There are plenty of reasons why you would want to install a new toilet. You might be planning to replace a faulty toilet, or maybe you want to create another bathroom inside your home. No matter the reason, one thing is for sure: Installing a new toilet can be challenging for beginners. Fear not, however, because listed below are useful steps on how to do plumbing for a toilet:
- Make the necessary preparations. Ask your local authorities for the appropriate sizes of the drain pipes. Depending on where you live, be ready to undergo inspections.
- Plan ahead. Where are you going to place the toilet? Will you need to remove any part of the flooring or break down a wall? Knowing where to place the drain pipes beforehand is a must.
- When it comes to attaching the base of the toilet bowl toward the sewer, it is best to use a PVC pipe with a vertical measure of four inches and a length of at least one foot. Place the drain—the actual opening that will serve as the base—at least 12 inches from the wall to provide enough space for the actual toilet.
- Use a reciprocating saw to cut a hole, its diameter depending on the size of the pipe that you used.
- Install a flange around the drain’s opening to serve as support. Again, the size will depend on the diameter of the hole. Use PVC cement to ensure that it will be sturdy, and then drive the bolts through the flange to secure.
- Now that you have the base set up, it’s time to install the toilet. Set the toilet on top of the flange, lining up the holes to make way for the bolts. At first, it can be tricky; it is recommended to perform the installation with a partner who can direct you to where the holes are. Don’t forget to press it firmly down the floor to ensure sturdiness. If you don’t, you might find yourself calling toilet repair services after a short while.
- Attach the tank and base with the bolts, making sure that you tighten each and every one of them. Don’t tighten it too much, however, or else you risk cracking the tank by accident. Once you’re done with this step, use the shims to level the bottom part of the toilet.
- One of the last steps involves attaching the supply line. These days, a regular toilet requires a 3/8″ connector.
- Time to open the supply valve. Wait for the tank to fill, keeping an eye out for leaks and adjusting the valve as needed. See to it that the water goes up to the fill line.
- This part is completely optional, but consider caulking the base. One advantage is that the end result will look more polished. The downside is that leaks may take a while to be discovered, forcing you to undergo major toilet plumbing duties. Should you push through with caulking, leave a small gap at the back so water resulting from leaks will easily flow through. And there you go!