In tight quarters, you may discover that the toilet you just installed does not allow comfortable use because part of it is too close to the wall or another bathroom fixture. Turning the toilet so it angles further from any surfaces is a potential solution. Because the toilet is connected to the drain through a flange, you must rotate the flange to reposition the toilet.
Shut off the water that fills the toilet by turning off the valve underneath the tank and behind the bowl. Drain the water from the bowl by flushing the toilet and using a sponge to sop up any remaining liquid in the bowl. Disconnect the water line from the tank by rotating the fittings counterclockwise, using a wrench.
Remove the decorative covers from the flange bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. Unscrew and remove the nuts and washers. Set them aside for reuse later. Leave the bolts in place.
Lift the toilet straight up from the floor and set it somewhere that allows you clear access to the flange. You may have to shake the toilet slightly to loosen it from the wax gasket on the floor. Use a putty knife to pry and remove the wax ring. Scrape off any remaining wax. The metal or plastic disk that was under the wax is the toilet flange.
Remove the retaining screws holding the flange to the floor, using a screwdriver or a drill with a screw bit. Leave the mounting bolts that held the toilet.
Move the bolts into the new toilet position by sliding the bolts along their grooves. Unless you are rotating the toilet less than a few degrees, you have to rotate the flange itself before the bolts can slide into the position you want.
Drill new screw holes for the rotated flange, as needed. Screw the flange back into the floor.
Press a new wax gasket into the top of the flange until it sticks into place.
Position the toilet over the flange so its bolt holes line up with the new bolt positions. Gently lower the fixture over the bolts. Move the toilet from side to side to get it into position, if necessary.
Re-attach the washers, nuts and decorative covers. Connect the water line back to the toilet and turn it on. Flush the toilet to fill the bowl with water and to ensure that there are no leaks.
Things You Will Need
- Putty knife
- Wax gasket
- If your toilet is too unwieldy to move, you may need to detach the tank from the bowl. The bolts are inside the tank and the retaining nuts are under the tank.
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