- 1). Measure the distance from the wall behind the toilet to one of the floor bolts. If this distance, called the "rough in," equals 12 inches, you have a standard toilet and can use any standard toilet replacement. If this distance varies, you will have to purchase a special toilet with a rough-in equal to your measurement.
- 2). Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Locate the valve on the wall behind the toilet and turn it clockwise until it stops. Flush the toilet to remove any water from the tank and bowl. Use a sponge to soak up any water that remains in the bowl or tank.
- 3). Remove the two or three bolts underneath the tank that connect the tank and the bowl. You may need a wrench to get these bolts free. Unscrew the water supply line as well. The line should have a plastic connector on the underside of the tank that you can unscrew by hand. Lift up on the tank to remove it from the bowl.
- 4). Pry off the bolt covers on the base of the toilet bowl, then use your wrench to remove the bolts. Most toilets will have two bolts, although some may have four. Once the bolts are free, rock the bowl from side to side to crack the seal at the bottom of the bowl, then ift up on the toilet bowl to remove it from the basement floor.
- 5). Remove any remaining putty around the drain with a putty knife. Plug the drain hole with a balled-up rag to prevent sewer gasses from getting into the house. Finally, clean the basement floor around the drain with a sponge and detergent.
- 6). Move the toilet bolts along the channel in the flange until you can lift them out. Install new bolts into the flange and position them so they are in the same location as the old bolts.
- 7). Turn your new toilet upside down. Remove the cover off of your wax gasket, and place it over the hole in the bottom of the toilet, with the cone on the end of the gasket pointing away from the toilet.
- 8). Remove the rag from your drain. Turn the toilet bowl over and move it over the drain hole. Do not set the toilet down until it is in place, as you will ruin the wax gasket. Align the bolt holes on the toilet with the bolt coming up from the flange. Lay the toilet down onto the basement floor. Rock the toilet carefully back and forth to force the wax to make a seal.
- 9). Place a level over the bowl and insert wood shims underneath the bowl, as necessary, to make the toilet completely level. You can slide the shims underneath the bowl but do not lift the bowl up, as you will then have to replace the wax gasket.
- 10
Slide nuts over the bolts and tighten them. Only tighten the nuts by hand, as using a wrench could break the toilet bowl. After a few days, check the bolts again to make sure they are still tight. - 11
Place your toilet tank above the toilet bowl so that the holes in the bottom of the tank match up with the holes in the top of the bowl. Place a rubber washer over each hole in the bottom of the tank, and then slide a bolt through the holes. Place another rubber washer on the underside of the tank, and then install the bolt nuts. Tighten the nuts with a wrench until they are tight, but do not overtighten them. - 12
Hook the water line back up to the port on the bottom of the tank. Turn the water back on and the toilet will fill up with water.
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