| How to Install a New Toilet in 5 Easy Steps. | | | | flange,flat side up if tapered. |
| | | | |
| If your toilet is old and in need of repairs, | | | | 4. Set new bowl only straight down so it |
| it is cheaper toreplace it by installing a | | | | centers on wax ring andboth bolts come |
| new one. This is quite easy to do and canbe | | | | through holds on each side of bowl. Sit on |
| completed in an afternoon. However, if you | | | | bowlfacing wall until your weight puts bowl |
| plan to install atoilet in a new location, | | | | flush with the floor. Putmetal washers and |
| you will have to extend supply pipes | | | | nuts on bolts and tighten until snug. Do not |
| anddrainpipes to the desired spot, a job you | | | | over-tighten as you can crack the bowl. |
| may want to leave to aplumbing contractor. | | | | Tighten these again after toiletis completely |
| | | | installed and filled with water. |
| Most toilets are sold with the necessary | | | | |
| gaskets, washers, andhardware for fitting the | | | | 5. Next put 2" rubber gasket on tank where it |
| tank to the bowl. However you might need | | | | sets on the bowl, putrubber washers on bolts |
| tobuy a few parts. Here is a list of what you | | | | provided under the bolt head so they will |
| need to complete thistask: | | | | beon the inside of the tank. Pick up tank and |
| | | | set on bowl over holesin bowl where bolts go |
| - Toilet bowl | | | | through. Sit on bowl facing wall. Put boltson |
| | | | from the inside of the tank into holes in |
| - Toilet tank | | | | bowl, put on metalwashers and nuts and |
| | | | tighten. Hold tank level and tighten so |
| - Toilet seat | | | | itbrings tank down level. Use a large screw |
| | | | driver inside tank and acrescent wrench or |
| - Two 1/4" bolts for bowl to flange | | | | end wrench to back up nut under bowl. |
| | | | Tightenwith screw driver. Hook water supply |
| - Wax ring | | | | to tank, turn on water, checkfor leaks, and |
| | | | snug up the bolts holding bowl to floor. If |
| - 20" water supply with fitting at valve or | | | | there isa space between the back of the tank |
| floor connection Tools: | | | | and the wall, put a spacer ofsort there to |
| | | | brace tank. A piece of wood or hard rubber |
| Pair of channel pliers, bucket, screw driver. | | | | works fine. |
| | | | |
| (Many of these can be ordered online at any | | | | Maintenance: |
| DIY website such as DIY | | | | |
| | | | At least twice a year clean out the inside of |
| Tips UK: | | | | your toilet tank. Whencleaning the toilet |
| | | | tank, turn off the water, flush toilet once, |
| 1. Shut off the water to the toilet, use a | | | | addsmall amount of cleaning detergent inside |
| bucket and a cloth or asponge to remove the | | | | tank to water remainingand use a cloth or |
| water left in tank and bowl after you flush | | | | brush to clean. Also clean out holes under |
| thetoilet. | | | | toiletseat and rim of the bowl as well as the |
| | | | 3/4" hole in the bottom oftoilet bowl. |
| 2. Using a pair of channel pliers, or a small | | | | Replace rubber tank ball at this time if |
| pipe wrench (8"),remove the nut where the | | | | needed. |
| water line fastens to the ballcock valveunder | | | | |
| the left side of the bottom of the tank. Next | | | | Maintaining your new toilet will keep the |
| use a smallcrescent wrench, remove the two 1 | | | | plumber away and reduceyour plumbing bill. |
| 4" nuts holding the bowl to thefloor flange. | | | | |
| Remove old toilet. Remove the water line from | | | | Copyright © 2005. Bridget Mwape writes for |
| thevalve or fitting at floor or wall. | | | | DIY Tips UK: which features how-to articles |
| | | | andproducts to help you with your DIY and |
| 3. Now you are ready to install your new | | | | home improvement projects. |
| toilet. Put the two 1/4"bolts in the side | | | | |
| holes of the flange with the bolt head in | | | | This article may be reprinted as long as all |
| theflange. Put some of the old wax at this | | | | the above links areactive and clickable and |
| spot to hold the boltsstraight up and across | | | | this author box (byline) is not edited. |
| from each other. Put new wax ring on | | | | |