Plumbing Questions & Answers

If you find yourself with an old toilet that seem to need repairs, you would be surprised to find out that it is actually cheaper to replace the whole thing rather than try to get it fixed. Another thing with repairs is that they usually don’t last and the problem keeps coming back again and again. With a new toilet, you won’t be bothered by that problem. You can also save more money when you do the installation yourself.

Installing a new toilet isn’t so hard and an afternoon is all you need to complete the job. If you’re planning to put your new toilet in a new location though, you will have to extend the supply pipes and drainpipes. This job will be a lot tougher and is best left to a contractor unless you have the skill and experience for the job.

When purchasing your new toilet, check to see if they come with the necessary gaskets, washers and hardware for fitting the tank to the bowl. There are some parts though that may not come with the set and you will have to purchase these separately.

Here are the parts that you will need:

• Toilet bowl
• Toilet tank
• Toilet seat
• 2 ¼” bolts for bowl to flange
• Wax ring
• 20” water supply with fitting at valve or floor connection
• A pair of channel pliers
• Bucket
• Screwdriver

Here are the five steps to follow:

• Before beginning, make sure that you turn off the water supply. Use the bucket and a cloth or sponge to remove any water left in the bowl or tank after flushing the toilet.
• Use the pair of channel pliers or a small 8” pipe wrench to remove the nut where the water line fastens to the ballcock valve below the left side of the bottom of the tank. After that, use a small crescent wrench and remove the two 1/4″ nuts holding the bowl to the floor flange. Remove the old toilet and the water line from the valve or fitting at floor or wall.
• After doing the following, you will now be ready to install your new toilet. Put the two 1/4″ bolts in the side holes of the flange with the bolt head in the flange. Put some of the old wax on this spot to hold the bolts straight up and across from each other. Now put new wax ring on the flange, flat side up if tapered.
• Place the new bowl only straight down so that it centers on the wax ring and both bolts could come through holds on each side of bowl. Try to sit on the bowl facing the wall until your weight puts bowl flush with the floor. Put the metal washers and nuts on bolts and tighten until the lock snugly. Do not over-tighten as you may end up cracking the bowl. Tighten these again after the toilet is completely installed and filled with water.
• Put the 2″ rubber gasket on the tank where it sets on the bowl. Put the rubber washers on bolts provided under the bolt head so they will be on the inside of the tank. Pick up the tank and set on the bowl over the holes in the bowl where the bolts go through. Sit on the bowl facing wall again. Put the bolts on from the inside of the tank into holes in the bowl, put on the metal washers and nuts and then tighten them. Hold tank level and tighten so it brings tank down level. Use a large screw driver inside the tank and a crescent wrench or end wrench to back up the nut under the bowl. Tighten with a screwdriver. Hook the water supply to the tank, turn on the water, check for leaks, and snug up the bolts holding the bowl to the floor. If there is a space between the back of the tank and the wall, put a spacer of some sort to brace the tank. Usually, a piece of wood or hard rubber works just fine.