Q&A for How to Install a Toilet

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Question

What is the first step when installing a toilet?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

Be sure you have toilet flange bolts and a new wax ring for sealing your toilet to the bathroom floor. These normally come in the box when you purchase a new toilet. Also, if you didn’t get any toilet flange bolts with your new toilet, go to a hardware store or home center and purchase a pair of those.

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Question

Where should I put the old toilet?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter as a drain service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general manager of Roto-Rooter’s Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches before being promoted to Contractor Area Manager and later to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Dave Jones

Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Expert Answer

Sit the toilet on a towel or old blanket to prevent damage to your floor until you’re able to remove the toilet from the bathroom.

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Question

Is it necessary to caulk around the base of the toilet?

Community Answer

If you caulk around the base, you will not know if it is leaking. It's a nice touch, but not good to do. If the toilet sits level and looks good to the floor, then don't caulk it. I have installed many toilets. If it does not leak, let it go.

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Question

How do I change bolts?

Community Answer

You can buy the bolts from a hardware store. If you're just replacing the bolts and keeping the bowl, you will have to take the bowl out to get to the bolt.

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Question

My second-floor toilet leaks to the first floor every time it is flushed. What is the problem?

Community Answer

Check if the toilet rocks or moves. If it does, that points to a bad seal of the wax ring. Otherwise, one of the drain pipes may not have been glued, allowing water to leak.

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Question

Why is my new toilet leaking around the bottom?

Community Answer

The new wax ring is probably leaking; you may need to renew it. You can tighten the bolts around the bottom just a little bit, and then several days later give just a little additional tightening. Don't crack it.

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Question

After I removed the old toilet, I found some lead bent over the old flange. Should it be removed, and how?

Kyle Boutski

Community Answer

Never remove the lead, as this is part of the drain. This should be carefully bent over the flange after installation. This may be done using a hammer as you lightly tap the lead a little at a time. Careful, it's very soft and easy to split.

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Question

One of the bolts broke off at the bottom of the bowl. Should I get a new bolt?

Community Answer

You will have to remove the toilet to replace the broken bolt. Toilet bolts come in a kit of two in a pack. You will have to get a toilet wax ring also.

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Question

What do I do if I installed a new toilet and I have a bad smell coming from my bathroom?

Community Answer

The wax seal has cracked or broke. All you need to do is remove and reinstall the toilet with a new wax seal.

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Question

Should the top of the flange be above top of floor or level with top of floor?

Community Answer

The bottom of the flange should be level with the finished floor, basically the flange sits on the floor and protrudes that 1/4". If the top of the flange is level or lower than the floor you may be able to get away with jumbo seal or stack two seals.

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Question

What happens if the distance is 10" from the wall instead of 12" when installing a toilet?

Community Answer

When purchasing a replacement toilet, it is important to first check the "rough-in" size. Existing bolts that are 10 " from the wall indicate a 10 inch rough-in size.

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Question

My toilet rocks to the side when I sit on it. What's wrong?

HisGirlFriday

Community Answer

You may need to slide a wooden shim under the toilet to make it level. You should also check that the bolts on the toilet base are tight.

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Question

The top of my drain pipe (I'm about to bolt my flange to) is not level. The rear is level with the finished floor, front is about a 1/4" above it. Will an extra thick wax ring work?

HisGirlFriday

Community Answer

You can actually buy rubber products designed to correct this problem. Adjust the flange size before using a standard wax ring.

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Question

We had a new toilet installed. It is setting on a newly installed tile floor. It rocks. The plumber calked around the base but it still rocks. How do I fix this?

HisGirlFriday

Community Answer

Try tightening the screws on the toilet base or inserting shims under the toilet base to make it level.

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Question

Is this method the same for round and oval toilets?

HisGirlFriday

Community Answer

Yes, the process is the same. It's just important to measure before you buy a replacement toilet.

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