How to Move a Toilet

However expensive, time consuming and almost impossible it is, there are circumstances that can leave you with no option but to move your toilet. Could be because of design issues, whereby the toilet was placed in an unusual place or something. For those who love to do all the fixings in the house all by themselves, this might not be the best attempt for you because the intensity of the work involved requires a professional help. 

To begin with, here are the two key factors to have in mind when you have plans of moving your toilet:

Water supply

Ensure that your current location is convenient enough in terms of constant water supply to re-fill the tank every time you flash. There’s an option of connecting the new supply line into the already existing line which I usually recommend because it’s cost effective. Similarly, you can also take advantage of the same supply line connected to your shower or bathroom sink and do away with the initial line.

Drainage system 

One thing that remains constant is the main drainage or vent system used in the house which usually cuts across all the rooms. Moving this will have you re-designing the entire drainage system and that’s quite some work. The best way out is customizing the single line connected to the toilet. So, the place you identify should put you in a position where you can re-route, lengthen or shorten the line to fit your current needs.

Step-To-Step Guide on How to Move a Toilet

Having mentioned the tips that should guide your decisions when moving a toilet, here’s a quick preview of what the process looks like:

Empty the toilet

The first step is to turn off the water supply, so that no more is to be pumped into the toilet tank after flushing. As I have already hinted, the next move is to flush the toilet to ensure that both the toilet bowl and the tank are all empty. 

Remove excess water

After the first part, you’ll realize that there still could be some amounts of water left in there. The easiest way to get this sorted is by draining them with a sponge or a dry rag so that whatever you’re moving is a completely dry toilet. 

Have a plastic paper in place

A thing to note is that even after draining the water, the toilet could still be leaking as you continue working, however not as much as it would before. Therefore as a precaution, always place a heavy plastic sheet where you plan to put the toilet in order to minimize the mess left behind. 

Loosen the bolts

There are usually bolts placed at the bottom of the toilet in order to hold it in place, so remove them first. You can use a wrench instead of your bare hands to make the process easier with lesser risks of accidents. 

Detach the tank

Now, you cannot move the two all at once and therefore the tank has to go first. Check for the connections and fixes so that you detach the tank in a way that re-fixing shouldn’t be a hassle. 

Pull out the toilet bowl

With the bolts and the tank already out, this shouldn’t be a problem. In the event that it still has some caulk around the base, consider scrapping that off as well to save you the energy of pulling it out. For this step, I recommend rocking it back and forth until it’s detached instead of using much force to pull upwards. 

Clean up 

Moving a toilet doesn’t end after successfully pulling it out. It’s recommended to clean the place where the toilet was previously stationed by removing all the bolts and wax seals. At the same time, don’t forget to clamp the drain hole in order to prevent the gases from leaking.

Wrapping Up

After knowing everything on how to move a toilet, I hope that your next task will be successful with no breakages and injuries involved. However, I still insist on opting for a professional to handle the moving for you, and especially the detailed plumbing steps.