Any Special Problems: Lifting Toilet From Floor?
1. Turn off the water. 2. Unbolt the toilet bowl from the floor. 3. Lift from floor. It can't be that simple. Nothing is. What have I missed? I need to get the bowl up so that I can scrape off the old flooring and lay down some new. Tom
The company that makes wax washers sells a kit consisting of the washer and the bolts. Get that. I guarantee you will either shear off or strip out at least one of the bolts getting the toilet out. New bolts are specifically made to shear, and old ones just do. There are many kinds of bowl gaskets today: The basic one is the Pure Wax Washer. This is just a hunk of beeswax in the shape of a ring. It is the cheapest for a reason. Don't get this one to put under your toilet. One step up is the Wax Washer with Polyurethane Insert--they suspend a polyurethane O-ring in the middle of the mold then pour wax around it. This is the very basic gasket for today, but you still shouldn't get this one. Next you have the Wax Washer with Polyurethane Insert and Flange. This gasket has a polyurethane flange that sticks down into the drain pipe, which cuts down on leaks. It costs about fifty cents more than the one without the flange, so get this one. (This is the one that is also available with the bolt kit.) There is also the Reusable Gasket, which is this neat rubber thing. It's also eight bucks. Only advisable if (1) you're a terrible plumber and keep squashing wax gaskets or (2) you plan to take your toilet out every week. If you're redecorating the bathroom and need to pull the toilet often this might be advisable. If you do like the rest of us and leave the toilet where it is, it's a waste of money. -- --jmowreader
Step 1a. Flush toilet. Step 1b. Take off the tank lid and sponge out any water that remains in the tank. Step 1c. Unhook the water line from either the valve or the toilet--your choice. Step 1d. Undo the bolts holding the tank to the bowl, if you have a two-piece toilet, and remove the tank. Set this in a safe place. Step 1e. Get your mop, towels, etc., and have them handy because water will spill on the floor when you take the toilet out. Step 1f. Tell children "I don't care how bad you have to go, you can't use this bathroom. Why? Because the toilet's broken! Go to the other bathroom!" Step 1g. Immediately rush to Home Depot and pick up studs, drywall, fixtures, plumbing, etc., if you told the kids to use the other bathroom and you have only one. It is hard to use the "other one" if there ain't one. -- --jmowreader
Here's my best advice. The first thing you do is go to Home Depot and buy EVERYTHING you could possibly put on a toilet:new bolts washers ,gaskets,seals,flush valve,handle,etc,etc,(including a new water supply line) BEFORE you start the job (use your credit card) Then fix the toilet. After your done, take back what you don't use for a refund or credit. This will prevent you from going nuts.
This is especially important if you are doing the project on a weekend--especially Sunday afternoon. Joe In a message dated 9/15/2004 6:57:03 AM Central Standard Time, drywall2155@... writes: Here's my best advice. The first thing you do is go to Home Depot and buy EVERYTHING you could possibly put on a toilet:new bolts washers ,gaskets,seals,flush valve,handle,etc,etc,(including a new water supply line) BEFORE you start the job (use your credit card) Then fix the toilet. After your done, take back what you don't use for a refund or credit. This will prevent you from going nuts.
you are certainly right about that wax ring. After a time it seems to flop down from heat or whatever, although if you have the bottom of the toilet perfectly dry (bone) it will take awhile. Usually when the inevitable clog comes along with all that rodding is when the clock starts running. There are some alternatives in the market now made out of pvc /and or rubber that are supposed to be a lot better than the wax. Might be a good idea to check out the hardware stores in you area and see what they have.