article

Replacing Your Toilet

By Bluehammer Admin

The work horse of the bathroom, the toilet is the most used appliance. The following are some helpful tips when it comes time to replace your toilet.

When is it Time to Replace my Toilet?

Unlike electric appliances, toilets do not have many moving parts to break and most are made out of porcelain, a durable material. Many people choose to replace their toilets for other reasons such as looks or to switch to a water saving model.

Cost Factors of Replacing Your Toilet

The biggest factor in the project cost of replacing your toilet is the cost of the appliance itself. Toilets come in many quality options from economy to designer. Below are the main cost factors in the project of replacing your toilet.

  • Removal of the old toilet
  • Purchase, delivery and installation of the new toilet
  • Replacing the assembly and toilet seat
  • Replacing water supply lines and angle stop (if necessary)

Should I Replace My Toilet or Try to Repair it?

Unless you have visible cracks, toilet issues are usually fixable depending on how willing you are to troubleshoot. Most toilet types are gravity-fed and you can replace the entire refill-valve (ball-cock assembly) in under 30 minutes. If you have a pressure assisted toilet it is a longer process and you might want to look into hiring a plumber if you are unsure about doing it yourself.

Replacing Your Gravity-Fed Toilet

Follow the steps below to replace your toilet

  • Turn off the waterYou don't need to turn your water off at the main source when replacing your toilet. You can simply turn off the water at the angle stop from the wall behind your toilet.
  • Remove the refill tube from the overflow pipe in the tank. Remove the lid from the tank to get to the refill tube. Once removed, drain the water from the tank (a shop vac can help here if you have one). It is good to have some towels on hand when draining the water.
  • Disconnect the water supply line and flapper chainThis will disconnect everything from your tank
  • Remove the toilet from the floor.Your toilet is bolted to the floor, remove the caps over the bolts and unscrew the nuts with a wrench. Remove the toilet carefully as to not scrape your floor. When finished, remove the wax ring and clean the area.
  • Install the wax ring on the new toilet and re-assemble the new components.Follow the steps in reverse to install your new toilet. Make sure it is level before you screw it to the ground.
  • Re-attach your water lines, turn on the water and testMake sure there is no water leaking and test the appliance for operation.

Want to estimate your home improvement costs before talking with a contractor? Claim your home for free with bluehammer to estimate costs, secure your home inventory and learn more about your home.

* THIS REPORT IS AN OPINION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INFORMATIONAL TOOL NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS. ALL ELEMENTS ARE OFFERED "AS IS" AND BLUEBOOK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND GUARANTEES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABLITILY, NONINFRINGEMENT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BLUEBOOK (OR THEIR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING : (1) RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS PRESENTED, (2) COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, (3) LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, (4) DELAYS OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, (5) AND ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION) WHETHER OR NOT BLUEBOOK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Know what you should pay for your home improvement projects with bluehammer.Claim your home. It's free!

Popular


Find The Right Interior Doors For Your Home

Take a minute to count the number of doors in your house. Surprising, right? Consider then, the impact that a little attention to the doors can have on the overall style and design of your home. Whether you're just moving in or staging for a sale, new doors are a simple way to dramatically update the space. The good news is that there are as many styles of doors as there are doors in your home. Making the decision is the toughest part.

Things to Consider When Replacing Your Front Door

Your front door is one of the most functional, visible, and important elements in your home. If you're looking for a home improvement project that can boost curb appeal, improve security, and add style to your space, replacing your front door delivers an impressive return on investment.

How to Upkeep Your Home So Neighbors Are In Awe

Homeowners are responsible for the quality of their home with the maintenance and care that they provide for the building throughout the year. Every home requires a specific amount of upkeep to ensure that it maintains its value and has a high level of appeal. To keep your neighbors in awe of your home, there are a few important steps to take to allow it to stand out in the local area.

Clever Ways To Give Your Small Bathroom Some Pop And Make It Look Larger

Small bathroom? It doesn't have to be short on style. And it doesn't have to feel like a cave either. Many of the same tips for creating a standout space will also help to make it feel bigger.

Stylish Bath Storage Solutions: Ways to Complement Your Bathroom Vanity

Finding adequate storage is a particularly challenging problem in bathrooms, and not just because they are usually the smallest rooms in the house. Bathrooms have increasingly become the place to store a large and diverse number of items, including bath towels, beauty supplies, toiletries, hair care products, medications, soaps, shampoo, and assorted cleansers. And if the primary inhabitants of the bathroom happen to be teenagers, then the demand for storage space increases exponentially.

Replacing Your Toilet

The work horse of the bathroom, the toilet is the most used appliance.

8 Amazingly Easy Tips For A Pet-Friendly Home

For many of us, it's an absolute pleasure to share our homes with our four-legged best friends. But there's no denying that our pets can sometimes lead to wear and tear on our homes. Yet with careful planning and some redesigned elements, we can enhance our house so that it's conducive to our pets and ourselves. If you live with a beloved pet, the following design trends and home-living tips are sure to promote a home that's comfortable for everyone -- and everything -- that lives there.

New Designs In Cabinet Refacing

You may be one of the fortunate homeowners whose kitchen just needs an update instead of a full remodel. Cabinet refacing is an economical option that can give your kitchen a quick makeover in no time. Rather than gutting your cabinets and replacing them with new ones, cabinet refacing allows you to update the exterior of the cabinets you already have. It's also a fabulous way to add contemporary design elements to your space, both with cabinet doors, colors and hardware. Let's take a look at the latest designs in cabinet refacing.

It's Time to Clean Your Kitchen Dishwasher

Whether your dishwasher has a funky smell to it or not, a periodic cleaning should be at the top of your to-do list

Home Repairs VS Improvements: No Clear Answer

Question: I am having trouble figuring out what constitutes an improvement and what is ordinary maintenance. Thinking ahead to selling my house in a few years when the market rebounds, I have been keeping accurate records so that I can deduct these costs to lower the capital gains. Recently, I remodeled a bathroom, replaced a deck, replaced and upgraded the spa filter and motor, replaced the front door with a fiberglass model guaranteed to last more than my lifetime, and replaced a roof and rain gutters. Which of these can I safely regard as improvements, and which are just maintenance?

See More Articles