How to remove an old toilet: a review of the technology for dismantling old plumbing

Some types of plumbing fixtures can be easily replaced yourself.Therefore, knowing how to remove an old toilet will come in very handy - you won’t have to call a plumber and adjust your plans to suit his mood.

And the money saved on the dismantling service can be used to purchase more useful items. If you still doubt that you can carry out the work of replacing the toilet yourself, we will dispel your doubts. Next we will talk about how to properly remove old plumbing fixtures and what kind of tool this will require.

When to start dismantling the toilet?

The need to replace an old toilet with a new one arises at the most unexpected moment - a plumbing product may burst or split if something heavy is accidentally dropped on it. Although no renovation was planned, it is not possible to live without a toilet.

In an emergency situation, you will have to evaluate the scope of future work, carefully study the shape of the toilet, how it was connected, and purchase a model that has similar characteristics. This will allow replace the toilet failed at minimal cost.

If the crack on the toilet is not significant, then you can postpone the replacement, calmly planning the time for the work. Yes, and it will take a day or two to choose to buy new plumbing fixtures

If the time has come for a major overhaul, then the form of release, the supply of water to the drain tank, and the shape of the product itself will not be of fundamental importance.

In this case, you can select the model that most closely matches the idea of ​​an ideal toilet - there is still a lot of work to do, and replacing pipes will most likely be one of the items.

When a product is damaged and completely unusable, action must be taken immediately. In this case, it is better to carry out the dismantling and installation work on your own, so as not to overpay for an urgent call to a plumber

Before you begin dismantling an old or broken toilet, you must buy and wait for the delivery of a new product. Also, you need to immediately check whether all the components that will be needed for replacement are available.

Models in which the outlet is embedded in the floor look aesthetically pleasing, but in case of a pipe leak, you have to remove the tiles and break into the floor - this is difficult, time-consuming and expensive

Safety precautions before starting work

When you plan to replace a toilet, doubts arise about the advisability of doing all the work yourself. In fact, you can handle removing the old and installing a new device on your own. The main thing is to do everything consistently, following the manufacturer’s recommendations and following the advice of experienced craftsmen.

There are 3 options for carrying out the work:

• invite a plumber;
• invite a coven;
• do it yourself.

The first option is suitable when scheduled repairs are underway and there is no time limit. Sometimes you have to wait for a plumber for weeks - he constantly has unforeseen circumstances.

Inviting a coven can result in even greater expenses - it’s good if you come across an experienced master whose hands grow from the right place. Otherwise, it can destroy the entire bathroom.

Some hackers like to dismantle the toilet using a sledgehammer. It's quick and doesn't require much effort - a couple of swipes and no toilet

The last option for independent work is the most profitable - you can gain practical experience and save money. Yes, and great destruction will be avoided.

If you have decided to gain practical experience in dismantling a toilet, then you must not forget about safety measures, because various tools may come in handy during the work process.

Care should be taken to protect eyes, hands, and other important organs and body parts. To do this, you need to wear special glasses, thick gloves, and a face mask to protect your respiratory system. Clothing should completely cover your arms and legs so that sharp fragments do not accidentally damage your skin.

You may have to use an angle grinder - so you simply can’t do without safety glasses and gloves

Technology for dismantling old plumbing

Having decided to dismantle the toilet yourself, you need to familiarize yourself with the theoretical part and only then begin the practical application of the knowledge gained. Only having a complete understanding of what needs to be done can it be easy to develop an action plan and act according to it.

To get an initial idea of ​​the typical sequence of work for removing plumbing fixtures, consider the process of dismantling a toilet with direct release:

First stage: object preparation

The first step is to carry out preparatory work by carefully inspecting the toilet and all fastenings. This will help you decide on the set of necessary tools for dismantling.

Then you should clean the bathroom as much as possible of unnecessary items - take out basins, buckets, and a washing machine if it will interfere with free access to the toilet. In a word, you have to remove from the room everything that may interfere or there is a possibility of accidental damage.

It is better not to start working without gloves - the risk of injury or a deep cut is very high

Preparing an object for removal consists of the following work:

• preparing the necessary tools;
• washing the product from surface contaminants;
• shutting down the water supply system;
• removing water from the drain tank;
• preparing dry pieces of fabric, old towels or sponges and other soft materials that can absorb water.

It is important to carefully inspect all fasteners - if silicone sealant was once used for sealing, you will also need a construction knife to remove it.

Using a construction knife, it is easy to cut off sealant that is firmly stuck. Residues can be removed with a special silicone remover or solvent P646

Also, regardless of the model of the toilet and the location of the cistern, you will have to turn off the tap on the pipe supplying water to the house/apartment. Then you need to check if everything worked out by opening the tap. If the water does not flow, everything was successful and preparatory work can continue.

It is necessary to drain the water from the tank so that it does not interfere with further dismantling. Dry sponges, old towels and floor rags are useful for wiping up puddles and making an improvised gag to close the entrance to the sewer socket.

This measure partially protects the residents of the apartment/house from the penetration of an extremely unpleasant odor from the sewer riser after dismantling the toilet.

It is necessary to shut off the water supply pipe in any case - the water should not interfere with the work

If the toilet is embedded in the floor or the tank is in the wall, you will have to remove the tiles to free up access. Also, do not forget about the tanks built into the wall.

When dismantling such products, serious damage cannot be avoided. Work on removing tiles, decorative coatings or panels should be carried out in advance, at the preparation stage.

It is convenient if there is a separate tap that will allow you to turn off the water to the drain tank without resorting to completely turning off the water in the apartment/house

Stage two: dismantling the tank

When the water is turned off, you can proceed to the next stage - remove the drain tank, not forgetting to first empty it of water. Moreover, it does not matter where exactly and in what way it was installed. If the tank is hidden in a wall niche, then you will have to break the decorative structure, remove tiles, finishing panels and other types of finishing.

Then you should carefully remove the lid from the tank - this will prevent it from accidentally falling during the dismantling process. If this is a model of a drainage container with a button, then first you have to unscrew the button, and only then remove the lid.

You don’t have to remove the lid of the drain tank, but then there is a high probability that during work it will fall on your foot or even break, injuring someone with fragments

When the cover has been removed, it must be taken out of the room so that it does not interfere with further work. Now you need to unscrew the flexible line that supplies water to the tank. To do this, use a key of the appropriate diameter and carefully unscrew it, trying not to damage the adjacent walls.

If the new toilet has the same location of all connection holes, and the flexible connection is in excellent condition, then its second end does not need to be unscrewed

Then you need to unscrew the bolts securing the tank to the wall, if any. If the flush tank is on the toilet shelf, then you will need to remove the bolts holding the tank in its place.

It happens that a compact toilet + tank has served for many years and the fastenings have become firmly attached. In this case, you may need a grinder to remove the bolts.

All that remains is to remove the tank with smooth movements and remove it from the bathroom. It is important to act confidently - if you fail to remove the container the first time, you need to try again or twice, using more force.If it only fails toilet cistern, then you can only replace it without proceeding with complete dismantling of the product.

The main thing is to act smoothly, slowly, and forcefully swing the tank from side to side, trying not to drop it

Stage three: removing the toilet bowl

Once the tank is removed, you can begin removing the toilet bowl itself. To do this, it is advisable to first free it from the cover by carefully unscrewing the bolts that secure it in place. It is important not to damage anything - often the housewife buys the cover separately, choosing an expensive, beautiful and comfortable seat.

The cover can not be removed, but then it can be accidentally broken during the dismantling process and it will no longer be possible to use it in the countryside along with the toilet

Now you need to unscrew the bolts securing the toilet base to the floor. This stage can be simple or more complex - it all depends on the fastening method:

• if the toilet is fixed only with bolts, then they need to be unscrewed;
• when sealant is used as a sealant, you will need a knife to carefully cut off the silicone layer;
• if the base of the toilet is concreted into the floor, then you will have to use a chisel, hammer, or sledgehammer.

It happens that the sole of the toilet is attached to a thick wooden board embedded in the floor. After 10-25 years of using a plumbing fixture, the board, called taffeta, rots. Therefore, removing the toilet is not difficult, but the board also needs to be removed.

Sometimes the bolts are firmly in place and there is no way to do without destructive actions. In this case, you need to apply a strong pointed blow with a hammer next to the bolt on one side and the other side of the toilet sole

The next step is to remove the toilet drain. The scope of work will depend on the material from which it is made.

It could be:

• flexible drain;
• plastic;
• cast iron

If in the first option you can easily pull out flexible drain from the toilet, then in the second and third cases you will have to work hard to remove it. The job of removing a cast iron pipe can be especially difficult.

To disconnect a cast iron pipe, you may need a chisel or drill to pry the flax out of the joints

If the plastic drain does not give way, it can be sawed with a hacksaw or cut with a hot knife.

Then clean the pipe from all types of windings, which ensure tightness and protect against leaks for many years.

When you can’t pull the toilet out of the flexible drain, you can carefully trim the plastic with a knife

All that remains is to remove the toilet using strong rocking movements without damaging it. sewer pipe. It is important to act smoothly.

If nothing works the first time, you don’t need to immediately take a sledgehammer - you should repeat the process a couple more times and everything will work out.

When a sledgehammer is used to remove a toilet, the fragments can injure yourself and damage the tiles on the floor and walls

All that remains is to remove the dismantled bowl from the bathroom so that it does not interfere with further work.

Stage four: clearing the area

The amount of work at the last stage depends entirely on the previous stages and on the material from which the drain is made. If we are talking about a cast iron pipe, then it will have to be removed to be replaced with a lighter and more functional flexible drain.

The cast iron pipe must be removed carefully so as not to damage the entrance to the sewer

It happens that it can take more than 2 hours to remove the pipe and clean the inlet. But this is justified, because in the future the process of dismantling a plastic corrugated pipe will take a matter of minutes.

And a leak, if it occurs, is much easier to eliminate than in cast iron.

If you do everything calmly and smoothly, then there will be a minimum of debris, and cleaning will take 20-30 minutes

When the toilet was attached to taffeta, all remnants of the rotted board had to be removed and a new one installed in its place, using consistent glue and secured with self-tapping screws. Or the hole can be immediately filled with solution.

Install new plumbing fixtures only after the solution has completely dried

If, out of ignorance, the toilet was not removed, but knocked out using a sledgehammer or other heavy tool, then cleaning the bathroom will take a long time.

It will take some effort to thoroughly clear the space for installing new plumbing fixtures.

Splinters from a broken toilet can ruin wallpaper, tiles and other decorative coverings in the room

By acting smoothly and carefully, you can remove the toilet without damaging anything. It will be completely ready for installation at the dacha.

An old toilet, the dismantling of which was carried out correctly, can serve for many years in the bathroom of a country house

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You can remove the toilet yourself. This video demonstrates how to do this correctly:

Sometimes the bolts that secure the toilet bowl to the floor seem to have grown in and won’t budge. This is where a radical method can come in handy: a hammer. More information about this editing option in the video:

On your own, you can remove the toilet, which is mounted on a thick wooden plate - taffeta. This video shows how to do this carefully:

A unique dismantling option is to break the toilet. This video will show you how not to get rid of an old toilet:

You can dismantle the toilet on your own, armed with the necessary tools and a step-by-step work plan. In this matter, it is important to do everything extremely carefully, not forgetting about personal safety. After all, during the dismantling process, a fragment may break off from the old toilet, which in itself poses a danger.

Removing an old plumbing fixture with your own hands will take from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours.

If you have the necessary knowledge and can give valuable advice to our readers on the issue of dismantling old plumbing, please leave comments under the article. You can also ask questions about the topic that interest you, and we will try to answer them promptly.