Toilet Replacement, Project
Toilet replacement is considered a midlevel plumbing work and, it can be done by anyone. If you have never replaced or install a toilet before, then, this article has been written with you in mind. Replacing an old toilet by a professional usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, however, if this is the first time that you attempting such a project, considering spending 1 to 2 hours to accomplish the task.
The First Steps:
Before proceeding with the
toilet replacement,
know what you will need and, below can found a quick checklist for the needed materials, including parts and tools:
Tools: 1 – Putty knife, mini hack saw, utility knife 2 – Small wrench and a pair of pliers (adjustable wrench) 3 – Box cutter, sponge or bucket 4 – Level, tape measure, safety glasses, disposable plastic cup 5 – Old rags, heavy duty gloves, latex gloves Parts: 1 – A new toilet (one piece or 2 pieces), two pieces toilet will be better 2 – A new wax ring with nuts and bolts 3 – White Caulking or clear silicone 4 – Wood shims 5 – New toilet seat
Before Removing the Old Toilet:
Before removing the old toilet and proceed with the new toilet replacement, you need to shut the water off on the angle stop valve behind the toilet or at the main water valve. The shut off could be located inside the house, where the water pipe comes in or outside in the front yard.
Once the water has been turned off, unscrew the supply line from the bottom of the tank. Flush the water out of the tank completely by holding the handle until the water has completely been drained. Remove the remaining water from the bowl with a sponge or with a disposable plastic cup and dump it into the bucket.
Removing the Old Toilet:
With the right wrench size or pair of pliers unscrew the nuts from the bottom of the tank and remove the tank from the toilet bowl and put on a rag or paper towels. With the proper wrench size unscrew the nuts from the bolts both sides of the toilet. Remove the old caulking from around the toilet bowl and the floor, then pull the bowl and place on a piece of rag. Plug the sewer pipe with rags to prevent sewer gas from coming into the room. Remove the old bolts and old wax ring from the flange and, clean the flange and the floor really well.
Installing The Toilet Bowl:
Now it is time proceed with the toilet replacement, do as follow: 1-Place the new bolts through the gaps of the flange and screw 2 nuts to tight them down. This will provide more instability for the new toilet and, it will prevent the new toilet from rocking in the future. 2- Remove the rag from the sewer pipe and place the new wax ring on top of the flange, do not smash it. 3-Place the toilet bowl through the two bolts and over the new flange and push it down until the bowl is really close to the floor. If the floor is uneven, consider using wood shims as needed and with the lever, make sure the toilet is properly aligned. 4-Insert the metal and plastic rings through both bolt and screw the other two nuts through the bolts. Do all this by hand. Be careful to not over tight the nuts, you don’t to crack the toilet base. If the toilet is firm enough, stop tightening the nuts. 5-Cut the bolts down to the appropriate size, then, insert the plastic white cap over the bolts. 6-Use the tube of caulking to caulk around the bowl, this is the best time to do this, then, clean really well and remove the excess of the caulking.
Installing The NewTank:
During a toilet replacement, you will find out that some tanks come with three holes in the bottom while others come with two holes and, some toilets come with the tank to bowl gasket already installed, while others will required the installation of it.
Whatever may be the case, installing the tank to bowl gasket is pretty simple and straight forward, just follow the instruction on the package. Insert the tank screws through the whole, make sure to property insert the rubber gasket through the screws as it says in the bag and, once the screws are correctly inserted, position the tank over the bowl and through the holes of the tank base. Place the tank over the toilet bowl and through the holes and by hand, begin screwing the nuts evenly until it no longer is possible. Then with one big screwdriver (flat or Phillips) hold the screw from inside the tank and with a wrench or pair of pliers begin to tighten the screws evenly, do not tight one side all the way, do all together at the same time. This will prevent possible damage to the gasket which could cause leaks or could also cause possible cracks to the porcelain; therefore, it could cost you a new toilet replacement. Connect the supply line with the toilet tank and initially screw it by hand, then while holding the supply valve from inside the tank, tight the supply line under the tank with a pair of channel locks or wrench. The toilet replacement is done; now, it is time to turn the water back on to flush the toilet and to check for leaks between the tank and bowl, between the tank and supply line, around the base of the toilet and between the supply line and angle stop. If everything is ok, job well done! If you have leaks between the supply lines and angle stop, consider replacing them too, for that, check the supply lines and angle stop pages. |
