How to Replace a Broken Toilet

Begin by examining your existing toilet and measuring it you can determine any size restrictions for your new toilet. Be particularly aware of the distance from the bowl to the tank as this will be your biggest limitation. 

Now you can remove the old toilet. Turn off your water supply to the toilet and then flush it to remove existing water. Lift the tank top off and get out all the remaining water with a shop vacuum. Remove the screw caps from the base of the toilet and then use pliers to remove the bolts holding it to the floor. Now you can lift the toilet off the flange and move it out. Carefully inspect the flange to make sure it is intact. Remove the flange bolts and inspect the wax ring. Your new toilet will come with new bolts but if the ring is damaged, you will have to replace it separately. The wax ring acts as a gasket to seal the toilet to the floor and not allow leakage of water or sewer gas.

If you are replacing the wax ring, get the kind that has a rubber boot. Pointing the boot downward, place the new ring onto the flange and using the screws that came with your new toilet. attach it. These closet bolts are t-shaped and after tightening you turn the "T" ninety degrees to secure them. Now you are ready to lower the toilet on to the gasket and bolts. Push it on to the shims, lining it up with the bolts, until it is flush with the gasket. Attach the necessary trim washers and bolts and tighten carefully so as not to crack the base.

Follow the instructions to attach the tank to the bowl. The spud washer, a foam ring, fits on the bottom to seal the bowl to the toilet. Tighten all the bolts taking care to keep the tank level. Now attach your water line to the tank. Turn on the water and test the toilet by flushing several times. Finish it off by putting on the screw caps and you are done.