How to Hook Up a Toilet to a Sewer

Clean the sewer drain opening by scraping the caulk around the opening with a putty knife. Use a damp rag to wipe away any residue around the opening.

Push two flange bolts, with the threads facing up toward you, into the openings positioned at opposite ends of the flange. Slide one retention washer over each flange bolt to secure them.

Place a wax ring, with the rounded side facing you, around the sewer drain opening. Press down on the ring to help secure it to the opening.

Lift the toilet bowl. Position it over the sewer drain opening, matching up the flange bolts with the opening in the toilet bowl’s base. Lower the toilet to insert the flange bolts through the holes in the bowl. Push down on the toilet bowl firmly to press it into the wax ring.

Slide a washer over each flange bolt. Then slide a nut over each washer. Tighten the nuts by hand, then tighten the flange bolts with your wrench. Use a hacksaw to cut off the excess flange bolt length that extends past the nuts. Place plastic bolt covers over the bolts.

Position the tank onto the back of your toilet and secure it to the toilet with tank bolts. Tighten the tank bolts with a wrench. Attach a water supply hose for the toilet to the water supply valve. Attach the opposite end of the supply hose to the toilet’s inlet, located at the toilet’s base.

Rotate the water supply valve counterclockwise to turn on the water supply. Allow the toilet to fill with water before flushing.