A noisy, leaky plumbing is not something you have to live with. Any owner with basic skills and tools can change a toilet and upgrade it to a new water-saving design.
Installing a new toilet will take a couple of hours, but the reward will last for years.
Tools and Materials
- Spatula
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver
- Spare toilet
- Wax Ring
- Toilet bolts
- Silicone Caulking Putty
How to take steps for a new toilet
Make sure the new toilet is fitted to the previous place.
Measure from the wall behind the toilet to the center of one of the adjustment bolts (the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor). Do this before you take out the old toilet so you can buy a new one and have it handy before you start. If the toilet has four adjustment bolts, measure to the center of one of the back.
Also, measure from the center of the mounting holes to the back of the new toilet you have chosen. Compare these two measurements. If the base of the new toilet is shorter than the distance between the holes for the rear bolts and the wall, it should fit.
In small bathrooms where space is small, also measure from the sides of the flanged bolts to the side walls or other objects to make sure there is space between the sides. You don't want to find out after you start that you can't put the new toilet in place because you're trying to occupy part of the same space as your sink.
How to buy the toilet
Unless you buy one of the slim new models in one piece, you will have to buy the cup and tank. They'll come in two separate boxes. Virtually any tank you buy will have the discharge valve assembly installed, but it would not be too much to check.
In addition, you will need new adjustment bolts, a wax gasket and a toilet seat if they are not included. If you think about replacing the supply line, those that are flexible are coated in stainless steel mesh and are resistant, attractive and very practical. There are also cheaper plastic supply lines, in case you are worried about the price.
How to remove the old toilet
If you want to remove a toilet to change it, it will be better for your back, your floor and your walls if you retire it in pieces. Even if you remove the toilet, do not break it.
- Cut off the toilet water supply. There must be a valve next to the tank that extends from the base of the wall or floor.
- Pull the toilet chain and remove any remaining water from the tank, and from the bowl with a small cup and sponge.
- If you plan to reuse the supply line, unplug it from the bowl. If you plan to replace the supply line, remove it from the supply valve and just leave it attached to the cup.
- Remove the lid from the tank and place it on the floor, far away so that it does not interrupt, or better, in another room. Do not support this fragile piece against the wall near your workplace. If you fall or hit while trying to move heavy parts of the toilet, it is likely to break.
- Remove tank from Cup. It will be set by a pair of bolts near the center of the cup where it is attached to the tank. These bolts pass from inside the tank through the mounting flange on the back of the cup. Simply remove the nuts and remove the cup from the gasket. If the bolts are rusty and the nuts are difficult to desenrroscar, wet the bolt assemblies for a few minutes with a lubricant. Place the tank in the most remote place possible, if it is out of the house better.
- Remove the bolt covers from the toilet base and remove the adjustment bolts. Some toilets have four adjustment bolts that hold them to the floor. Most of them will have only two.
- Move the cup to remove the wax gasket. Unless you want to bring the cup directly outside, have a piece of paper or plastic ready to place. The gasket will be dirty and sticky, and the wax of a cup gaskets is a difficult material to clean from any surface.
- Cover the drain hole to prevent the fumes from escaping into the room. Do so that your stopper (cloth or other) does not fall down the drain and tape it.
- Use a flexible spatula to sand the wax or putty from the Cup base and floor mounting flange.
- Clean and level the installation surface before installing the new toilet.
How to repair damaged flanges
Toilets can be installed in two ways. The adjustment bolts may have flat heads, which are inserted into the slots in the flange. In this case, the cup is secured to the same flange; The flange serves as a toilet support.
The second class of adjustment bolts have screw type threads at one end and bolt thread on the other. These adjustment bolts hold the toilet directly to the floor. The flange in this type of installation acts only as a support for the wax gasket and does not support the cup clamping pressure.
Once you have removed the previous toilet, you may find that the flange on which it is installed is damaged. Flanges can be made of many materials, such as cast iron, copper, brass and plastic. If the flange is badly damaged, you can ask a plumber to replace it. If it is not too cracked or broken, you can make a simple and permanent repair with a special tab that is placed under the edge of the flange.
This tab has a hole through which the adjustment bolt is placed. After the bolt is inserted through the hole, the tab is placed under the flange edge on the broken part. When tightening the adjustment bolts, the tab presses against the underside of the flange edge, which holds the cup in place.
Of course, if the toilet is installed directly on the wood floor and not on the flange itself, the seat of the flange (the inner circle against which the wax will be sealed) is the important thing. If the flange is cracked or broken inside, you will need to replace it.
How to install the new toilet
Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the purchased model.
How to place the Cup
You can install a new toilet the same way you removed the old one, in pieces.
- Insert the adjustment bolts if they are the type that are inserted into the flange and place them on a line parallel to the wall behind the toilet. If they are of the type that is screwed on the floor, place the new bolts in the place of the old ones.
- Turn the bowl over the floor. Place something underneath (a rug or blanket) to prevent damage. Install the wax ring on the waste outlet with the tapered end facing the toilet. The debris outlet is the bump from the base of the toilet that extends to the flange. A hardened wax ring is softer and more malleable. If you bring your ring from the cold outside, allow it to heat before performing this step.
- Disconnect the waste drain hole and place the toilet on the flange. Install the washers and retaining nut without tension. Make sure conical washers are installed with the right side up. These washers are labeled in the manufacturer's instructions.
- Place the toilet and gently press down against the wax ring and the flange with an oscillating motion.
- Once the cup is in place, tighten the nuts on the adjustment bolts, alternating side-to-side, so that the pressure is evenly distributed.
- Install the bolt caps on the adjustment bolts. After the installation is complete and check for leaks, you can seal the toilet base with sealant. You can use silicone sealant for bath and Bath. It can be applied from the tube and straightened with a damp finger.
How to install the tank
- Install the large rubber ring over the outlet on the tank base according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Insert the tank mounting bolts and rubber washers from the inside of the tank through the bowl mounting area.
- Place the tank in place and tighten the nuts alternately until the tank is securely attached to the cup. Again, do not overtighten.
- Install a toilet seat according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Install the water supply line. If you use the new flexible water supply line, this step is easy. If you use a rigid supply line, you will need to bend it a bit to fit it. Don't curling the line. This will clog the water flow and weaken the line, so it may break or drip.
How to adjust the discharge mechanism
After changing the toilet it will be necessary to verify its operation and it is possible to make some minor changes to the discharge mechanism. Try pulling the toilet chain to see if it works and if you need any change. Follow manufacturer's instructions.