Do It Yourself: Benjamin Has All the Supplies You Need
Posted on Thu, Apr 28, 2011
Installing a low-flow toilet
Difficulty level: Challenging, but doable for a novice handyperson
Tools/supplies: New toilet and hardware, adjustable wrenches, needle-nose pliers, putty knife, wax gasket kit, water supply tube, plumbers putty, newspapers, groove-joint pliers, caulking.
Richard Rodriguez, general manager of Benjamin Plumbing Supply, suggests:
1. Remove old toilet - Turn off water supply and flush away remaining water from tank and bowl; disconnect water supply line to toilet tank; remove tank, then bowl, wax ring and mounting bolts. Clean debris out of closest flange, install new bolts with thread facing up.
2. Install bowl - Turn new toilet bowl upside down on a soft surface, such as layered newspapers, and press in place new wax ring; turn bowl upright and position over closest flange, aligning the toilet; firmly pressing both sides of the rim to set the wax ring. Do not move the bowl once the wax ring is set. Thread nuts and tighten evenly until bowl is snug. Top with bolt caps.
3. Install tank - Turn tank upside down on newspapers; tighten valve and flush-nuts by hand; place gasket over flush valve nut and press down until gasket touches the bottom of the tank. Lay tank down with back on the floor; put rubber washer on brass bolt; put bolt through hole inside bottom of the tank. From outside the tank, put metal washer and nut onto bolt; tighten by hand, then another half turn with wrench. Repeat process on second hole. Pick up tank and guide it onto bowl. Attach metal washer and nut to each bolt, tighten by hand; make sure it sits level, then tighten with wrench.
4. Connect water line - Rinse out water line and screw onto fill valve threads at the bottom of the tank. Tighten by hand; do not use a wrench.
5. Final touches - Make sure the flapper fits properly, check that the chain is not tangled and the flapper arm is in position to stop water at a proper level. Top with tank lid. Install toilet seat using mounting hardware in box set.
Tip: Once the toilet is installed, wait a day or two before applying caulking around the base and the floor to make sure the toilet has no leaks.
To see full article and more do-it-yourself tips visit: http://azstarnet.com/real-estate/residential/article_02024717-aa6e-50ea-875f-8bbc1c845f6c.html
Matas, Kimberly. "3 Diy Projects You Can Do." Arizona Daily Star. Azstarnet.com, 24 Apr. 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://azstarnet.com/real-estate/residential/article_02024717-aa6e-50ea-875f-8bbc1c845f6c.html>.