How to install a toilet
Installing a toilet is very easy and can be done quickly with just a few tools. First consider what type of toilet you will need to buy. If you are replacing an old toilet you may find that there are more options available now than ten years ago. Toilets come either in one-piece or in tank and bowl configurations. There are a couple of options available like an elongated bowl or an extra height bowl. Also, consider the “rough-in” of your existing flange. The rough-in is the distance from the wall to the center of the flange. This is where you will want to start when purchasing a new toilet.
- First you will need to remove the old toilet. Make sure to turn off the supply line and flush the toilet to remove the excess water in the tank. Once the water has been removed, you can disconnect the water supply line and the tank from the bowl. There should be two to three bolts that connect the tank to the bowl plus a gasket, flange or some type of washers. Next remove the two floor bolts in the bottom of the bowl that connects it to the flange. Remove the bowl by rocking side to side if necessary. Sometimes the flange has been down for a while and can create quite a suction between the bowl and flange. Once the bowl has been removed make sure to scrape the old wax ring off the flange. At this point make sure to wear gloves and cover the flange when done because of the danger of possible sewer gases in the drainage lines.
- Flip the new bowl over and apply a new wax ring to underside of the flange. The hardest part of the whole install is probably flipping the bowl over and evenly sitting it on top of the flange so that the wax ring makes good contact all around and the weight of the bowl compresses the ring. Make sure to apply a little more pressure evenly to compress the ring further. If your flooring is not level you may need to use plastic shims to level the bowl and make sure that the bowl flange connection is secure.
- Now you will need to bolt the bowl down to the flange. Make sure to snug the bolts so that the bowl will not move but be extremely careful not to over-tighten as this could cause the bowl to crack.
- It is time to install the tank. You may need to install the ballcock and flush valve, though on many manufacturers they now come pre-installed.
- Bolt the tank to the bowl. Again depending on the tank manufacturer you have chosen you may use a gasket or flange that was installed with the flush valve or rubber washers that you tighten down with either two or three bolts. Make sure you do not over-tighten them, but they will need to be snug or the tank will leak. Also, make sure that you tighten the bolts evenly.
- Connect the the water supply line. Turn on the water supply shutoff valve and your toilet tank should start filling. Flush a few times and pay close attention to the tank and bowl connection and around the bowl. If there are no leaks you may now want to caulk around the bottom of the bowl to make sure that water cannot get underneath.
Check out this site for information on how to fix leaks on existing toilets:
http://www.ehow.com/how_117361_fix-leaky-toilet.html
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.