CRF Services Ltd

Replace a toilet: toilet fitting and replacement

When a toilet cracks, rocks, runs constantly or just looks out of place next to newer fittings, replacing it is usually a straightforward job. CRF Services Ltd removes the old pan and cistern, checks the waste connection and floor, and fits the new toilet level, sealed and tested. This page is about swapping the toilet itself; if the whole room needs redoing, see [downstairs toilet and cloakroom refits](/services/cloakroom-toilets).

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Why toilets get replaced

Hairline cracks in the pan or cistern, a seep at the base that has stained the floor, and a cistern that never quite stops filling are the usual reasons. Sometimes the toilet is fine but the style is not, or it is an old high level cistern that someone wants changed. A toilet that moves when you sit on it should be looked at soon, as a loose pan can break the waste seal and let water into the floor.

Types of toilet that can be fitted

Close coupled toilets, where the cistern sits on the back of the pan, are the most common and the simplest swap. Back to wall toilets hide the cistern inside a unit or a boxed in frame, which gives a cleaner look and hides the pipes. Wall hung toilets are fixed to a concealed frame inside the wall and leave the floor clear, but they need the frame built in and the wall boarded, so they suit a cloakroom or bathroom refit better than a quick change.

Comfort height pans sit a little higher and are easier for some people to use. Soft close seats, dual flush buttons and rimless pans are all common choices. When buying, check the distance from the wall to the centre of the waste on your old toilet, because a new pan with a different outlet position may need a different connector.

Close coupled: the usual like for like swap
Back to wall: cistern hidden in a unit or boxing
Wall hung: frame concealed in the wall
Comfort height pans for easier use

How a toilet is replaced

The water is isolated, the cistern drained and the old toilet disconnected and removed. The waste is checked and a new pan connector fitted where needed. Before the new pan goes down, the floor underneath is checked for rot or soft spots, because a toilet that has been seeping for years can damage the boards. The pan is fixed level, the cistern fitted and connected to a new isolation valve, and the flush is tested several times for leaks.

A neat finish matters. The base of the pan is sealed with a bead of silicone, and the old toilet is taken away. If the flooring around an old pan is stained or lifting, it is worth replacing at the same time, which may need agreeing before the job. Joints around a bath or basin nearby can be renewed in the same visit through regrouting and resealing.

Toilet replacement cost: what decides it

The price of a toilet installation comes down to the type of toilet, the condition of the waste and floor, and whether pipework has to move. A close coupled swap on a sound floor is the simplest. A back to wall or wall hung toilet takes longer because of the unit or frame, and moving the toilet to a new position is a bigger plumbing job. The toilet itself can be bought by you or supplied through the job; either way the cost is set out in a written quote.

Cheap toilet installation is tempting, but a poorly fixed pan or a weak connector is what causes a slow leak through the ceiling or floor. Paying for a careful fit is part of what makes the best toilet installation the one you do not think about again.

Booking a toilet fitting

Send a photo of the existing toilet, a photo of the new one if you have it, and your postcode through the contact page. Toilet fitting sits within the bathroom renovation service and can be combined with other small bathroom jobs in one visit.

Fitting a whole customer supplied suite is covered by bathroom suite installation.

This work is part of our Bathroom Renovations service.

Common questions