A new toilet gives your bathroom a fresh look. However, installing a new toilet yourself can be a difficult and frustrating job, especially if the space around the toilet is tight. You may find it's well worth hiring a professional for your new toilet installation. Here are some important steps involved in the process.
Choose The Right Toilet Size
Before installation even begins, you have to choose the right new toilet for your space. While you'll want to think about things like appearance and features, physical size is also important. Measure the distance from the wall to the drain on your current toilet so you can buy a new one of comparable size. This ensures the toilet you choose will fit in the space and align with the current drain. If the contractor has to move the toilet to a new location or put in a new drain, the cost of your toilet installation will go up significantly.
Remove The Old Toilet
Taking out the old toilet seems like it might be an easy job, but there might be one problem standing in the way. The bolts that hold the toilet to the floor can become corroded and frozen in place over time. The quickest and easiest solution might be to saw through the old bolts under the nuts rather than try to loosen the nuts to free the toilet. Once the bolts are free and the tank is disconnected from the inlet hoses, the toilet lifts out of the way. Even this can be tricky, since a toilet is heavy and there's usually not a lot of space to work in a bathroom.
Install The New Toilet
A toilet installation includes putting down a new wax ring above the drain. The ring sits on top of a flange with bolts, and the toilet has to be aligned and lowered over the bolts. This is another tricky aspect of installing a toilet. Once the bolts are lined up and the toilet is lowered, the toilet is bolted to the floor and the tank is attached and connected to the water supply.
The steps involved in toilet installation are simple to follow, but actually doing them can be difficult. Your contractor can do the job quickly and have that part of your bathroom remodel finished so you can complete the less frustrating jobs on your own. If you enjoy DIY projects and want to install a new toilet yourself, be sure to check with your city to see if you need a permit and if you're allowed to do the work yourself. Some work involving plumbing may require a licensed plumber, especially if you'll be adding or moving pipes.