Floor toilet replacement

Replacing a floor-standing toilet means taking out the old close-coupled unit and setting a new one in the same place. It sounds simple, but the old pan is often stuck to the floor with silicone or mortar, held by rusty bolts, and its waste connection has grown brittle over the years. Removal and matching the waste take the most time.

How the replacement goes

• turning off the water, emptying the cistern and disconnecting the hose;
• undoing or cutting the bolts, cutting the silicone and lifting out the old pan;
• sealing off the waste opening and cleaning the floor;
• matching a new connector to the waste and setting the new pan;
• fitting the cistern, adjusting the valve and a leak test.

When the new toilet does not fit the old waste

The most common surprise is a different distance from the wall to the waste, or a different outlet direction on the new pan. A flexible connector is often enough, but if the difference is large the waste pipe has to be altered. The other issue is the floor: once the old pan is off, there may be a mark the new one will not cover, or cracked tiles around it. Measure the old toilet before buying and compare with the new one’s data sheet.

Close-coupled or wall-hung

If you are thinking of swapping a close-coupled toilet for a wall-hung one, that is a different, bigger job: a frame in the wall, boxing and tiling. Swapping like for like usually takes one visit.

Common questions