5 Signs You Need a Toilet Replacement and How to Install a New One

The toilet is part of the bathroom, and it is essential to have a good and efficient bathroom for the facilitated comfort of the home. Despite this, the toilet may become old or develop faults that may prompt the homeowner to seek a new toilet installation. In this guide, you will learn about the major signs that you will require the services of a professional or to install a new toilet by yourself.

When Should You Replace Your Toilet?

Here are five key signs to replace the toilet:

Clogs and Overflow Occur With High Regularity

If your system clogs every time, even when utilized for normal usage, then it means the system is bad and requires replacement. Sometimes it is normal to experience clogs in your toilet, while at other times constant blockage suggests the toilet’s parts are breaking down and one needs to look for a new toilet.

Dishes and Bowls Cracks or Chips

These are difficult-to-discover ones; they begin to cause leakage, which can result in water damage to your bathroom floor. If there is water accumulation in the floor surrounding the toilet base, then it is an indication that there is probably a crack in the toilet. Any crack on the surface, no matter how small, can expand and widen after some time, causing a lot of harm.

Constant Running Water 

Water that continues to flow after a flush may be due to a worn-out flapper, fill valve, or float. If your toilet often encounters this problem, even though the above parts can be replaced, it is more economical in terms of water and electricity to change the whole toilet.

Swiveling or Lurching Toilet

If you try to sit on the toilet or it feels like it is moving around, it means that the wax ring may have worn out or the bolts holding the toilet down may be loose. Even though a loose toilet could possibly be fixed, a number of times it shows various other underlying issues, which make replacing the best thing to do.

Age and Inefficiency 

Flushing volumes in old toilets are normally much higher compared to those used in today’s low-flow toilets. If your toilet was installed more than 20 years ago, it might be using far more water than what is required. By replacing it with a new one, which is a high-efficiency toilet, one will experience fewer water bills as well as lower his or her impact on the environment.

How to Select the Appropriate Toilet for Your Washroom

When selecting a new toilet for your bathroom, it’s important to consider several factors:

Size and Shape: Check the dimensions of your new toilet at the rough-in distance—the distance between the wall and the bolts of the toilet. There are round bowl toilets and elongated bowl toilets, and people should choose what they consider most convenient for their washrooms.

Water Efficiency: WaterSense-labeled toilets should also be used because they are developed to use less water but with the same efficiency. Another product that is good for water use is the dual-flush toilets.

Style and Design: They can even be one-piece or two-piece models. One-piece toilets require less maintenance than two-piece ones and are normally more attractive; two-piece ones, then again, are cheaper and less demanding in terms of shipment.

How to Remove Your Old Toilet

For new toilet installation, it is necessary to remove the old one. Follow these steps for a smooth removal:

Turn Off the Water Supply: Look for the valve stem behind the toilet and shut off the water supply. Open the lid of the toilet and pour water into the toilet bowl to drain the water out. Use a sponge or towel to wipe the interior of the toilet tank and the bowl.

Disconnect the Water Supply Line: The flow of water from the supply line located at the base of the toilet tank should be shut down through an adjustable wrench.

Remove the Bolts: To do this, loosen the bolts sitting at the base of the toilet by turning them in a clockwise direction.

Lift and Remove the Toilet: Make sure the toilet sits on higher ground while lifting it and placing it on the floor.

Clean the Flange: Remove the old wax ring from the flange on the floor and make sure that the surface is clean for the new installation.

Toilet Installation: A Step-by-Step Process

Don’t know how to install a toilet? We got you! Now that the old toilet is removed, you can begin the new toilet installation:

Install a New Wax Ring: Put a fresh wax ring onto the flange just as it was removed.

Position the Toilet: With great caution, place the new toilet on the flange, observing the position of the bolts fixed on the base of the toilet. Finally, when the toilet is in position, ensure that you apply maximum pressure to the wax ring.

Secure the Toilet: Screw the bolts to fix the toilet to the floor firmly. It is important not to overtighten as this unit consists of porcelain, and overtightening can cause the porcelain to crack.

Reconnect the Water Supply Line: Fit the water inlet valve to the new toilet properly by hand and turn the nut with the use of a wrench.

How to seal and do a leakage test on your new toilet

After the new toilet is in place, it’s crucial to seal and test it for leaks.

Apply Caulk Around the Base: Apply silicone caulk around the base of the toilet where the base of the toilet touches the ground.

Turn on the water supply: Gradually open the water supply valve and let the tank be full. Look to see if there are any signs of a leak near the base of the filter and at the joint of the water supply inlet.

Test the Flush: Try to close the lid and flush it several times to test properly.

Following the above guide will enable you to confidently carry out toilet replacement and new toilet installation in your bathroom.