How to Install a Toilet
By , This Old House magazine
- Time: 4 to 6 hours
- Cost: from under $100 to over $300
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Shopping & Tool Lists
- Supplies You Will Need:
- 1. TOILET BOWL AND TANK
2. WAX RING
3. WIRE-BRUSH PIPE CLEANER
4. TEFLON PASTEpipe dope
5. PVC PRIMER
6. PVC CEMENT
7. FLUX
8. WAX RINGSwith and without integrated rubber gasket
9. CHROMED BRASS SUPPLY LINE
10. CLOSET BOLTS, WASHERS, AND NUTS
11. STOP VALVE
12. LEAD-FREE SOLDER
13. CLOSET BOLT CAPS
14. NO. 10 1 5/8-INCH STAINLESS STEEL SCREWS
15. STAINLESS STEEL WASHERSfor shimming
16. TANK BOLTS WITH WASHERS AND NUTS
17. SEAT ASSEMBLY
18. SMALL BUCKET
19. RAGS
- Tools You Will Need:
-
1. Propane torch
2. Striker,
to light torch
3. Tubing cutters
4. Tubing benders
5. Adjustable wrench or open-end wrenches
6. Drill/driver
7. Hacksaw
8. Jigsaw
9. Handsaw,
or inside pipe cutter
10. Level
11. Screwdriver
12. Tape measure
13. Utility knife
Introduction
If your trusty toilet has developed cracks or leaks, uses far too much water per flush, or is simply a shade of baby blue not seen in 20 years, it may be time to replace it. You might consider this a good time to put in a call to the plumber, but it can be all in a day’s work for a reasonably handy do-it-yourselfer. It’s not for the weak, since toilets are heavy and unwieldy, but if you have a strong back (or a sturdy assistant) you can save yourself the cost of a house call by installing it yourself.
Here, we asked This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to show how to install a new toilet. The time required varies, but give yourself half a day if you’ve got a lot of experience with plumbing jobs, and a full day if you’re a novice.