Six Simple Steps Make Replacing a Broken or Old Toilet Easy
(ARA) - Want to save money on your water bill? You don't have to stop taking
daily showers or cut down on the number of laundry loads you wash per week,
but you may want to replace your water-wasting toilets.
In 1994, Congress reduced the amount of water newly manufactured toilets
in the U.S. could flush from 3.5 to 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). Homes built
prior to this date more than likely have toilets that are still using nearly
two more gallons of water than necessary.
"Typically, older 3.5-gallon toilet models consume 11,000 more gallons
of water per year for a family of four over the now industry-standard 1.6-gallon
toilets available," explains Ed Del Grande, Kohler's "how-to"
plumbing expert and host of a national home improvement show on DIY, the Do
It Yourself Network. "Consumers now have the opportunity -- and really
an obligation -- to upgrade to a toilet that uses 1.6 gallons of water or less."
One model you may want to consider is the Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height
toilet which offers a 1.4-gallon flush option. "By using the 1.4-gallon
flush setting instead of 1.6, a household of four can save over 2,000 gallons
of water a year without sacrificing flushing performance," says Del Grande.
While hiring a licensed plumber to swap out an older toilet for a new low-flow
model is an excellent option, innovative features on today's toilets now make
it easy for handy do-it-yourselfers to complete the job in just six easy-to-follow
steps.
Step 1: Gather materials and tools
The tools you will need to install a toilet are a sponge and bucket, plunger,
putty knife, rag, wrench, socket set, level, and hacksaw. Materials you will
need to purchase include a flexible toilet supply line, wax ring, bolts, toilet
(bowl and tank), and toilet seat.
Step 2: Remove the existing toilet
Turn off the water supply to the existing toilet and flush to remove water
from the bowl and tank. Use a large sponge to soak up any remaining water from
the tank and use a plunger to push excess water out of the bowl. Disconnect
the water supply line from the inlet valve, usually located on the bottom left
of the tank. More than likely the old toilet is a 2-piece model so you will
need to unscrew the bolts that connect the tank to the bowl to remove the tank.
Then unscrew the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor to completely remove
the old toilet.
Remove the old wax ring and scrape off any additional residue left behind
on the toilet flange with a putty knife. Once the toilet is removed, there will
be an open line to the sewer system. Stuff a rag into the hole to prevent small
tools from falling into the hole and to avoid the possibility of sewer gases
backing up into the home.
Step 3: Place the new toilet bowl in position
If the toilet flange is damaged, stop the process and contact a plumber.
If the flange is in good condition, insert new bolts into the flange's notches.
Then press the new wax ring, flat side facing down, over the flange. Don't forget
to remove the rag from the flange opening.
Lower the toilet bowl gently onto the flange so that the holes in the base
align with the bolts in the flange. Press the bowl firmly down -- do not twist
or rock -- on the wax ring. Place the washers and nuts onto the bolts and hand
tighten. To prevent the toilet from cracking, tighten the nuts one quarter turn
at a time with a wrench and alternate sides of the toilet between each quarter
turn. If the bolts extend too far over the top of the washers and nuts, cut
off the excess length with a hacksaw.
Step 4: Attach the tank
Homeowners should consider installing the Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height
toilet as its DryLock installation system makes tank to bowl connections fast
and simple. A metal bracket plate comes already attached to the bottom exterior
of the tank and the provided rubber gasket fits easily around the opening in
the tank. Two bolts slide and snap effortlessly into the bracket plate rather
than sticking through the vitreous china tank.
The tank is then set down on the toilet and only one tool -- a 1/2-inch socket
wrench -- is needed to securely fasten the tank. The absence of holes in the
tank for the bolts ensures a dry installation and no damage to the tank. Place
a level across the top of the tank and the backside of the bowl to ensure that
the toilet is level with the floor and water is distributed evenly throughout
the tank.
Step 5: Attach the supply line and check for leaks
Once the tank is securely fastened to the bowl attach the water supply line
to the toilet's inlet valve. If the previous supply line was constructed of
solid tubing, install a flexible water supply line before attaching to the toilet's
inlet valve. Turn on the water supply valve and allow the toilet to fill. Flush
the toilet several times to check for leaks. If there are no leaks, apply a
bead of silicone caulk or grout around the base of the toilet to help secure
it in place. Place the lid on top of the tank.
Step 6: Attach the toilet seat
The Kohler Cachet Quiet-Close toilet seat with Quick-Release functionality
is not only simple to install, it's easy to clean around the toilet seat bolts
in the future. The Cachet toilet seat hinges simply slide around the bolts at
the back of the bowl and plastic covers snap down to hide the bolts. To later
clean the seat, the homeowner only has to reverse the process to swiftly remove
the entire toilet seat for convenient cleaning around the back edge of the toilet
and bolts.
For more information about Kohler toilets and seats or any of the company's
products, customers may access the Kohler Co. Web site at kohler.com or call
toll-free at (800)-4-KOHLER.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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