Toilet Replacement Chatham | Professional Fitting

Name: Chatham Plumbing Services
Address: Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR, GB
Telephone: 01634 123456

Toilets crack, leak, or just get grotty after decades of use. If yours is cracked, leaking from the pan, or so old it uses 13 litres per flush, it's time to replace it. Modern toilets use 4-6 litres per flush, so you'll save water (and money if you're on a meter).

We'll remove the old toilet, fit the new one, connect the waste and water supply, seal it to the floor, and test it. Most toilet replacements are done in a couple of hours. We'll take the old one away and dispose of it.

There's no call-out fee when you book with us. Bring your own toilet or we can supply one. We'll quote you before we start, and our 12-month guarantee is included with our membership plan.

Signs You Need a New Toilet

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Crack in the porcelain

If there's a crack in the toilet pan or cistern, it'll leak eventually (if it's not already). Cracks don't get better, they get worse. You can't repair porcelain, so if it's cracked, replace it before it floods the bathroom.

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Leaking from the base

Water pooling around the base of the toilet means the seal between the pan and the waste pipe has failed. You can sometimes reseal it, but if the toilet's old, it's better to replace it. Leaking waste water will rot the floor.

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Constant repairs needed

If you're forever replacing the cistern internals, the flush valve, the ballvalve, or the handle, and it's still not right, the toilet's reached the end of its life. A new toilet with modern internals will be more reliable and use less water.

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Old high-level cistern

If you've got an old high-level cistern (cistern mounted on the wall with a chain flush), it's probably ancient. These use 13+ litres per flush. A modern close-coupled toilet uses 4-6 litres. You'll save money and it looks better.

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Grotty and impossible to clean

Old toilets get stained, scratched, and grotty over the years. If yours is stained brown around the waterline and no amount of bleach shifts it, or the glaze is worn off and it's rough, just replace it. A new toilet costs £100-£200 and looks decent.

What to Check Before Buying a Toilet

Pan connector type

Check how your existing toilet connects to the waste pipe. Horizontal outlet (pipe goes into the wall)? Vertical outlet (pipe goes down through the floor)? S-trap (pipe goes down then back)? You need a new toilet with the same outlet or you'll need adaptors.

Measurement from wall to waste

Measure from the wall to the centre of the waste pipe outlet. This tells you how far the new toilet will stick out. Standard close-coupled toilets have a projection of 600-700mm. If your bathroom's tiny, check it'll fit before you buy.

Close-coupled or back-to-wall

Close-coupled toilets have the cistern bolted directly to the pan. They're the most common and cheapest. Back-to-wall toilets have a concealed cistern hidden in the wall or a unit. They look neater but cost more and are harder to service.

Flush type

Dual flush (small and large flush buttons) is standard now. Uses less water. Single flush (lever or push button) uses one amount every time (usually 6 litres). Dual flush saves water if you're on a meter.

How We Replace Toilets

1

Turn off the water and remove the old toilet

We'll turn off the water supply to the cistern, flush to empty it, disconnect the supply pipe, and unbolt the toilet from the floor. We'll disconnect the pan from the waste pipe and lift the toilet out. Old toilets are heavy and awkward, so it's a two-person job.

2

Clean and prepare the waste connection

We'll scrape off the old mastic or wax seal around the waste pipe outlet and clean it up. If the old pan connector's stuck in the pipe, we'll chisel it out. We'll check the waste pipe's sound and not cracked.

3

Fit the new toilet

We'll connect the new pan to the waste pipe using a pan connector (flexible or rigid depending on what fits). We'll position the toilet, mark the fixing holes, drill and plug the floor, and bolt it down. We won't over-tighten the bolts (that cracks the pan).

4

Fit the cistern and connect the water

We'll bolt the cistern to the pan (if it's close-coupled), fit the flush mechanism inside, and connect the water supply. We'll adjust the ballvalve and flush valve so it fills and flushes properly. We'll seal around the base with silicone to stop leaks.

5

Test and tidy up

We'll flush the toilet a few times to check it fills, stops, flushes cleanly, and doesn't leak. We'll check for leaks at the pan connector, the water supply, and around the base. Once it's all sound, we'll take the old toilet away and clean up.

Toilet Replacement Pricing

Upfront prices, no nasty surprises

We'll always tell you the cost before we start. These are typical price ranges, your exact quote depends on the job.

Service	Typical Cost
Toilet replacement (supply your own)	£150 – £250
Toilet replacement (we supply standard toilet)	£280 – £450
Removal and disposal of old toilet	Included

All prices are estimated. Final costs depend on the specific job. We provide detailed quotes before starting work.

Common Questions

Got questions? Here's the quick answers.

How much does toilet replacement cost in Chatham?

Fitting a toilet you've bought yourself costs £150 to £250. If we supply a standard close-coupled toilet and fit it, it's £280 to £450. Back-to-wall and concealed cistern toilets cost more because they're more complex to fit. We'll quote you before we start.

How long does toilet replacement take?

A couple of hours for a straightforward close-coupled toilet. Longer if the waste connection's awkward, the floor's uneven, or we need to move pipework. Back-to-wall and concealed cistern toilets take longer (half a day). We'll give you a time estimate when we've seen the job.

Can I buy the toilet myself?

Yes. Buy it from wherever you like (Screwfix, Wickes, B&Q, online). Make sure it's the right outlet type (horizontal, vertical, S-trap) to match your waste pipe. If you're not sure, measure the waste pipe position and ask before you buy.

Will you supply the toilet?

Yes. We'll supply a standard close-coupled toilet (white, decent make, dual flush) and fit it. We'll quote you for the toilet and fitting together. If you want something specific (back-to-wall, coloured, designer brand), you're better off buying it yourself.

Do you take the old toilet away?

Yes, it's included. We'll take the old toilet, cistern, and fittings and dispose of them. Old toilets are heavy and awkward to shift, so we'll do it for you.

What if the waste pipe doesn't line up?

We'll use a flexible pan connector or an offset connector to make it work. Most waste pipes are standard positions, but older properties sometimes have odd pipe positions. We carry a range of connectors to suit different setups.

Can you fix uneven floors?

We can shim the toilet with plastic packers to level it on a slightly uneven floor. If the floor's really uneven or soft (rotted floorboards, dodgy vinyl), you'll need to get that fixed first or the toilet will rock and leak.

Will the new toilet fit where the old one was?

Usually, yes. Most close-coupled toilets are similar sizes. If you're going from an old high-level cistern to a close-coupled toilet, you'll have holes in the wall where the old cistern was. We'll remove the old cistern brackets, but you'll need to fill and paint the holes yourself.

Back to Tap & Toilet Repairs

Get In Touch

Request a free quote

Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you with a no-obligation quote, usually within the hour during working hours.

01634 123456

Mon–Thurs 8.30am–6pm, Fri 9am–4pm

Covering all Chatham postcodes

Toilet replacement across Chatham