Full Answer
When should you replace your toilet?
If you already have a ton of scratches on your toilet, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll need a replacement. As we mentioned earlier, toilets have a glossy finish.
How long do toilets last?
Thanks to their solid construction and simple design, toilets often outlast other bathroom fixtures, but they don’t last forever. After a decade or so, heavy lime deposits can build up, resulting in clogging or slow flushing, and the seals between the tank and the bowl can harden, crack, and begin to leak.
How often should you have your toilet cleaned?
Most recommend that homeowners clean their toilets at least once a week. This helps to keep bacteria at bay, which maintains the finish and reduces grime. One of the biggest issues you’ll face is the effects of human waste on your commode. Toilets have a vitreous china coating.
How has the toilet changed over time?
The modern toilet we know today has not changed much since the early 20th century. Sure, new toilet tech has emerged in recent years. But the core design is the same. So, that begs the question: how long does a toilet last?
How long after installation can you use a toilet?
After you lay ceramic floor tiles, the grout inside the joints between the individual tiles must be allowed to cure. Generally, it's safest to wait at least 48 but ideally 72 hours after installing ceramic tiles before installing a toilet.
How long does it take to seal a toilet?
Set the new toilet by placing a wax ring on the flange, dropping the toilet onto it and fastening it to the floor with new toilet bolts. Hook up the water when the toilet is secure, and turn on the water. This job shouldn't take any more than two to three hours.
How long does a toilet wax ring take to set?
Attach the new toilet to the floor with new toilet bolts by placing a wax ring on the flange and dropping it onto it. Turn on the water when the toilet is secured. The job should take two to three hours.
Can I install toilet before grout?
Typically, a tile floor is completed and grouted prior to the toilet being installed or replaced. If the toilet is already in place before grouting, you can grout between the toilet base and the tile.
Do toilets need to be sealed?
Caulk Keeps the Toilet Secure Think again! Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. It's actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?
How long does toilet caulking dry?
approximately 24 hoursMost types of caulk need approximately 24 hours to cure completely. After the curing process is completed, they can be exposed to water and moisture. Caulks have an expiration date.
Are rubber toilet rings better than wax rings?
It all comes down to your personal preference. If you feel more comfortable using something tried and true, stick to a wax ring. For a newer mess-free approach, wax-free toilet seals are the way to go.
Is it better to put wax ring on toilet or flange?
Do not be tempted to stack up two wax rings because this setup tends to leak. Installing a flange extender or using an extra-thick wax ring will work much better in the long run. Place the wax ring on the closet flange, not on the toilet.
How do I know if my toilet wax ring is sealed?
To test that a bad seal is the problem, grab a couple of towels and wipe up the water. Go on with your day, checking periodically to see if the water has returned. If the floor is still dry, chances are that the water wasn't coming from the toilet's base.
Do you put flooring under toilet?
If you're installing a new floor, pedestal sink, and toilet, you should install the laminate flooring first so it's under the sink and toilet. Because laminate flooring floats above the sub-floor on top of underlayment, it will expand and contract slightly with the temperature and humidity of the room.
Should you tile under a toilet?
The bathroom fitters are unanimous—if you're looking for a high quality finish, with a better seal against water damage, then always tile the floor first.
Can I walk on tile after 12 hours?
Though it might be a pain to wait the minimum 12 hours before using your new bathroom or kitchen floor, the pros will tell you that 24 hours of drying time is ideal (the same amount of time should also be allowed for tiles on walls or countertops).
How often should you replace your toilet?
There's no exact answer to when you should replace your toilet. It all depends on how often your toilet's used and how you care for it. Generally,...
What is the average life expectancy of a toilet?
The typical life expectancy of a toilet is several decades. Toilets are fully capable of outliving you! That said, life expectancy varies based on...
Does a toilet go bad?
Toilets can't stay pristine forever. Many things can go wrong and experience damage. Simple problems like clogs are easy enough to fix. But, bad li...
What happens when you move a toilet?
Any little tilt or wobble of the toilet as you move it will cause that water to drain out onto the floor. To deal with this, plumbers will often place a large utility pan on a flat dolly. When they replace a toilet, they’ll set the old one in the pan and then roll the whole thing out of the house.
How to secure pick up stix to toilet?
To secure it to the toilet, just fit one end of the bar under the rim of the toilet bowl and then compress the bar enough to slip the other end under the rim on the opposite side. You can position the Pick Up Stix from side to side of the bowl or from front to back, whichever works best for your grip. “The Pick Up Stix is basically ...
Can a toilet leak after a decade?
After a decade or so, heavy lime deposits can build up, resulting in clogging or slow flushing, and the seals between the tank and the bowl can harden, crack, and begin to leak. Even if a toilet is still in good working order, homeowners often upgrade to a model that blends better with a bathroom remodel or features the newest technology.
Can porcelain tank lids break?
Not only do porcelain tank lids break easily, they can chip and dent flooring as well. While professional plumbers are wise to this, household DIYers often make the mistake of leaving the tank lid on and end up having to clean up a shattered lid or repair damaged flooring.
Is it hard to replace a toilet?
Replacing a toilet is an unpleasant task, not because it’s technically difficult—it’s not—but because toilets are heavy and unwieldy, and no one really wants to get up close and personal. Daniel O’Brian, the technical expert for the online plumbing retailer SupplyHouse.com, has the secret to making this job easier: a simple new tool called ...
Can you leave the lid on a toilet?
DON’T leave the tank lid on when you move the toilet. The tank lid is not fastened to the top of the tank—tilt the commode to either side while carrying it, and the heavy porcelain lid is likely to slip off and fall. Not only do porcelain tank lids break easily, they can chip and dent flooring as well.
Can you put a toilet bowl upside down?
Alternately, you can turn the new toilet bowl upside down (or on its side) and affix the wax ring to the underside of the drain before lifting and positioning the bowl over the flange in the floor.
Why do toilets need replacing?
But, some toilets will need replacing much sooner than others. That’s because many factors affect a toilet’s performance, efficiency, and overall condition. Everyone uses and maintains their toilet differently. At its core, a toilet is a simple fixture. Standard flushing toilets still rely on gravity to flush.
How much water does a toilet use?
The Energy Policy Act put some federal regulations into how much water toilets could use. Since 1994, all new toilets have to use no more than 1.6 gallons of water.
What happens if you scratch a toilet?
If scratches compromise the finish, your toilet becomes a haven for grime. The scratches will trap bacteria and limescale.
Does cleaning a toilet help stain?
Cleaning may help to minimize the appearance of stains. But, they’ll usually come back with time. A brand-new toilet has a pristine finish that’s resistant to staining. Take some extra care to avoid damage and your new commode will have a beautiful finish for years to come.
Can hard water harden toilets?
Hard water can do a number on your toilet. Dissolved minerals on your water supply eventually harden. In the toilet, the minerals tend to build up around the jets on the rim. Limescale can accumulate on the flushing components inside the tank, too. Dealing with limescale is not difficult if you have the right cleaning product.
Can you replace a toilet with a water softener?
Pumping hard water through your commode could shorten its lifespan significantly. While you could invest in a water softener, sometimes replacing the toilet is the more economical option.
How long does it take to install linoleum flooring in a bathroom?
Installing a linoleum floor in a bathroom can usually be done in a matter of hours. Flooring installers often recommend waiting a day before setting heavy furniture on a new linoleum floor to avoid dents and ripples. For a toilet, there is no such guideline. A toilet can be replaced as soon as the floor is installed using manufacturer-approved adhesive. You can walk on the floor immediately, and as long as you are careful with your tools and don't disturb seams, there should be no problems.
Can you replace a toilet with adhesive?
For a toilet, there is no such guideline. A toilet can be replaced as soon as the floor is installed using manufacturer-approved adhesive. You can walk on the floor immediately, and as long as you are careful with your tools and don't disturb seams, there should be no problems. av-override. ‒‒:‒‒.
Is linoleum good for a bathroom floor?
There is little that can improve the appearance of a bathroom more than a new floor. Linoleum is a solid choice because it is relatively inexpensive and tends to last a long time. But before the new linoleum can go down, the toilet has to come up.
What to do when you switch out a toilet?
If you're switching out a toilet, you don't have to panic. Simply be organized. Ensure you've got a rag to stick in the pipe until you're ready to put the new toilet in place.
How long can you be stuck in a septic tank without a mask?
How Dangerous Is It? There are medical cases documented of people who have gotten stuck inside a septic tank without a safety mask for just 15 or 20 minutes and have died, such as a case cited in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of Anesthesia & Critical Care: Open Access.
Is sewage flammable?
Sewage gases are toxic and also flammable. The bigger risk is prolonged or intense inhalation of these gases, rather than short-term exposure during the project of replacing a toilet, but caution is still prudent. Advertisement.
Is it bad to plug a toilet drain?
Sewage gases are emitted from open toilet drain pipes and definitely can be harmful, especially over a prolonged period, particularly for children and those with breathing ailments. Plugging or covering the pipe immediately and working efficiently in a well-ventilated space can minimize any effects.
When is it okay to re-install toilet after tile floor is laid
I'm finally having the yucky Berber carpeting removed from both bathrooms and replacing with porcelain tile. Installer will remove the commodes but I'm told I'll have to call a plumber to re-install them.
Comments (7)
Installing a toilet is about the simplest bath project there is. Really. Put a wax ring down, put the toilet over the two screws poking up, screw the bolts onto the screws, attach the water line, open the valve.
