How to disconnect a toilet from a cast iron pipe. How to properly install a floor-standing toilet

30.06.2020 Trips

Today we will talk about how you can do dismantling the toilet without involving outside help. After all, there are situations in life when there is no one to turn to or there is simply not enough money to call a plumber.

Of course, such work will not be difficult for a specialist. And still. That is why we will not make a mountain out of a mountain. Let's try to briefly describe all the steps in order.

Removing the toilet yourself. Stages

In order to remove the toilet yourself, we recommend proceeding strictly step by step. Let's look at the 3 main stages, what they include and how to proceed to avoid additional costs for repairing floors and walls.

Stage 1. Preparatory work

To get started, we will need a small crowbar, wrenches, pliers, unnecessary rags, rubber gloves and disinfectant. You only need to work with gloves, and the entire workspace must be kept as free from debris and dirt as possible. You can use either a special disinfectant or a simple chlorine solution. Even bleach will do.

  1. Turn off the cold water valve completely.
  2. We drain the water that is in the tank.
  3. We check whether the water is completely shut off and proceed to the main work.

Stage 2. Freeing the base of the toilet

We do not dismantle the base along with the tank. It is not comfortable. First, disconnect the flexible hose through which water is supplied. After this you can remove the tank. If it's just hanging on its hinges, you don't even have to open it. If it is attached with nuts from the back, they must first be unscrewed.

Next, you can begin to dismantle the base. Depending on the toilet model, it is attached at 2 or 4 points. As a rule, the connection is a nut. Or dowel. Regardless, you can use a wrench for removal. Please note that if you have tiles on the floor, you will have to break them up a little. Otherwise, it will not be possible to dismantle the base.

If the toilet sits on studs, it needs to be lifted a little and rocked, thereby loosening the seal in the sewer pipe. If the toilet is cemented, the cement can be beaten off with a chisel. You just need to direct its tip across the coating so as not to damage the outlet or bell.

Stage 3. Freeing the toilet from the sewer pipe

At this stage, the only connection between the toilet and the sewer pipe. Before disconnecting it, we will prepare a rag gag so that we can close the pipe and block the exit of sewer gases.

The easiest way is to remove the outlet from the pipe, and then clean its surface of ceramic particles and old mortar. Of course, in in this case further use of the toilet will be impossible. If you plan to install it, for example, at the dacha, then we act differently.

We check how freely the toilet moves in the pipe. After this, we slowly shake and scroll the outlet until it comes out of the socket. There will most likely be some mortar left on it, which will have to be carefully removed before installing new plumbing.

Dismantling an outdated toilet

More difficult work lies ahead here. In houses/apartments that were built in Soviet times, the plumbing was installed as reliably as possible and did not actually require dismantling. That is why it is impossible to do without significant damage.

It is impossible to remove the toilet without damaging it. You don't have to try. The joints of the joints will have to be broken, since they are hermetically connected with cement mortar. The main thing here is not to damage the sewer pipe and outlet. This suggests that when we use a chisel and hammer, we need to be extremely careful and, as we wrote earlier, direct it across the coating.

As you can understand, dismantling a toilet with your own hands is not that difficult. If you want to save big on plumbing services, just follow our tips.

Modern plumbing equipment has high level quality, strength and long service life. But, from time to time, situations occur when an old sink, toilet or bathtub becomes unusable. In this case, they need to be dismantled and replaced with new ones.

Every month, qualified specialists dismantle and install hundreds of toilets. For them, such work is considered banal and uncomplicated. If you know certain secrets, as well as some technological features, then you can dismantle the toilet yourself, spending very little time on it.

Subtleties and nuances of work

As a rule, dismantling the old toilet is carried out immediately before installing a new one. Although, as with any rule, there are exceptions. For example, if a new toilet is installed in a different location. In this case, dismantling the old one should be done only after all installation work has been completed.

So, for work you may need the following tools: crowbar, chisel, hammer. Armed with everything you need, you can safely begin solving the problem.

First, you should free up the space in the immediate vicinity of the work area. Everything needs to be removed, including rugs. The sewerage system must also be completely blocked. In some houses, upstairs neighbors should be warned in advance so that they refrain from visiting the restroom for a while.

Before dismantling the old toilet, do not forget to drain the water!

After all the preparatory work has been completed, you need to block the access of water to the barrel. To do this, remove the special water supply hose. Due to the fact that dismantling a toilet with a flush tank will be much more difficult than without it, the tank should be removed. Therefore, you need to drain the water, disconnect the hose and open the lid. There are fasteners inside the tank that can be found without much effort. If the tank is hanging on the wall, it can be dismantled without opening it. There are models that have a relatively small tank. Owners of such toilets can skip the step described above if desired.

Next, you need to free the base. In other words, if there is a tile at the base of the toilet, then it should be knocked out. Similar actions should be taken in the case of a cement pad. There is another option when the toilet mounts are attached to a wooden board. In this case, the toilet needs to be broken and only then can it be dismantled.

After dismantling the old toilet with your own hands, the sewer hole will need to be covered with a rag. This approach prevents the spread unpleasant odor throughout the apartment. During work and after dismantling, you must carefully ensure that fragments do not fall into the sewer pipe.

If you adhere to the rules described above, then dismantling the toilet will be completed with minimal financial and time costs.

Dismantling the toilet: photo, video instructions


How to dismantle a toilet with your own hands? See photos and videos that will help you dismantle old toilet.

Do-it-yourself toilet dismantling using different mounting methods

In this article we will figure out how to dismantle the toilet with your own hands, if possible without causing any damage to it.

We will analyze two main scenarios: for a toilet that is installed on standard fasteners, with screws to the floor; and for a toilet that is simply mounted on adhesive mastic. It is this method of fastening that installation organizations often use when commissioning a new house.

To make a repair, you first have to destroy something.

The toilet is secured with screws

How to dismantle the toilet in this case?

  1. Inspect the connection between the toilet outlet and the sewer pipe. The worst case for us is if the outlet is covered with cement mortar in a cast iron pipe.

Then you will have to arm yourself with a narrow chisel and a hammer and spend from 15 minutes to half an hour carefully breaking the putty and removing it from the socket.

If there is a rubber cuff there, the toilet can be easily removed from the outlet. If the connection is sealed with silicone sealant, first cut it with a sharp knife.

  • Remove the decorative caps and unscrew the mounting screws. You will need an adjustable wrench, pliers or a Phillips screwdriver.
  • If the toilet still stands rigid and motionless, there may be putty around the edges of the base that is holding it in place. A light strike with the palm from the front, directed backwards and from bottom to top - and now the toilet is moving. It can be removed.

Attention: if the outlet was covered with cement, be careful.

In order not to break the outlet, you will have to rock the toilet from side to side, getting rid of any remaining putty, and pull it out strictly in the direction of the sewer outlet.

  1. When you install a new set of toilet bowl and cistern, dismantling and installing the toilet bowl must be accompanied by cleaning the outlet from any remaining putty and other debris.

The site, of course, should also be cleaned of mortar residues and other irregularities.

Here we see the simplest case - fastening with screws and a rubber cuff in a plastic pipe

A special case

In houses whose construction dates back to the middle of the last century, you can see an unusual way of attaching the toilet. A thick board is laid in the floor, to which the toilet is screwed.

The board, as a rule, appears to your eye as completely rotten, the toilet bowl is wobbly. The very idea of ​​installing the toilet on a tile base, from which it can be easily removed, was sound; however, according to SNiPs of the middle of the last century, oak boards were supposed to be used. Oak doesn't rot.

But birch, pine and larch, which can most often be seen as such boards, do not like dampness. In half a century they turn into dust.

Installing and dismantling the toilet in this case involves another operation: the board is removed from the floor, the recess is thoroughly cleaned of debris and filled with concrete. After it hardens, a new toilet is installed.

Advice: as an option, it is placed directly on the fresh mortar, without screws, and glued to it with the base.

In this case, you do not need to suffer without a toilet for a week while the solution hardens.

We remove the board and fill the cavity in the floor with solution

The toilet is attached with glue or cement

Dismantling the old toilet in this case is faster and easier, but leaves less chance of removing it intact. Almost always, the toilet not only stands on adhesive mastic or cement, but is also cemented with an outlet in the sewer socket.

Method 1. For the shy

  1. Again, we take a narrow chisel or a strong screwdriver and, bending behind the toilet, carefully try to remove the maximum amount of putty from the sewer socket.

If it is desirable to remove the toilet intact, do not rush and do not apply much effort.

  • Then, using a wide chisel or chisel, we carefully try to pry off the toilet bowl one by one from all sides. We are looking for weakness.

Using light blows, we drive the chisel under the base of the toilet, wedging its base with the floor. Sooner or later he will give up. However, there is a non-zero chance of breaking off a piece of the base.

Method 2. For experienced

If possible, free the outlet from putty or sealant. This is key: it is the release that will be the weak point during dismantling.

The main thing is to remove the putty if possible.

Then we simply kick the toilet from the front a couple of times, aiming the kick slightly from bottom to top. In this case, it is better to hold it from above: if you are too determined, the release will break off.

What is curious: such dismantling of the old toilet leaves it more likely to remain intact. The base never cracks; release - no more often than in the first case.

Method 3. For the lucky ones

If the toilet is connected to a plastic pipe in any way, you are in luck. If there is corrugation installed between the toilet and any pipe, you have hit the jackpot.

The entire operation of dismantling the old toilet will take a matter of seconds.

  1. Make sure there is nothing holding the toilet. There are no screws between the base and the floor, the tank has been removed, and the toilet does not rest against the wall. It is held in place only by glue or mortar.
  2. After asking your partner to hold the toilet so it doesn't fly off and smash against the wall, kick it in the same way as in the scenario described above. One or two kicks - and the toilet is separated from the floor and stands in front of you absolutely intact.

Here, dismantling the toilet was extremely fast

Conclusion

As you can see, dismantling the toilet with your own hands will not cause any difficulties even for a person who has no experience with plumbing. Good luck with the renovation!

Do-it-yourself toilet dismantling: how to dismantle the old one and install a new one - video instructions, photos


Do-it-yourself toilet dismantling: how to dismantle the old one and install a new one - video instructions, photos.

How to dismantle an old toilet

Since all plumbing in an apartment or house must always remain in working order, it must be changed periodically. Therefore, in any case, you will have to face the problem of dismantling the toilet before installing a new one. It is possible to do this with your own hands. Removing the toilet is not a pleasant job, but it is done quite quickly and simply. Dismantling the toilet includes the following steps: preparatory stage, freeing the toilet base from the floor, dismantling the toilet from the sewerage system and installing a temporary plumbing fixture.

Dismantling of an old toilet must be done with extreme care, without damaging the sewer system, as well as existing repairs.

Preparatory work before removing the toilet

Removing a toilet and attaching a temporary plumbing fixture is not as difficult a task as it might seem. In order to dismantle the toilet before its subsequent replacement, you need to stock up on the following materials and tools:

  • crowbar;
  • spanners different sizes;
  • pliers;
  • rags needed to get rid of residual water;
  • latex gloves;
  • disinfectant.

When dismantling the toilet, be sure to wear rubber gloves, this will help you avoid microtraumas and infections. Before starting work, the plumbing fixture must be thoroughly washed and treated with a disinfectant, for example, a chlorine solution. It can be rinsed with water with an antiseptic dissolved in it - ordinary chlorine-containing bleach.

After this, the workspace must be cleared of all foreign objects; everything should be removed, even rugs.

Removal of plumbing should begin with the ceiling cold water in the supply pipeline. The remaining water in the tank must be drained and the sewer system rendered inactive. You should not use the water yourself, and you should also warn your neighbors above so that they refrain from water procedures for a while. After making sure that the supply valve is shut off securely, you can begin work.

Freeing the toilet base

Diagram of a compact toilet with dimensions.

Work begins by disconnecting the flexible water supply hose. Then you will need to dismantle the flush tank, because removing the toilet together with the tank will be quite problematic. To do this, drain the remaining water, unscrew the fastening nuts located on the back of the structure, and open the lid. The tank, hanging on hinges on the wall, can be removed without opening it.

Next you need to free the base. If the tiles in your bathroom are beautifully laid, you will have to knock them out. The toilet is attached to the floor in two or four places at the bottom. The connection can be a nut connection, when the device is mounted into the floor using studs, or using dowels with hexagonal heads. However, in both cases, the fastener will be unscrewed with a wrench of the required size.

When connecting with studs, slightly lift the base and, with light rocking movements, loosen the seal in the sewer outlet pipe. If the socket seal was made using cement mortar, it must be chipped using a chisel before removal. It is best to use a thin chisel, breaking off the cement very carefully, with light blows - the tip of the chisel should be directed across the coating, otherwise the toilet outlet or pipe socket may be damaged. As soon as the coating cracks on one side, the same operation will need to be done on the other side of the outlet. They pick out the fragments and try to get the toilet bowl out of the pipe. If this does not work, you need to continue chipping the cement.

If you are faced with such a complex mounting option as fixing the toilet on a wooden board, then dismantling the plumbing can lead to damage. The bottom will simply have to be beaten off. The fastenings will remain in the floor along with the base, which will be removed in parts after the work is completed.

Old plumbing fixtures are usually thrown away; you shouldn’t feel sorry for them.

To avoid injury during work, carefully follow all safety precautions - use gloves and safety glasses.

Freeing the toilet from the sewer pipe

Scheme of the arrangement of drain tanks.

The toilet is now connected only to the cast iron sewer pipe, and it can be disconnected in several ways. These methods have different degrees of damage caused. Before removing the device, it is recommended to make a plug that looks like a rag gag, about 10 cm in diameter. She will need to plug the hole in the sewer pipe, thereby preventing sewer gases from escaping into the apartment.

The first way is destruction. According to this method, you will need to remove the outlet, take out the toilet and simply clean the pipe of any remaining ceramics and mortar. The outlet can be broken off if the device is no longer attached to the floor; in this case, it is necessary to clean the connection between the outlet and the pipe as much as possible from the cement mortar. The toilet is lifted and pulled up. All that remains is to clean the sewer pipe of any residue, being careful not to damage it. The sewer pipe must be protected from clogging with fragments; it is better to plug the hole with something.

You can choose a less destructive method if you are trying to keep your plumbing intact. The joint between the sewer pipe and the toilet must be cleaned of mortar, sealant and other impurities, removing even the smallest residues. Lift the product and determine how freely it moves in the pipe. Slowly loosening and turning the outlet, it is necessary to pull it out of the socket, while clearing it of the solution. The pipe needs to be cleaned for upcoming installation.

Removing an old style toilet

It also happens that you buy an apartment and, when you go into the bathroom, you see an old toilet there, well installed thirty years ago during the construction of the house. Then removing the old device and installing a new one will bring you a lot of problems. However, if you do it yourself, you will definitely be able to understand its design and repairs will not cause you trouble in the future.

Dismantling a Soviet toilet can be considered the most difficult option. This design is quite unique; this device was fixed in such a way that it was almost impossible to remove. Therefore, you will not be able to keep it intact. Inspect the floor near it and evaluate the type of fastening.

The next problem that often arises when dismantling Soviet toilets (especially if you are going to reuse the toilet, for example, by installing it in the country), is disconnecting the outlet from the sewer. When building houses and laying communications in Soviet times, everything was done as hermetically as possible. The joints were covered with cement so deeply that it is currently impossible to knock it down carefully without damaging the sewer pipe or outlet.

Installing a temporary toilet

During renovations, a temporary toilet can be installed in the toilet. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to resort to the help of professionals; you can do it yourself. You will need the bare minimum set of tools and materials:

A temporary toilet is usually installed without a cistern. It will also be superfluous to connect it to the water supply. In this case, flushing into the sewer will be carried out by pouring the water collected into a bucket. For greater stability of the plumbing fixture, place a shield or piece of chipboard measuring 50 by 50 cm under it, securing it through the holes in the base of the toilet with self-tapping screws and washers. You need to purchase self-tapping screws of the required length with hexagonal heads. If necessary, long screws are trimmed with a grinder.

The temporary toilet is connected using corrugations. This design makes it possible to quickly move the plumbing to another place, in almost a minute, and just as quickly put it in place. To make the toilet less dirty during repairs, you need to wrap it in polyethylene and secure the film with tape, which should only be glued to polyethylene, since it will be quite difficult to remove the glue from the body. The top of the structure must be covered with a piece of plywood or chipboard.

Toilet dismantling: stages


Toilet dismantling begins with preparatory work. If the socket seal was made using cement mortar, it must be chipped using a chisel before removal.

How to remove a toilet yourself

When making renovations in an apartment, especially major ones, every owner wants to install all new appliances and devices or move existing ones to another place. This rule applies both in the bathroom and in the toilet. New plumbing is absolutely the new kind similar premises. But you need to change plumbing fixtures carefully. If you make a mistake, then all the repairs will go down the drain, and all work will have to start all over again. This article will tell you how to remove the toilet yourself. Replacing this plumbing unit does not happen very often, so over time, skills can be lost, because many people have to do this for the first time.

Preparatory stage

Preparing to remove the old toilet will not take you much time. The most important thing that every owner may like is that there is no need to shut off the common water pipe. In most cases, water is supplied to the drain tank through a separate hose equipped with a tap. It is enough to close the shut-off valves and you can begin to carry out work. Even if there is no such tap, there is a shut-off valve at the entrance of the water supply to the apartment or house.

Note! If the shut-off valves in the apartment do not work, then first you need to prepare everything to replace them. Having closed the common riser, replace the faucet in the apartment as quickly as possible, and only then can you begin dismantling the toilet.

First, you should take care of preparing all the necessary tools and materials. For work related to removing the old toilet, you may need:

  • set of wrenches;
  • hammer and chisel;
  • hacksaw for metal;
  • pliers;
  • rubber or woven gloves and safety glasses;
  • a basin (or other suitable container) and rags (old rags).

The first step will be preparing the workplace. Very often the toilet is installed in rooms with a small area. In order not to break all the shelves and other devices hung on the walls, it is better to remove them in advance.

Free up as much free space as possible. This is especially true if the toilet has not been changed since the house was built. If the building is old, then the plumbing units were installed firmly, using cement mortar. In this case, even a small shelf can significantly complicate the work.

Now you need to shut off the flow of water into the drain tank. This is done, as mentioned above, using a tap installed on the outlet running from the water supply to the toilet, or by turning off the water supply to the entire apartment. After stopping the flow of water, drain the entire contents of the tank. Only after this can you begin the main work.

Removing old plumbing fixtures

The dismantling of the old toilet itself is carried out in several stages.

  1. First, the seat and cover are removed.
  2. Then the lid is removed. This is done in different ways, depending on the model of the tank. Most often, it is enough to unscrew the plastic nut that holds the release button (or lever).
  3. After this, the drain tank is removed. The process of removing it also depends on the model. If the toilet is more or less modern, then the tank is simply attached to a special ledge on the plumbing unit, and the nuts are under it. In older models, the tank may be attached to the wall using bolts and nuts or screws. If this is the case, then we dismantle this fastening.

Note! It is quite common to see bolts that are completely rusty. In this case, it will be almost impossible to unscrew the nut. A grinder or a hacksaw will help you here. Simply sawing the bolt is enough. This must be done carefully so that the tank does not fall on the floor and damage the floor covering.

Next, carefully read how the old toilet is attached to the floor. In the case of replacing more modern plumbing fixtures, such fastening is made with a screwdriver, screws (or bolts) and sealant. If this is the case, then further work will look like this:

  • Using a suitable tool (wrench or fasteners), unscrew the bolts.
  • We take a knife in our hands. With its help, we trim the layer of sealant along the entire accessible perimeter of the toilet.
  • After carrying out this work, we slip a blade under the plumbing and lift it up a little. You shouldn't strain too hard to avoid breaking the knife.
  • We grab the toilet with both hands and carefully try to loosen it. This must be done until you see a shift in the plumbing relative to the sewer pipe.

After the toilet has moved from its place, its connection to the sewer is dismantled. To do this, you need to shake the plumbing a little. As a rule, such disconnection occurs quite easily. It is especially convenient to remove it if corrugation was used during installation.

Note! After disconnecting the toilet from the sewer, you should not move it immediately. The fact is that there is water left inside the plumbing unit, in the siphon. To remove the container, lift the front edge of the toilet, first placing a basin or other suitable container under its outlet.

After draining the remaining liquid from the toilet, pour it into the sewer pipe. After this, the entrance to the sewer system must be plugged with a rag so that bad smell did not enter the premises. If you don’t have a suitable rag at hand, you can use a regular one and a half liter plastic bottle.

At this point, the dismantling of the old toilet can be considered complete. It is enough to take the plumbing fixtures to the landfill (or to the garage, as a spare) and you can start installing new ones. But this dismantling option is considered the easiest. As a rule, such a case only happens in houses where plumbing was installed not so long ago. If the toilet has been standing in its place for 20 years or more, then various difficulties may arise.

Possible problems during dismantling

It is not always easy to remove an old toilet with your own hands. If the device was installed more than 20 years ago, then all fasteners may rust. In addition, back in Soviet times, toilets were often embedded in a cement screed. In such cases, you will have to spend more time and effort to remove it.

  1. If it is impossible to easily unscrew the fasteners or the toilet is installed on a cement screed, then you will have to break the base of the plumbing unit. For this you will need a hammer, chisel and crowbar.
  2. Before starting work, it is advisable to remove all water from the toilet siphon. This is necessary so that after “destroying” the plumbing you do not have to deal with cleaning up liquid dirt. Removing water from the siphon is done using a rag. Rags simply soak up all the liquid.
  3. Be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses when starting work. Earthenware can break into small pieces, which can easily injure unprotected areas of the body. Apply a few firm blows to the base of the toilet with a hammer. After this, you will immediately see cracks appear, and subsequent blows must be applied to them. For this job, you can use a crowbar and a chisel. Not a single plumbing unit can withstand such pressure.
  4. Once the base of the toilet is broken, you can begin cleaning it. Next, the base is cleaned of any remaining earthenware and cement screed. If there are rusted bolts left, they are cut off using a grinder or a hacksaw.

When dismantling an old toilet, you can use some advice from experts. Namely:

  1. During dismantling work, it is necessary to carefully ensure that fragments of the toilet bowl and cement screed do not fall into the sewer socket. If this happens, then you cannot avoid a serious blockage. That is why experts recommend immediately after disconnecting the toilet from the pipe, plugging the latter with a rag.
  2. If you plan to replace the entire sewerage system, then you don’t have to stand on ceremony with the pipe. If the old pipes are made of cast iron, then they can be easily broken with a hammer. At the same time, make sure that the fragments do not fall into the sewer riser.
  3. The toilet, like any product made of earthenware, has a fairly large mass. Therefore, it is better to get help and not dismantle it alone.
  4. If the removal of the plumbing was done carefully and the base and drain were not damaged, then you should not throw out the toilet. It may well be useful for equipping a toilet in the country.

After dismantling, carefully clean the base under the toilet. If no further repair work will not be carried out, then the new plumbing will be installed on the existing floor. If cleaning is done poorly, the toilet will not stand firmly, which can lead to its breakage. This means that all work will have to be done again.

How to remove the toilet yourself - dismantling the toilet


Find out how to remove a toilet yourself. The article describes the process of uninstalling a toilet with a description of the features and nuances of this process.

Plumbing equipment, like any other equipment, does not last forever. Sooner or later the time comes to dismantle old devices. With a bathtub or sink, everything is more or less clear. But not everyone knows how to remove a toilet without problems and serious damage. This is a rather unpleasant procedure. However, if you get down to business correctly, it will not take much time and will be completed with minimal losses for the premises. It is quite possible to carry out dismantling yourself.

Before starting work, it is advisable to wash the toilet and treat it with any disinfectant. Or at least rinse with an aqueous solution of an antiseptic, for example, the usual “Whiteness”. In any case, dismantling is best done with protective gloves to protect your hands from contamination and microtrauma. From the tools you need to prepare a crowbar and keys of different sizes. In addition, you will need a bucket and a lot of rags.

Dismantling an old device is not the most pleasant task, but without this it is impossible to install a new device

The work area must be completely cleared of unnecessary objects. We remove everything that is in close proximity to the equipment. The sewer must be inactive. Therefore, not only do we not use it ourselves, but we also warn our neighbors in advance about the work being carried out and ask them to do the same. Then we turn off the water supply to the device and drain the water from the tank. Now you can begin to directly dismantle the plumbing fixture.

Main stages of dismantling the structure

  • We start by disconnecting the hose that supplies water to the tank.
  • After this, you can dismantle the tank itself. It is necessary to do this, since it will be more difficult to remove the toilet together with the container. We check if there is any water left in the tank by pressing the drain button and unscrewing the fastening nuts. We remove the device. This is true for cisterns installed directly on the toilet. If the device hangs on the wall, dismantling will be extremely simple. It is simply removed from its hinges.

Before removing the tank, be sure to drain the water from it.

Freeing the base of the device

The procedure can be carried out different ways depending on the type of toilet mounting. Modern devices are fixed to the floor using special fasteners installed at the bottom of the bowl. They are quite easy to unscrew and thereby free the base. This is the simplest option. Hairpins won't cause any trouble either. It is necessary to remove the nuts screwed onto them and free the base of the equipment.

The toilet can be embedded in the cement base of the floor, and tiles can be laid around it. In this case, the lining is dismantled, the mortar is broken off and the lower part of the device is released. And finally, the most difficult method of fastening is “on taffeta”. It involves fixing the device to a board embedded in the floor. To dismantle it, you will have to knock off the bottom part of the toilet so that the base along with the fastening remains in the floor. Then the remains of the device and the board are removed piece by piece.

If the toilet was attached to taffeta, you will have to dismantle it this way

Disconnecting the toilet from the sewer pipe

Now the toilet is connected only to the sewer outlet pipe. You can disconnect it in several ways, varying in labor intensity. The choice of method depends on how important it is to carry out the work with a minimum of destruction and whether it is necessary to keep the toilet intact. In any case, before starting work, you should prepare a plug that will temporarily close the sewer socket. It could be a gag made from old rags. It will prevent sewer gases from entering the room. Now you can start dismantling.

  • The simplest, but also the most destructive, method is to simply break off the tap from the device. In this case, with a few precise movements, the toilet outlet is broken off from the device, after which the sewer socket is thoroughly cleaned of ceramic fragments and solution residues. You can try to do this. We clean the joint of the pipe and the outlet as much as possible from the solution. We lift the toilet and sharply pull it up, breaking out the outlet. Then you will need to carefully remove all the fragments from the sewer pipe.

When using this technique, it is very important not to clog the sewer pipe with fragments, otherwise there will subsequently be problems with the operation of the new device.

A plug in the pipe is necessary to prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors in the room

  • If the toilet is needed intact, this option is used. We thoroughly clean the area of ​​connection with the sewer pipe from mortar, sealant, etc. To do this, take a thin chisel and carefully, with light blows, chop off the material. It is best to install the tip of the tool across the coating, so the likelihood of splitting the equipment is minimal. After the solution cracks on one side, move to the other side. Carefully remove the cracked coating. Then we slightly lift the device and check whether it has begun to move in the pipe and, if so, how freely it is. We rock and rotate the outlet, slowly pulling it out of the pipe. If something interferes with the device, we clear a passage for it. Having taken out the entire toilet, we set it aside and thoroughly clean the pipe, preparing it for subsequent installation.

Carefully clean the base of the toilet before dismantling

Installing a temporary toilet

Temporary equipment is simply necessary if renovations are planned in the bathroom. In this case, the device is installed without a drain tank. This will make it easier to remove and put away if necessary. Use a bucket of water to flush. To ensure that the device stands firmly, a piece of chipboard or a board is placed under it. The toilet is secured through the mounting holes using self-tapping screws and washers. The device is connected to the sewer through a corrugation. Now it can be used for its intended purpose. To protect the device from contamination during repair work, you can wrap it in cellophane and secure the protection with tape.

A small nuance: the tape should only be glued to the film, otherwise its remnants will be difficult to remove from the surface of the device.

Scheme for proper toilet dismantling

Dismantling an old toilet is a fairly simple, although not very pleasant, undertaking. Even a novice plumber can handle it, especially if you plan to simply throw away your used equipment and there is no reason to care about its integrity. It will be much more difficult to dismantle it so that old device remained intact, and the damage to the bathroom was minimal. In this case, you will need certain skills and patience. If you don’t have such experience or don’t have the desire to tinker with plumbing, you should turn to professionals. They will quickly carry out competent dismantling of equipment, coping with a task of any complexity.

Video: dismantling the toilet

In this article we will figure out how to dismantle the toilet with your own hands, if possible without causing any damage to it.

We will analyze two main scenarios: for a toilet that is installed on standard fasteners, with screws to the floor; and for a toilet that is simply mounted on adhesive mastic. It is this method of fastening that installation organizations often use when commissioning a new house.

To make a repair, you first have to destroy something.

The toilet is secured with screws

How to dismantle the toilet in this case?

  1. Inspect the toilet outlet connection to . The worst case for us is if the outlet is covered with cement mortar in a cast iron pipe.
    Then you will have to arm yourself with a narrow chisel and a hammer and spend from 15 minutes to half an hour carefully breaking the putty and removing it from the socket.
    If there is a rubber cuff there, the toilet can be easily removed from the outlet. If the connection is sealed with silicone sealant, first cut it with a sharp knife.
  2. Remove the decorative caps and unscrew the mounting screws. You will need an adjustable wrench, pliers or a Phillips screwdriver.
  3. If the toilet is still standing rigidly and motionlessly, there may be putty around the edges of the base that is holding it in place. A light strike with the palm from the front, directed backwards and from bottom to top - and now the toilet is moving. It can be removed.

Attention: if the outlet was covered with cement, be careful.

In order not to break the outlet, you will have to rock the toilet from side to side, getting rid of any remaining putty, and pull it out strictly in the direction of the sewer outlet.

  1. When you install a new set of toilet bowl and cistern, dismantling and installing the toilet bowl must be accompanied by cleaning the outlet from residual putty and other debris.
    The site, of course, should also be cleaned of mortar residues and other irregularities.

Here we see the simplest case - fastening with screws and a rubber cuff in a plastic pipe

A special case

In houses whose construction dates back to the middle of the last century, you can see an unusual way of attaching the toilet. A thick board is laid in the floor, to which the toilet is screwed.

The board, as a rule, appears to your eye as completely rotten, the toilet bowl is wobbly. The very idea, with which it was easy to remove, was sound; however, according to SNiPs of the middle of the last century, oak boards were supposed to be used. Oak doesn't rot.

But birch, pine and larch, which can most often be seen as such boards, do not like dampness. In half a century they turn into dust.

Installing and dismantling the toilet in this case involves another operation: the board is removed from the floor, the recess is thoroughly cleaned of debris and filled with concrete. After it hardens, a new toilet is installed.

Advice: as an option, it is placed directly on the fresh mortar, without screws, and glued to it with the base.

In this case, you do not need to suffer without a toilet for a week while the solution hardens.


The toilet is attached with glue or cement

Dismantling the old toilet in this case is faster and easier, but leaves less chance of removing it intact. Almost always, the toilet not only stands on adhesive mastic or cement, but is also cemented with an outlet in the sewer socket.

Method 1. For the shy

  1. Again, we take a narrow chisel or a strong screwdriver and, bending behind the toilet, carefully try to remove the maximum amount of putty from the sewer socket.
    If it is desirable to remove the toilet intact, do not rush and do not apply much effort.
  2. Then, using a wide chisel or chisel, we carefully try to pry off the toilet bowl one by one from all sides. We are looking for weakness.
    Using light blows, we drive the chisel under the base of the toilet, wedging its base with the floor. Sooner or later he will give up. However, there is a non-zero chance of breaking off a piece of the base.

Method 2. For experienced

If possible, free the outlet from putty or sealant. This is key: it is the release that will be the weak point during dismantling.


The main thing is to remove the putty if possible.

Then we simply kick the toilet from the front a couple of times, aiming the kick slightly from bottom to top. In this case, it is better to hold it from above: if you are too determined, the release will break off.

What is curious: such dismantling of the old toilet leaves it more likely to remain intact. The base never cracks; release - no more often than in the first case.

Method 3. For the lucky ones

If the toilet is connected to a plastic pipe in any way, you are in luck. If between, you hit the jackpot.

The entire operation of dismantling the old toilet will take a matter of seconds.

  1. Make sure there is nothing holding the toilet. There are no screws between the base and the floor, the tank has been removed, and the toilet does not rest against the wall. It is held in place only by glue or mortar.
  2. After asking your partner to hold the toilet so it doesn't fly off and smash against the wall, kick it in the same way as in the scenario described above. One or two kicks - and the toilet is separated from the floor and stands in front of you absolutely intact.

Conclusion

As you can see, dismantling the toilet with your own hands will not cause any difficulties even for a person who has no experience with plumbing. Good luck with the renovation!

When making renovations in an apartment, especially major ones, every owner wants to install all new appliances and devices or move existing ones to another place. This rule applies both in the bathroom and in the toilet. New plumbing is a completely new type of such premises. But you need to change plumbing fixtures carefully. If you make a mistake, then all the repairs will go down the drain, and all work will have to start all over again. This article will tell you how to remove the toilet yourself. Replacing this plumbing unit does not happen very often, so over time, skills can be lost, because many people have to do this for the first time.

Preparatory stage

Preparing to remove the old toilet will not take you much time. The most important thing that every owner may like is that there is no need to shut off the common water pipe. In most cases, water is supplied to the drain tank through a separate hose equipped with a tap. It is enough to close the shut-off valves and you can begin to carry out work. Even if there is no such tap, there is a shut-off valve at the entrance of the water supply to the apartment or house.

Note! If the shut-off valves in the apartment do not work, then first you need to prepare everything to replace them. Having closed the common riser, replace the faucet in the apartment as quickly as possible, and only then can you begin dismantling the toilet.

First, you should take care of preparing all the necessary tools and materials. For work related to removing the old toilet, you may need:

  • set of wrenches;
  • hammer and chisel;
  • hacksaw for metal;
  • pliers;
  • rubber or woven gloves and safety glasses;
  • a basin (or other suitable container) and rags (old rags).

The first step will be preparing the workplace. Very often the toilet is installed in rooms with a small area. In order not to break all the shelves and other devices hung on the walls, it is better to remove them in advance.

Free up as much free space as possible. This is especially true if the toilet has not been changed since the house was built. If the building is old, then the plumbing units were installed firmly, using cement mortar. In this case, even a small shelf can significantly complicate the work.

Now you need to shut off the flow of water into the drain tank. This is done, as mentioned above, using a tap installed on the outlet running from the water supply to the toilet, or by turning off the water supply to the entire apartment. After stopping the flow of water, drain the entire contents of the tank. Only after this can you begin the main work.

The dismantling of the old toilet itself is carried out in several stages.

  1. First, the seat and cover are removed.
  2. Then the lid is removed. This is done in different ways, depending on the model of the tank. Most often, it is enough to unscrew the plastic nut that holds the release button (or lever).
  3. After this, the drain tank is removed. The process of removing it also depends on the model. If the toilet is more or less modern, then the tank is simply attached to a special ledge on the plumbing unit, and the nuts are under it. In older models, the tank may be attached to the wall using bolts and nuts or screws. If this is the case, then we dismantle this fastening.

Note! It is quite common to see bolts that are completely rusty. In this case, it will be almost impossible to unscrew the nut. A grinder or a hacksaw will help you here. Simply sawing the bolt is enough. This must be done carefully so that the tank does not fall on the floor and damage the floor covering.

Next, carefully read how the old toilet is attached to the floor. In the case of replacing more modern plumbing fixtures, such fastening is made with a screwdriver, screws (or bolts) and sealant. If this is the case, then further work will look like this:

  • Using a suitable tool (wrench or fasteners), unscrew the bolts.
  • We take a knife in our hands. With its help, we trim the layer of sealant along the entire accessible perimeter of the toilet.
  • After carrying out this work, we slip a blade under the plumbing and lift it up a little. You shouldn't strain too hard to avoid breaking the knife.
  • We grab the toilet with both hands and carefully try to loosen it. This must be done until you see a shift in the plumbing relative to the sewer pipe.

After the toilet has moved from its place, its connection to the sewer is dismantled. To do this, you need to shake the plumbing a little. As a rule, such disconnection occurs quite easily. It is especially convenient to remove it if corrugation was used during installation.

Note! After disconnecting the toilet from the sewer, you should not move it immediately. The fact is that there is water left inside the plumbing unit, in the siphon. To remove the container, lift the front edge of the toilet, first placing a basin or other suitable container under its outlet.

After draining the remaining liquid from the toilet, pour it into the sewer pipe. After this, the entrance to the sewer system must be plugged with a rag so that the unpleasant odor does not penetrate into the room. If you don’t have a suitable rag at hand, you can use a regular one and a half liter plastic bottle.

At this point, the dismantling of the old toilet can be considered complete. It is enough to take the plumbing fixtures to the landfill (or to the garage, as a spare) and you can start installing new ones. But this dismantling option is considered the easiest. As a rule, such a case only happens in houses where plumbing was installed not so long ago. If the toilet has been standing in its place for 20 years or more, then various difficulties may arise.

Possible problems during dismantling

It is not always easy to remove an old toilet with your own hands. If the device was installed more than 20 years ago, then all fasteners may rust. In addition, back in Soviet times, toilets were often embedded in a cement screed. In such cases, you will have to spend more time and effort to remove it.

  1. If it is impossible to easily unscrew the fasteners or the toilet is installed on a cement screed, then you will have to break the base of the plumbing unit. For this you will need a hammer, chisel and crowbar.
  2. Before starting work, it is advisable to remove all water from the toilet siphon. This is necessary so that after “destroying” the plumbing you do not have to deal with cleaning up liquid dirt. Removing water from the siphon is done using a rag. Rags simply soak up all the liquid.
  3. Be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses when starting work. Earthenware can break into small pieces, which can easily injure unprotected areas of the body. Apply a few firm blows to the base of the toilet with a hammer. After this, you will immediately see cracks appear, and subsequent blows must be applied to them. For this job, you can use a crowbar and a chisel. Not a single plumbing unit can withstand such pressure.
  4. Once the base of the toilet is broken, you can begin cleaning it. Next, the base is cleaned of any remaining earthenware and cement screed. If there are rusted bolts left, they are cut off using a grinder or a hacksaw.

When dismantling an old toilet, you can use some advice from experts. Namely:

  1. During dismantling work, it is necessary to carefully ensure that fragments of the toilet bowl and cement screed do not fall into the sewer socket. If this happens, then you cannot avoid a serious blockage. That is why experts recommend immediately after disconnecting the toilet from the pipe, plugging the latter with a rag.
  2. If you plan to replace the entire sewerage system, then you don’t have to stand on ceremony with the pipe. If the old pipes are made of cast iron, then they can be easily broken with a hammer. At the same time, make sure that the fragments do not fall into the sewer riser.
  3. The toilet, like any product made of earthenware, has a fairly large mass. Therefore, it is better to get help and not dismantle it alone.
  4. If the removal of the plumbing was done carefully and the base and drain were not damaged, then you should not throw out the toilet. It may well be useful for equipping a toilet in the country.

After dismantling, carefully clean the base under the toilet. If no further renovation work is carried out, the new plumbing fixtures will sit on top of the existing floor. If cleaning is done poorly, the toilet will not stand firmly, which can lead to its breakage. This means that all work will have to be done again.

Video

Watch this video of plumbers having to reinstall a toilet: