The first thing you must do in either event is shut off the water supply.  Flush the toilet to get rid of the remaining water in the tank.  Remove the water supply line that leads to the tank and loosen the compression nut.

At the base of the toilet, there will be bolts going into the floor.  Remove the covers and loosen the nuts.  Once this is done, lift the toilet straight up; you may need two people to do this.  Once the toilet has been removed, you will see the wax ring on the floor.  Using a putty knife, scrape off the old ring and remove the old hardware for the bolts.

Place the new wax ring in the same spot, making sure to keep its original shape.  Install new bolts and gently lower the toilet onto the bolts and the new wax ring.  Apply even pressure to the toilet on the ring to make a firm seal.  Tighten the bolts and make sure the toilet does not wiggle.

Once the toilet is back in place, reattach the water supply hose to the valve and turn the water on.  Let the toilet fill up and then flush it several times while looking for leaks.

It is an extremely simple procedure to replace a toilet seat and the effect can transform your bathroom.  Designs to choose from include the solid and traditional types, but you could go for something colourful or just plain whacky if you prefer.  They are all reasonably cheap and are supplied with all the fittings required, including the metal key that takes the place of a screwdriver.

First of all, find the screw attachments underneath the existing seat, at the rear of the bowl.  Unscrew these and lift the whole seat away from the bowl and place it to one side. 

New seats include complete instructions for their fitting, but common sense will dictate what you need to do.  Place the new seat on top of the bowl in a neat fit and insert the bolts that came with it, from below upwards, into the rear of the bowl where the old bolts were taken from.  Do not tighten them fully for the moment.  Having made sure the seat does not wobble, by sitting on it, screw the bolts firmly into position.

Consider the following statistics:

The average person in the UK uses around 150 litres of water every day – a third of this used solely to flush the lavatory.

A five minute shower uses around a third less water than a bath. Be careful, though. A power shower gets through more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes.

Around 5 percent of the UK’s Co2 emissions are caused by domestic water heating appliances.

At least 25 percent of your energy bill is caused by heating water. And this does not include your central heating costs.

The energy used to treat, pump and heat the annual water usage of an average UK family produces the carbon equivalent of a return flight from London to New York.

Perhaps the easiest way to save water is to fit flow limiters to your taps and showers. These are easily fitted between the water outlet and the hose on a shower, and on either the tail or spout of a tap.

Or you could change your taps to water-saving designs that have an eco-click cartridge attached. By doing so, you could save up to 70 percent of domestic water usage.

And if you really want to make a big saving, exchange your existing toilet for a double-flush loo. Some manufacturers claim that the flush is as low as 2.5 litres per minute – in contrast to the standard 9 litres per minute.

Modern toilet bowls will have an average height of between 40cm and 41cm, with low-level cisterns. Minimal designs are currently in fashion and most modern toilets will come with plain features. However, there are some new extras, such as two buttons for separate flushes (ideal for using the right amount of water for each flush) and slow-closing lids and toilet seats.

One of the most popular designs at the moment is the wall mounted toilet – ideal for giving an extra sense of space in smaller bathroom suites. The cistern for this type of toilet is also commonly hidden in the bathroom furniture; i.e. a shelving unit built behind the toilet and bathroom sink. However, some of these designs tend to show the pipe work underneath, which is more often finished in chrome, so it would be well to take note if you are looking to match the colour of your bathroom fittings. Having a brass finish for your bath and basin taps with chrome pipe work underneath your toilet will definitely clash.

Another factor to take into consideration for your toilet is where it will be placed. It is recommended to have sufficient leg room around the toilet away from the bathroom sink and shower enclosure, so if you do find you are stuck for space, a wall-mounted design could be the answer.