If desired, you can use a plastic container to scoop excess water out of the tank – the less water the better.
Now that the tank is empty, you want to continue water removal from the bowl. See below.
Step 3: Use A Plunger To Force Out Excess Water
Most people have a few plungers lying around the house. Plungers come in all shapes and sizes and some are made for sinks while others are made for toilets.
A toilet plunger has an extra lip to provide more suction (see photo). Make sure to use a plunger for the toilet – it will create a better suction to force out water.
Even if you don’t see much water in the toilet bowl water is likely in the toilet “trap area”. You can’t see the trap but it’s where water and waste go as it exits the toilet into the sewage line.
Use the toilet plunger to force out as much as possible. 5-10 pumps with the plunger should suffice.
If you neglect this step you’ll likely have water coming out of the toilet when you remove it and water will discharge on your floor.
Step 4: Remove Supply Line
The supply line connects the water line from the house to your toilet. In order to remove the toilet, you’ll need to disconnect the water supply line. This is relatively easy.
There are two sides to the supply line. 1 side connects to the wall (where the valve is) and the other side connects to the toilet tank.
You’ll disconnect from the tank side. Use channel locks or another tool that helps with grip and twist counterclockwise to remove the supply line.
If you’re being extra careful with water spills, keep a small bucket under the water supply line as you remove it. It will hold a small amount of water that will spill out once removed.
Step 5: Remove The Nuts Holding The Toilet Down
What make a toilet stay in one place? 1) A toilet is pretty heavy so it’s hard to move and 2) There are strong bolts that hold the base of the toilet in place.
To find the bolts on the base of the toilet look for small white coverings. You might have to remove the covers on the base of the toilet. These can be taken off relatively easy and you’ll find the nut and bolt underneath.
Use an adjustable socket wrench to grip the nut. Turn the socket counterclockwise to unscrew the nut. It might take a while but it should come right off.
FYI: Occasionally the bolt will turn with the nut and not unscrew. If you have problems removing might have to use a hacksaw blade to cut the bolt off.
If you use a hacksaw, cut under the nut – this will take a while too but you can cut through with a little effort.
Step 6: Check For Caulking Around The Toilet
Sometimes homeowners and plumbers will put white caulking around the base of the toilet to create a good seal and prevent pests like ants from moving through the cracks. Caulking can also help the base of the toilet blend in seamlessly with the floor.
You can see and feel for caulking – it looks like toothpaste and feels like rubber. If you recognize caulking around the toilet use a razorblade to cut it around the toilet. You can also just rip the caulking off when you pick up the toilet but cutting it first helps!
Step 7: Pick Up The Toilet and Remove
Place an old towel or piece of cardboard on the floor next to the toilet. Because toilets are big and heavy you don’t want to drag them across the floor.
They can scrape the floor and damage wood or tile so be extra careful. It’s best to have someone to help you with moving the toilet – be prepared to have some water leak out when you move it.
Once you’ve moved the toilet to the side, check the pluming in the floor and wall to make sure everything is good and all lines are disconnected.
Step 8: Place In the Garage And Prepare For Disposal
Lastly you’ll want to get the toilet out of the house. Tilt the toilet different directions to make sure the water is removed. Then pick up and carefully exit the bathroom – be mindful of the door frame.
Place the toilet on a towel or cardboard in the garage or backyard. You can store it there until you figure out what to do with it later. We wrote about a lot of options for disposing of your toilet.
Conclusion
Removing your toilet from the bathroom will take some planning but it’s not too difficult. In fact, it’s relatively easy. You’ll need a few tools including:
- Wrench
- Razor blade (optional)
- Socket wrench
- Hacksaw (possibly)
- Plunger
- Ridgid faucet wrench (optional)
- Elbow grease
The steps are easy to follow and the main thing to consider is make sure the water is turned off then removed from the toilet. The rest of the process requires some untightening, twisting, and lifting. When you lift the toilet make sure to use your legs – it puts less pressure on your back!
We hope this article answered your question about removing an old toilet from the bathroom. Toilets rarely need to be removed but occasionally the porcelain breaks or it’s time for a remodel.
A big reason people are removing their old toilet is to replace them with a water wise toilet. We salute you if you’re trying to reduce water consumption. Old toilets use so much unnecessary water!
Visit our homepage for more information, how-to, and the best toilet products! Thanks for visiting.