In terms of importance regarding decor, you may be surprised to learn that, following kitchens, people generally consider their bathrooms to be the second most important room to get right in terms of decor and styling, which is why people spend thousands upon thousands on new bathrooms, every single year. A toilet for example, although serving a pretty gross purpose, is absolutely essential for all households, and it can serve to be the focal point of many a bathroom, which is why choosing and installing the right toilet, is considered to be so important.
Toilet replacement and installation however, is not the simplest of jobs, which is why you may wish to seriously consider hiring professionals to come and install and replace your toilet for you. If you’re renovating your bathroom, or if you just feel like a new layout, a brand new toilet can make all of the difference to your bathroom, and if you are adamant that you wish to replace the toilet yourself, here are some useful toilet replacement and installation tips for you to consider.
Gather your materials – First and foremost, before you even consider replacing your toilet, you must first take the time to ensure you have all of the necessary tools and materials in place. A lot of people will begin a job without everything on hand, and so will waste time going back and forth grabbing items as and when they need them. By getting everything ready beforehand however, you can save yourself a great deal of time and effort. You will need:
- New toilet
- An adjustable wrench
- A putty knife
- A spirit level
- A bucket
- A replacement wax seal
- A sponge
- A tape measure
- A hacksaw
- A mask
Get rid of the tank – When it comes to toilet replacement and installation, once you have all of the tools necessary to begin, you will need to first red rid of your old toilet tank. First the toilet will need to be removed, making sure the water is switched off. You should flush the toilet and use the sponge to soak up any excess water. The bolts securing the toilet to the ground should be loosened and removed, before the toilet and tank can then be carefully lifted away. Take the tank outside and place it on the ground next to your skip, don’t throw it away just yet, just in case you forgot to remove a bolt or washer that may come in handy.
Take out the wax ring – Your next job will be to carefully remove the wax ring of the toilet. You should gently rock the toilet bowl back and forth, which should then work to loosen the seal and make it easy for you to remove. The bowl should then carefully be lifted up and away, and the putty knife should be used to loosen and remove the large wax seal. Using a clean damp sponge, make sure you wipe away any excess wax. Before you begin this process, it is advised that you wear your mask, as there is a possibly that harmful and smelly gases could emanate from the pipe below.
Fit your new bowl – Now the fun can begin, as the gross and nasty stuff is out of the way, so you can now focus on placing and installing your new bowl. A new wax seal should be placed around the pipe opening in the ground. The new bowl should be carefully aligned with the flange, and finally, to help set the wax seal, weight should gently be applied to help with the seal. You should then take the time to secure the bowl using the various nuts, bolts, and washers, before tightening them. Make sure to tighten them, but don’t over tighten them as this could cause damage to your shiny new toilet, and nobody wants that. If the bolts are a little too long, use your hacksaw to shorten them.
Finally, install your new tank – Now that the bowl is in place, the final job is to install your new tank and you will then be ready to rock. Press the gasket down onto the tank outlet, carefully position and centre the tank onto your toilet bowl, apply and assemble the various bolts and washers, and finally, tighten them alternately until the tank is level, which is when you should use your spirit level. If not, adjust the tank until it is entirely level.
Switch on the water – Now your toilet is installed and assembled, it is now time to switch the water back on. Switch it on, let the tank fill, and a few minutes later, give it a practice flush. If done correctly, the toilet should flush and fill itself like normal. Look for any leaks or signs of water escaping, and if you do notice any, switch off the water and discover where the water is coming from.