Toilets are a necessary component of our modern civilization.
Thanks to them, we are doing our business in privacy and peace. But, despite how frequently we need toilets, we do not appreciate them enough.
Obviously, when the toilet gets blocked, we become quite anxious. And when it’s finally time to replace them, we naturally put all our focus on the new one we’re about to buy.
But your old toilet is sitting there asking what will you do with it?
Do You Really Need to Get Rid of It?
Toilet disposal is not something that most homeowners consider or perform on a daily or even yearly basis.
In reality, it might be your first encounter with this issue. However, no toilet is designed to survive forever.
Perhaps yours got damaged and needed to be removed or you chose to switch to an efficient model.
You might be facing a crack or chip in the porcelain, and the damaged structure might lead to water leakage and high water bills.
Any of these reasons should be enough for you to consider getting a new toilet.
However, you need to be equally considerate of how to dispose of the old one. Let’s discuss some of the ways to safely do so.
Toilet Disposal Methods
Once you safely remove your old toilet, you face a dilemma: how to dispose of a toilet?
The old toilet is large and occupies a lot of room, so you are not sure if anybody else would like to have it.
Is it going to be picked up by the garbage collector?
Let’s go through some options for toilet removal. Some of these are simple, but others could use a bit more work.
We have collected a list of recommended toilet disposal methods with a complete explanation that will ease the entire process for you.
Select the one which is best for you.
Throw It in the Garbage
The very first and easiest way that comes to everyone’s mind for toilet disposal is to throw it away in the garbage.
However, we receive many inquiries about whether they can throw away the toilet in the garbage.
Yes, you can! But there is a catch. You cannot throw the toilet in one piece as it will not fit the garbage can.
The second reason would be that handling it would be very difficult because of its weight. So the garbage collector will likely not take it.
In that case, you will have to break it into smaller pieces so you can throw it in the garbage.
It will also make it easier for you and the garbage collector to handle it easily. You will need a spacious area to spread out a blanket and put the toilet on it.
The blanket is important as it will contain all the broken pieces of the toilet and not let them spread out on your lawn.
So you will be saved from the struggle of collecting the pieces or getting hurt by stepping on them.
If you have children or pets, it will also keep them from swallowing any small porcelain piece.
We also recommend covering the toilet with a tarp while it’s being dismantled. This will assist in reducing the amount of clean-up required.
Use a small hammer to gently pound the edges of the toilet to break it up into tiny pieces.
Because you don’t need to make small bits, bigger chunks are OK. Simply ensure that the pieces are tiny enough to fit into a trash bin.
Toss the blanket into the trash bin and clean, sweep, and vacuum the area when you are through. People going barefoot may be cut by little bits of the toilet.
Put a Free Sign On It
Another easy way to get rid of your old toilet would be to put it in your driveway with a “Free” sign on it.
In this way, you are helping someone in need and saving yourself from spending money to transport it anywhere.
However, you’ll have an old toilet displayed in front of your house until someone takes it.
We do not recommend doing it if any sort of holiday or celebrations are round the corner.
Contact a Waste Management Firm
Calling a local trash management firm is also another alternative for toilet removal.
Most waste management services might not agree to collect your toilet for free, so you might have to pay a certain fee from 50 to 100 dollars to get it removed.
Simply contact them and request a personal pick-up. If you do not want to handle the disposal yourself, this might be the best bet for you.
Donate It
If the old toilet seems to be in good shape and functional, you could donate it as well. Habitat for Humanity seems to be the best fit for this.
It is an organization that takes discarded building materials that are still usable.
By donating your toilet to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, you can ensure that it is put to good use without having to worry about recycling regulations or the possibility of contributing to a landfill.
Repurpose It in Your Garden
This alternative would be for the creative spirit and should be considered carefully concerning your neighbors.
You surely do not want to risk the value of your or the neighborhood and affect the resale prices in your area.
If you do not have such a problem and have a nudge for art, this could be your choice for toilet disposal!
You can repurpose it in two ways.
One is by filling it with fertilizer and using it as a planter. You can paint it and decorate it in whatever way you think it could complement your garden and sense of art.
The second way would be to transform it into a modern yard art by painting it a vibrant color. If you’re talented in design, this might function and look nice!
There are several ways to add character to your garden – perhaps this old toilet could be your solution!
Step-by-Step Guide for Toilet Removal
In order to dispose of the toilet, you have to remove it first.
If you plan on saving money by doing this yourself, follow the step by step guide given below:
Tools
Searching for specific tools and realizing they are missing would be the last thing you would want to face while removing the toilet.
Remember, it can get messy if you begin the process without preparations.
We recommend you gather all these required tools and supplies that you will need for toilet removal: bucket, rubber gloves, cleaning rag, sponge, wire brush, spare rags, penetrating oil, junk towels, screwdriver, wrench set, hacksaw, putty knife, pliers, and utility knife.
Drain the Tank
The first thing you need to do is turn off the water shut-off valve that you can easily locate beneath the toilet tank.
It is usually located there since it drains inside the ground, although it can also be attached behind the toilet bowl into the wall.
After turning off the water, you must drain the toilet. This phase can become a little dirty, so keep in mind to protect the area where you’ll be starting to work using rags or old towels.
Now you will need to make sure the tank is empty before you remove it. For this, you will have to keep flushing it until empty.
Then, wear your rubber gloves and take the sponge to suck all the remaining water and squeeze it out in the bucket.
Separate the Tank and Bowl
Toilet tank removal is a straightforward operation, but you must first disconnect it from the water lines.
To do so, use pliers and a wrench to separate the toilet tank and valve from the intake supply line.
Once that process is completed, you may begin working on the tank. Undo the screws out of the bolts that hold the bowl and tank together.
They are usually two or three and are situated on the tank’s underside.
You can also use penetrating oil to ease the process of removing the bolts and loosen the screws a little. Lift the tank and keep it aside.
Remove the Bowl
The toilet is fixed to the floor by usually four very firm bolts on either side of the toilet.
They sometimes have caps, so you will have to remove them using a wrench and unscrew the bolts.
If the bolts are rusty or very tight to unscrew, you should apply the penetrating oil to loosen them.
If that does not work, you might need to cut the bolts by using a hacksaw.
Now that you are done with the bolts, gently hold the toilet bowl and start to rock it while pulling it up.
As soon as the seal breaks, carefully remove the bowl and place it aside.
Conclusion
It is important to think carefully about how to dispose of a toilet.
If possible, avoid throwing it away since many people cannot afford them. We hope these options will help you in your toilet disposal process.
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