Removing a toilet permanently is a promising and cost-effective approach to eliminating an eyesore. Anyone may complete this procedure, whether your house is being condemned or you wish to rebuild the bathroom. Toilets may be removed for various reasons, including replacement due to corrosion or fixture concerns, or even renovating and wanting to give your bathroom a makeover.
Whatever the cause, efforts may be taken to ensure that the toilet is removed correctly and securely. Removing a bathroom is a reasonably straightforward procedure that anybody can do. Ensure you have all of the required equipment and materials before you begin.
Can You Permanently Remove a Toilet Yourself?
Yes. DIY toilet removal is a great way to save money and learn more about your home. But it’s not suitable for everyone. If you’re not comfortable working on plumbing systems, it’s best to hire a plumber.
Some parts of your toilet are easily accessible, which means you can remove them without too much trouble. However, replacing these parts yourself requires special tools and skills that most people don’t have. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it’s wise to call in a professional.
You might think that only the toilet tank needs to be replaced if it has broken down. But if there is also a leaky flapper or broken fill valve, then the entire toilet needs replacing — including the bowl itself.
Even if you’re confident about your ability to replace parts of your toilet yourself, some things aren’t worth the hassle of trying to fix yourself:
10 Steps to Permanently Remove a Toilet
Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or replacing a broken toilet, removing one can be a little intimidating. If you’re not careful, you may damage the floor and wall behind the toilet. To make sure that doesn’t happen, follow these 10 steps to remove a toilet:
1. Turn Off The Water
Turn off the main water valve for your toilet and ensure that no water remains in the tank or bowl. If there is any water remaining in either, drain it out by flushing your toilet. You can also use a hose to drain any remaining water from the tank if you don’t want to flush it yourself.
2. Remove The Toilet Seat And Cover
Use a screwdriver or other flat tool to pry off the toilet seat and cover. Be careful not to damage them, as they may be difficult or impossible to replace if broken or cracked. Remove any screws holding them in place and set them aside in a safe place where you won’t lose them.
3. Drain Water Out of the Tank by Flushing
Drain the water out of the tank. To do this, flush the toilet once and then turn off the water supply valve at the bottom of the tank. It’s essential to keep in mind that flushing with this valve turned off will result in a messier toilet once you’re done removing it. Open up a nearby window or door to allow some fresh air inside so that any smells don’t linger.
4. Unbolt and Remove the Toilet.
You should first unplug the pipes under the sink and turn off any water valves connected to your toilet. Next, use a wrench to loosen the nuts on the bolts holding the toilet in place. Pull up on each side of the toilet until it comes out of its seat, and then pull up on it until it falls into your tub or trash can.
5. Clean the Bowl and Tank
After removing all of your parts from your old toilet, clean both the bowl and tank thoroughly inside and out with hot water and mild dish soap before moving on. This way, any debris leftover from installation or previous repairs won’t interfere with new repairs in later steps, making things easier for you later on down the road. Also, if there is any rust on either part, this step will remove it before installing a new toilet seat onto your new replacement unit later on down this list of actions!
6. The Toilet Flange Must Be Removed
The first step in removing your toilet is to remove the gasket (c-shaped ring) that goes around the base of your toilet. This will allow you to expose the bolts holding it in place and make it easier to remove the toilet from its base.
To remove the gasket:
- Place a screwdriver into one side of it, prying it out carefully so that you don’t scratch up your bathroom floor.
- Use a second screwdriver to pry out the other side of the gasket from underneath.
- If there is still resistance, try using pliers or another tool as leverage to get a better grip on it.
7. Setup a Temporary Outlet
Once you’ve removed both sides of the gasket and tossed them in the garbage can, it’s time to install your temporary plug. All you need is some silicone caulk (available at any hardware store) and a knife or scissors to cut off some excess material if necessary.
Prepare yourself by wearing rubber gloves to avoid accidentally getting any caulk on yourself while working with it!
8. Determine Which Drain Cap Is Necessary
The first step is to determine what kind of cap you need. There are two different types: permanent caps and cleanouts. A permanent cap is used when no plumbing is connected to the toilet. A cleanout is used when there is still a pipe going into the toilet and will allow access if repairs are needed in the future. You’ll know if you have a cleanout because there will be a small hole near the drain connecting with the pipe coming from your house’s mainline.
9. Install a Cleanout or a Permanent Cap
A cleanout is a pipe that runs from your sewer line into your house, usually through a basement floor or in the wall behind your toilet. If you have an older home, it’s possible that your sewer line doesn’t have one yet, but you can install one yourself with some essential plumbing tools. Make sure you choose a location where it won’t be visible after installation. You may also consider installing a permanent cap over your sewer line if there’s no room for a cleanout.
10. Call the Pros if You Still Have Problems
If you’ve installed both of these steps and still have problems with clogs or backups, call a professional plumber for help! They’ll be able to diagnose what’s wrong and fix it quickly so that you don’t have to worry about another clogged toilet anytime soon!
Precautions to Take
Before beginning, there are several things you should avoid doing when removing your toilet:
- When you’re ready to remove your toilet, there are a few things to avoid. Don’t use harsh chemicals or abrasives to clean the tank and bowl. These chemicals can damage the porcelain and cause future leaks.
- Do not use a hammer to remove any parts of your toilet. This will damage them, making it harder for you to put them back together again when installing a new toilet.
- Do not use an electric saw to cut through floor tile or other materials on top of or beneath the existing toilet. Instead, use a reciprocating saw to cut through these materials more efficiently and safely.
- Do not attempt to remove the entire toilet seal with one piece since this can cause leaks in other places in your home once you have installed your new toilet.
- Don’t use a plunger or an auger to clear the clog if your toilet is leaking. These will only push the clog deeper into the pipes and make matters worse in the long run.
Conclusion
Getting rid of that old toilet is easier than you think. When it comes time to replace your old toilet, there are many ways to do it. Some people prefer to get rid of the old one and install a new one. Others like to keep the old one until they find a good deal on a new one, at which point they can trade them out at once. And others wait until their existing toilet becomes so bad that they have no choice but to fix it — or replace it — immediately.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.