Home & Garden Maintenance & Repairs

How to Take Off the Back of a Toilet

By Home & Garden Last updated Friday, May/24/2024

1). Find the water supply shut-off valve toward the floor on the left side. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops. This discontinues the toilet's water supply.
2). Flush the toilet to remove most of the water in the tank. Remove the tank top and set it aside. Use a sponge to soak up and remove the residual water from the tank.
3). Find the bolts under the toilet tank that secure it to the toilet base. Use a pair of pliers to turn the wing nuts counterclockwise that secure the bolts. Even though the wing nuts are designed to turn by hand, you will probably have to use pliers to loosen them.
4). Lift the toilet tank straight up until the bolts clear the base and set the tank on a towel where it will not be in the way of the repair being executed.