Replacement Toilets

Bathrooms and bathroom fixtures, such as toilets, have become an architectural and designer feature of every home.  No longer are people forced to have a standard white, green or pink toilet that came with the house.  Every toilet manufacturer is offering a number of different price points, styles as well as colors, including white, almond, black and a variety of other semi-custom colors.  The styles vary from the traditional shape to more contemporary toilets, which have a lower profile.

As required by the government, all new toilets will be environmentally friendly, requiring much less water to flush, which will save on the cost of water.  These new “water saver” toilets perform very well compared to the older models.  Believe it or not there is a “science” behind the flush and the manufacturers have put a significant amount of time and effort and making sure these toilets perform.

One of the interesting options is the “comfort height” toilet, which has the seat higher than a traditional toilet.  It is marketed to those people, such as the elderly, who may have difficultly getting up and down from the toilet.  They have become more and more popular, especially as “baby boomers” age.

A qualified plumbing contractor will be able to provide guidance on the best toilet to use based upon your budget.  They will be able to do the replacement quickly and cost effectively with minimum inconvenience to the homeowner.  One thing to keep in mind before you discard that old toilet is it may have some value.  In many areas of the country, there are firms that buy and sell old building materials including toilets.  That old green toilet may be worth something!

Moving or Replacing a Toilet During a Remodel Can Create Problems

Bathrooms are one area of the home that frequently get remodeled. Sometimes the bathroom remodeling may include replacing the old toilet with a new one. Even if that is not the case, generally the toilet may need to moved out of the bathroom in order for the flooring to be replaced and wall finishes completed behind it. In either scenario, it is important to understand what can go wrong if you should happen to try and undertake this task yourself.

Not having the water supply shutoff to the toilet is a simple mistake that can have big consequences when removing a toilet. Make sure this is your number one priority.

One of the other problems homeowners can run into when removing a toilet from its seating can be rusted bolts. This can especially be a problem in older homes where the toilet has not been moved or replaced for many years. In attempting to remove the rusted bolts, one must also be cautious not to crack the porcelain if there are plans to reuse the toilet.

Once the toilet is removed, the flooring should also be examined for water damage. Leaky toilets can cause damage that deteriorates the subfloor beneath it. If this has happened, it will be important to replace the damaged subfloor before reinstalling a toilet in the bathroom.

The other problems that can occur during this process are during the installation of the new or former toilet. A wax seal needs to be installed before seating the toilet in place. Forgetting this simple step or doing it incorrectly can result in a leaky toilet. Tightening the bolts too tight when installing the toilet is problem you want to avoid. Over tightening could potentially crack the toilet’s base.

The safest way to avoid all these problems is to hire a professional plumber to both remove and install your toilet for you.

DIY Toilet Installation Concerns

Whether installing a new water efficient toilet or replacing a leaky wax ring in an existing toilet, toilet removal and installation is bathroom repair commonly attempted by handy homeowner.  If all goes smoothly, a toilet removal and replacement or reinstallation is pretty straightforward.  However, there are several points in the removal and installation process where things can go terribly wrong and turn a small job into a big one.

If you have any doubt about your mechanical skills or encounter one of these common problems during a toilet replacement, it would be a wise idea to let a reputable local plumber handle the job.

Toilet replacement seems like an easy job:  Turn off the water supply, disconnect the supply hose, unbolt the closet bolts, and lift the toilet out of the opening.  Installation is the reverse.

However, problems can start right from the outset.  Many toilet shutoff valve have not been used in years if not decades.  Closing and re-opening an old, rarely used shutoff valve sometimes causes it to start leaking.  Worse, some shutoff valves are stuck open and it is easy to break or crack the water supply line trying to turn the valve.

A similar problem can arise when trying to disconnect the water supply line to the tank.  This pipe may have been there for so long that it is corroded to the shutoff valve and attempts to remove it can damage the water supply pipe or ruin the supply line.

Finally, it is not uncommon for the closet bolts to be so corroded that they have to be cut off with a hacksaw.  When installing the new toilet, many well meaning homeowners tighten the closet bolts too tight and crack the base of their new toilet.

If you are going to tackle a toilet replacement on your own, pay special attention to these possible pitfalls and call a plumber at the first sign of trouble.

New Toilet Installation

Whether you are replacing your toilet because the old toilet was broken or worn out, for as part of a bathroom remodeling project, to update your bathroom’s appearance, or to replace an old water wasting toilet with an efficient new low flow toilet, this is a job that should probably be left to a professional plumber.  Many handy homeowners are capable of removing and installing a toilet, but toilets get a lot of hard use during their lifespan and the last thing you want is a leaky toilet.

Not only is a leaky toilet unsanitary, but a small leak can go unnoticed and eventually cause wood rot in the subfloor under the toilet.  Replacing the bathroom floor is an expensive proposition that can be avoided by having your new toilet installed by an experienced plumber.  It’s well worth the modest cost of a professional installation to have a top quality toilet installation that will provide great service for years.

If you are set on doing it yourself, first turn off the water supply to the old toilet and empty the tank.  Unhook the water supply line, unbolt the toilet from the floor and lift it clear of the closet flange and attachment bolts.

Install a new wax ring on the closet flange and line the new toilet up over the wax ring and attachment bolts.  Lower it evenly into place and install the nuts on the attachment bolts and tighten carefully. Do not over-tighten the nuts or the base will crack. Hook up the water supply line, turn on the water and check for leaks.

If you have any problems with the toilet installation, call your local plumber for assistance.

Installing a New Toilet

If you are doing a bathroom remodeling or just installing a new toilet, it  may seem like a daunting task but installing a new toilet is not as difficult as it seems.

First you need to remove the old toilet.  Turn off the water supply and empty the tank by flushing the toilet a few times.  Scoop out the remaining water with a flexible cup or sponge.

Next, disconnect the water supply line where it attaches to the bottom of the tank.  Place an old towel on the floor to catch any water.  Remove the two nuts on the bottom of the tank and lift off the tank.  Remove the decorative caps from the two bolts holding the base to the floor and remove the nuts and washers.  You should now be able to lift the toilet out of place.

Remove the old wax ring using a putty knife.  If the hold down bolts were corroded or damaged, they should also be replaced.  Turn the new toilet base upside down on an old towel or other soft surface and press a new wax ring in place around the outlet on the bottom of the base.

Turn the base upright and carefully set it in place using the two bolts as a guide.  Install the nuts and washers arefully tighten the nuts being sure not to over tighten them which could crack the flange.  Install the tank using the two bolts, nuts and washers again being sure not to over tighten them.

If necessary, install the tank valve and flapper, and hook up the water supply line.  Turn on the water supply, check for leaks, and adjust the tank valve as needed.

Low Flow Toilets

If you need to replace an existing toilet or you are choosing toilets to install in your newly constructed home, you will need to choose from one of the many excellent low flow toilets on the market today.  Prior to 1995, most toilets sold in the United States used about 3.5 gallons of water per flush.  Just flushing the toilet accounts for about 30 percent of the indoor water usage for the average household equipped with these older toilets.

By federal law, since 1995 all toilets sold in the United States cannot use more than 1.6 gallons per flush.  By cutting the amount of water a household uses for flushing toilets by over 50%, low flow toilets are not only environmentally responsible, but they also save you money.

When the low flow toilet law first took effect, it sparked complaints about incomplete flushing and the need to “double flush”.  Many of these complaints about these  early low flow toilets were well founded, but toilet manufacturers have made great strides during the 15 years since the low flow law took effect.  Many of today’s low flow toilets work as well as or better than their pre-1995 counterparts.

Toilet manufacturers use a variety of technologies to achieve good toilet performance.  Whether the toilet uses dual flush, single flush, gravity feed, or pressure assist technology matters less than how well the toilet performs.  Look for top performing toilets in tests run by Consumer Reports, the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, or the Maximum Performance Testing published by the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

If you need any additional help, a reputable plumber who offers general plumbing services will be happy to assist you with the choice and installation of a new low flow toilet.