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The 4 Things To Check When Replacing Your Toilet

Writer's picture: Geoff BurkeGeoff Burke
Using a tape measure to measure a toilet bowl

 

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There are many reasons why you’d want to replace your toilet. Whether it’s an old, inefficient water waster, or perhaps the repairs cost more than the toilet itself!


Today let's talk about the 4 (very important) measurements you need to take before replacing your toilet. When it comes to toilets, there are quite a few options out there – it’s important to get them right or that new toilet you've chosen just won't work!

An Out of Order sign placed on a toilet seat

Before choosing your new toilet, take these things into consideration:


Tank Height


It’s important to make sure the new toilet you buy is going to fit in the existing space you have. Whether there is a built-in shelf or a more temporary space saver above the toilet, you need to make sure the height of the new toilet tank will fit in place of the old one.


Bowl Shape


Many of you subconsciously know this but have never had to think about it – there are actually two different shapes of toilet bowls - we call them “Round Front” or “Elongated” bowls in the plumbing world.


The round front is well, round. These are great options if you are limited for space in the bathroom, as they are shorter from front to back.


A white toilet in a bathroom with brown wooden floors
Round front toilet bowl

Elongated toilets are the oval shaped toilets you will see in commercial buildings such as restaurants or offices. With that said, many homeowners choose to put them in their homes as well! If you have the space in your bathroom, they tend to be a more comfortable option, but protrude further out into the room. If looking into an elongated toilet, be sure to check things like the doors can still open without hitting the toilet bowl and you have sufficient room to move with the bigger toilet.


Rough-In Dimensions


This is the most important measurement you can take. The rough-in dimension is the distance between the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor and the drywall (not the baseboard) behind it. Toilets come in 10”, 12”, or 14” rough-in dimensions. The most common is a 12” rough-in, but always double check to make sure before purchasing the toilet. Simply measure from the center of the bolts on the floor to the drywall behind the toilet (again, not the baseboard!).


Measuring toilet bolts to the drywall
Measure from bolts to drywall

Other Obstructions


This is the last area where a homeowner will often run into trouble. Water lines, valves, or an extra thick baseboard may all cause issue for your new toilet purchase. Newer, “skirted” toilets extend the bowl all the way to the floor and often to the back wall. We sometimes run into issues when the location of the existing water line, valve, or baseboard will not allow us to install toilets like this! Just be sure to take these things into account!


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