Replacing a toilet is one of the most common plumbing jobs in Israel: the old one started acting up, water stains appeared, the tank cracked. A like-for-like swap is an hour of work and ILS 500–900. Wanting wall-hung instead of floor-standing or a toilet with bidet turns it into a full bathroom rebuild with a budget 5–10× higher.
Two replacement scenarios
Like-for-like
A new toilet of the same type (close-coupled floor-standing), with the same outlet type (horizontal/angled/vertical), in the same spot. All connections stay, supply and drain don't move.
- Time — 1–2 hours.
- Labor — ILS 400–700.
- The toilet itself — ILS 400–3,500.
- Tile and walls are not disturbed.
Changing the type
Floor-standing → wall-hung, close-coupled → one-piece, standard → with bidet. Outlet, supply, possibly walls need rework.
- Time — from one day to one week.
- Labor — ILS 2,500–8,000.
- Plus materials, carrier frame, finishing.
- Tile and walls may be touched.
How a like-for-like swap goes
- Shut off water. Angle valve under the tank or the apartment shutoff.
- Drain the tank. Remaining water is wiped up.
- Disconnect the supply line from the tank. 1/2" wrench.
- Remove the tank from the bowl (2 top bolts + gasket).
- Cut the silicone around the toilet base. Utility knife.
- Unscrew the floor bolts. They often seize — need WD-40 plus the right wrench, sometimes an angle grinder.
- Lift the toilet off the sewer outlet. Carefully, so as not to tear the flexible pipe or eccentric.
- Clean the spot — silicone residue, old flexible pipe.
- Dry-fit the new toilet. Check whether the outlet matches height and angle.
- Install the new flex pipe/eccentric. New, not the old one.
- Place the new toilet, bolt it down (carefully, not over-tight).
- Assemble the tank with a new gasket.
- Connect the supply line. Usually new and short — comes with the new toilet.
- Turn water on, test flush. 10 times in a row, check every connection.
- Seal the base with sanitary silicone.
- Haul out the old toilet.
How to choose a new toilet
Outlet type
The single most important thing — matching the existing sewer stub:
- Horizontal — into the wall. Standard in new apartments.
- Angled — into the floor at an angle. Apartments from the 70s–90s.
- Vertical — straight into the floor. Rare.
- Universal — with an adapter for any type.
Photograph the existing outlet and show it to the seller. A mistake = store return or outlet rework (ILS 1,000+ on top).
Dimensions
- Bowl width — 35–40 cm.
- Length — 60–70 cm.
- Seat height — 40 cm (standard) or 42–45 (for tall users).
- Wall-to-outlet distance — measure precisely, the new unit has to match.
Flush volume
- 6/3 L — standard for Israel (two-mode button).
- 4.5/3 L — economical, but requires a well-designed flush system.
- 9 L — obsolete, prohibited in new Israeli builds.
Bowl type
- Funnel — everything drops straight in, less splashing during flush.
- Rim-shelf — with a sloped shelf. Soils more but less "splashy."
- Washdown-shelf — outdated, with a horizontal shelf. Only seen in old toilets.
Brands in Israel
- Kleopatra, Chromagen — Israeli, good quality.
- Villeroy & Boch, Duravit — German, premium.
- Roca — Spanish standard.
- Cersanit, Jika — budget.
- Toto — Japanese premium with extras (bidet, heating).
How much it costs in Israel
- Like-for-like floor replacement — ILS 400–700 labor + ILS 400–3,500 for the toilet
- With old unit removal and disposal — +ILS 100–200
- With new flex pipe / eccentric — +ILS 50–150
- With new supply line and angle valve — +ILS 100–200
- Swap to a one-piece unit — +ILS 200 (heavier, two workers)
- Floor-standing to wall-hung (with frame and finishing) — ILS 4,000–10,000
- Repositioning 10–30 cm — +ILS 800–1,800 (outlet relocation)
What to check before buying
- Outlet type (horizontal / angled / vertical).
- Distance from wall to outlet center.
- Width of the toilet niche (critical for larger models).
- Whether tank + gasket + floor bolts are included.
- Whether the seat is included (often separate!).
- Supply hose length (30–50 cm, universal diameter).
Typical mistakes and surprises
- The new toilet is bigger than the old one. Doesn't fit in the corner, blocks the bathroom door. Measure BEFORE buying.
- Outlet type mismatch. You bought horizontal for an angled stub — adapter or return is needed.
- Supply line doesn't reach. Old 25 cm, new tank sits 35 cm away. ILS 40 for a longer one.
- "Ghost" of the old toilet on the tile. Color difference and anchor marks — more visible if the new unit is smaller.
- Seized angle valve. Shuts off but won't open. Replacement — +ILS 150–250.
FAQ
Does the angle valve need replacing when swapping the toilet?
Not required if the old one works (turns, doesn't leak). But if it's 15+ years old — swap it now, +ILS 50 labor and ILS 60 valve. Replacing it separately two years from now means another call-out worth ILS 250. True saving = preventive replacement.
Can a wall-hung unit go where a floor-standing one was without a heavy renovation?
Without a heavy renovation — no. You need a carrier frame behind the wall (your current wall may not hold it), sewer outlet repositioned in height, backing in the wall, fresh finishing. Budget ILS 5,000–10,000. Don't cut corners — shortcuts mean the toilet "drifts" in two years.
How do I dispose of the old toilet?
In Israel — through municipal bulky-waste pickup (phone call to city services, they come within 5–10 days free). The plumber can take it for ILS 50–150 and dispose of it himself. Porcelain is accepted at construction-waste sites and is usually sledgehammered before disposal.
How often does a toilet get replaced on average?
Porcelain as a material — 30–50 years. But the mechanicals age: first rubber seals are swapped, then the whole valve, then the seat, then the tank. By 20–25 years everything inside is new, only the bowl is original. Full-set replacement usually happens after 25–30 years or during a bathroom remodel.