One of the most time-consuming bathroom jobs for a plumber is that of a complete toilet installation. While plumbers are good at it and have certainly got a lot of experience under their belts, there are many do-it-yourselfers who take this challenge. And if you ask me, it's not really that difficult as it seems, especially if you know what each part is for and where it would go. This article will guide you through a complete toilet replacement in some easy-to-remember steps.

For simplicity, this article will discuss only those toilets that come with a separate tank that is installed above the toilet bowl. If you have got any instructions manual from the manufacturer, this would be the time to go through it thoroughly. And it's always better to have an illustrated diagram of the parts with you.

To begin with, turn off the water supply to the tank and flush it twice to make sure that all the water goes down the drain. To promote safety, use a sponge to dry leftover water remaining in the tank or bowl.

Open the nuts and bolts that connect the tank with the bowl and the water supply line. Upon doing that, it will be easy to remove the tank. In case there is an elbow between the tank and the bowl, you will need to remove that first. Then, open the screws that are used to mount the tank to the walls. Do this step with extra care and hold the tank tightly in you hands, so that it doesn't fall when detached from the wall.

Now you have to remove the bowl, which is attached to the floor with some nuts and bolts. These bolts are usually hidden under caps, which you can take off by inserting a screwdriver beneath the caps and pushing them in the upward direction. The screw-driver can be wrapped in protective tape so that it doesn't damage the smooth surface of the toilet-bowl. After you take off the cap and undo the nuts, the bowl will hold tight in its place due to the seal with the floor. So rock it back and forth slowly and the seal would eventually break. Now you can take the bowl wherever you want but it would be a small weightlifting exercise.

Once the bowl is removed from its place, the toilet flange will be in the open. Shove some old, abandoned clothes inside so sewer gases would not escape into your house; this would also ensure that debris, nuts, and bolts don't fall into the flange. Now bring the new toilet and get ready to install it; you will just need to put everything back in its place in the reverse order.

Take out the clothes from the flange and apply some plumber's putty to the bottom of the bowl, where it will come into contact with the floor. Now place the bowl such that its outlet would come exactly above the flange. The bolts won't fit in their place if you place the bowl wrongly. Once you have put it correctly into its position, ensure that it is in level with the floor. Next, place the bolts and nuts where they belong and adequately tighten them. Put the caps on the bolts and viola - the new toilet is now in ideal shape. Now mount the tank with the wall, and fit everything else exactly in the reverse order of removal. Now wash your hands, clean up the mess, and welcome your brand new toilet!