As a toilet has a life span of 20 years or so, and when you frequently develop a crack or a leak, it may be time to replace your toilet and opt out for a new one. So is replacing a toilet or to install a toilet, a call for a plumber?
Well, so far we have discussed all component’s repair, so we think it is time for you to think about a day work at home on doing it all by yourself with some tools and some of the hardware that you bought from your hardware store nearby.
Basics Component that comes along with toilet Bowl
There is a small possibility that your understanding may be inadequate on this short of work but no worries because we are here to help. So here we have tried to decode the complexity of installing a toilet into a smaller component so that it gets easy for you to install it without calling any one to help professionally.
Step1:
Prep the Floor and Soil Pipe
Firstly you know the opening of your toilet after your toilet is drained and uninstalled, you should stuff rags into the soil pipe to blocks the foul smell and methane gas from swirling into every corner of your house and to prevent hardware from falling in.
Soil pipe is ready to have a new bowl
Then measure the hole in the floor and find out if it is large enough to lodge the closet flange up to its collar. It’s naturally a universal size but, if you need to enlarge the hole, trace around the flange's base with a marker or a pencil, and cut and cut away the excess flooring with a hand saw carefully enough, not to cut away any joints or else you would have to replace the whole wood plank.
Now it’s time to dry-fit the soil pipe into the closet bend. After that, carefully place the flange over the soil pipe, then measure the gap between the bottom of the flange's collar and the finish floor.
Also See: How to Repair a Kitchen Sink Drain Pipe
Remove the soil pipe using a handsaw and trim to the pencil set mark. Remove burrs from the edges using a utility knife carefully.
Now the real work is on, so Dry-fit the flange to the mouth of the soil pipe, and attach the soil pipe to the closet and ensure the flange's collar rests on the floor properly.
Step2:
Install the Soil Pipe and Closet Flange
Wipe out the PVC primer inside of the bend and on the outside of one end of the soil pipe. Use PVC cement on the surface and twist the soil pipe into the closet bend.
Now apply cement on every free end of the soil pipe, afterward apply quick dry PVC cement in the closet flange. Then, you should carefully twist and press the flange to the soil pipe till the collar is set on the floor properly.
Soil pipe flange installation
Position the slots of the collar and so that it fits the hole. The positioning of the Collar is vital as it determines the position of your commode line up your bolt parallel to the wall behind the tank. Now that your collar is stable screw your color with stainless steel screws deep enough that it bites the inner flooring of your bathroom plank.
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Note: Gluing a fixed-collar PVC flange, is tricky as you should align the bolt slots quickly before the quick dry PVC cement seals out leaving you in all sorts of problem.
Step 3:
Now let’s work on water supply
Water supply Valve should be shut off before working on this very component. Place a bucket below the supply line so that your floor doesn’t get all messy.
Also See: Stuck with a shower valve repair related problem?
Now it’s time to sever the line with a tubing cutter. Don’t shorten the line all the way to the wall, leave at least 1 inch of pipe attached to the stop valve and escutcheon. Now allow the pipe to fully drain. Now, affix the valve outlet to the supply line, the valve should be affixed facing the ceiling.
Toilet water supply
After that, all we need is to set the arrangements and make it leakage proof, and for that, you need a propane torch or an electric solder. Melt the solder around the joint. After a drop of solder appears at the bottom, you should believe that the joint is secured.
Step 4:
Place the Toilet bowl
Now tighten the brass bolts, and tighten it till it perfectly reaches the flange collar's slots, slips a brass washer over each; remember the washers, it's super important. It’s just like going to one of the red light areas without rubber in your wallet. (Sorry a professional humor).
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Jokes apart, gently press the wax ring, with the bulging side facing upward and flat side facing down, towards the flange.
Wax Ring
Now it’s the hustle time, lift the toilet bowl over the flange and carefully place the bowl so that it fits your flange and its screw. Now press the bowl gently till its bottom rests on the floor, but rocking and shaking should be avoided, as we don’t want you to fight with leakage related problems, and needless to say, it’s the work of an armature as reading a 1500 word’s article has already made you a Pro.
Now it’s time for another washer, Slip nylon washers over each bolt, and thread the nuts. Tighten the nut with carefully rotate the wrench and stop when it reaches the resistance as over tightening will crack your new bowl.
The extra long Nut can be cut off
Yes, your nuts look crooked! So trim the closet bolts at a point two threads above the top of the nut. Snap the plastic bolt covers into place.
Step 5:
Install the tank:
We guess you know where the right holes are at? Don’t you? So, make sure the large-diameter rubber tank-to-bowl (or spud) washer on the outside of the tank's bottom is firmly seated.
After it is stable fit the small-diameter rubber tank washers into the small tank holes from the inside of the tank, then insert the tank bolts. Gently lower the tank onto the back of the bowl, guiding the ends of the tank bolts into the holes. Slip a nylon washer onto each bolt, then hand-thread the nuts.
Toilet tank installation
Holding each bolt head in place with a screwdriver, hand-tighten the nuts, alternating from nut to nut and checking repeatedly to make sure the tank is level. Over tightening will crack the porcelain. Connect the tank's handle to the flapper chain.
Step 6:
Check if your toilet works
Attach the water supply line and check the overall system to see if it is properly working, and if it is, then you are done for today.
toilet installation completed
Listen to the hissing sound of the water after the tank is installed, see the feeling that you get right now is the pride of doing something very important for yourself. Now, you can take a shit at your will and we know there were days where you could not poop every thing you had last-night without hesitation of leakage or breakage but not anymore. Happy flushing friends ;)
You may want to check out a cool video from This old House and revise the steps and do help us remind on what we miss above: