Home and Auto Installing a toilet

Sully · 05-17-2008, 08:36 AM

We are going to go buy a new toilet, and I have 2 questions...

1) Any recommendations? We have about $300 to work with.

2) Is it a job I can do on my own? My FIL has me a little worried about doing it... something about a wax seal. So should I find someone to help with it, or is it a pretty simple deal?

blueballs · 05-17-2008, 08:39 AM

simple
jusgt smelly

**Bugeater** · 05-17-2008, 08:40 AM

It's not hard, just scrape off the old wax seal and put on a new one. A caveman could do it.

**Baby Lee** · 05-17-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully

We are going to go buy a new toilet, and I have 2 questions...

1) Any recommendations? We have about $300 to work with.

2) Is it a job I can do on my own? My FIL has me a little worried about doing it... something about a wax seal. So should I find someone to help with it, or is it a pretty simple deal?

1. Phobia will be along shortly with the batch and model # for the American Standard powerhouse he's so giddy about.

2. It's not the most difficult job, but it can have it's share of complicating factors. What's the flooring situation, tile, hardwood, carpet, linoleum? Each will have varying degrees of forgiveness. Any problems with level re: said flooring? Remove the old toilet before making any purchases so you can see what type of wax ring you'll need and how much play you'll have in the seating bolts [ie, how long/short they are].
If you have a level solid surface with a standard ring, and decent boltdowns, and you replace the old with substantially similar new, it's a snap. The more you vary from the old, the more McGuyvering you'll be in for.,

stumppy · 05-17-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBo

A caveman could do it.

Racist bastaige!!

**cdcox** · 05-17-2008, 08:57 AM

American Standard Champion Series. <--- ****OFFICIAL toilet of ChiefsPlanet****

Lowes has them. Do what BL suggests as far as removing the old toilet before going shopping. You can probably take part of the old wax ring to Lowes and show it to them and they'll point you to its replacement.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 05-17-2008, 08:58 AM

get a Toto.

And buy 2 wax rings. Otherwise murphy's law says you will make 2 trips to Home Depot today.

They make non-wax rings, but I wouldn't recommend them.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 05-17-2008, 08:59 AM

http://www.performancetoilets.com/in...FQ7WsgodHh1zow

Earthling · 05-17-2008, 09:05 AM

I almost had a bad experience with replacing mine as the tank for the new toilet set back just a tad farther than the original. I had a VERY tight fit against the wall with the new toilet tank..Be sure you will have enough room for that

Also, if you are getting the wax seal from a major store you might want to get a seal of both different thickness..(There are two basic thickness of wax seals) That way you are sure to have the correct one and can just take the unused one back for refund..They are inexpensive. I say this because once you get to the wax seal in your old toilet it is sometimes impossible to tell how thick it was originally..JMHO

05-17-2008, 09:05 AM

If you only have $300 with which to work, you'll be best served doing it yourself. I don't normally recommend homeowners install their own for a few of the reasons Baby Lee mentioned. Any slight problem and the installation is way over the head of the average homeowner.

The last time I encouraged an average homeowner to install their own (because I knew they didn't have the money to hire me) they informed me it had become a 3 day/2-weekend problem that challenged their marriage. Heh.

But as long as you feel the wax ring hit the bottom of the toilet and you press to fully seal it you'll be in good shape.

You do want the American Standard Champion series and they're available at either Home Depot or Lowes. I prefer the elongated version because they sit a little higher but you'll get the same flushing power with the round version and they're roughly $25 cheaper.

05-17-2008, 09:07 AM

Regarding wax rings - rather than buying one $5 ring buy 2 $.99 rings and stack them. That's what we do usually.

Fairplay · 05-17-2008, 09:07 AM

American standard and new seal wax. Thats about it.

They have different sizes of toilets. If you're or your loved was is taller then average, they have toilets higher up off the ground an inch or two.

The round stools women prefer. The oblong ones guys prefer.

05-17-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

get a Toto.

And buy 2 wax rings. Otherwise murphy's law says you will make 2 trips to Home Depot today.

They make non-wax rings, but I wouldn't recommend them.

Toto makes a quality product but they're in a slightly higher price point for similar performance to the Champion series.

**cdcox** · 05-17-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

Otherwise murphy's law says you will make 2 trips to Home Depot today.

Any project, not matter how small requires at least two trips to Home Depot.

Earthling · 05-17-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

Any project, not matter how small requires at least two trips to Home Depot.

Hehehe! True dat.

05-17-2008, 08:39 AM	#2
blueballs Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	simple jusgt smelly
Posts: 14,233

05-17-2008, 08:40 AM	#3
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	It's not hard, just scrape off the old wax seal and put on a new one. A caveman could do it.
Posts: 70,443

05-17-2008, 08:57 AM	#6
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2351769	American Standard Champion Series. <--- **OFFICIAL toilet of ChiefsPlanet** Lowes has them. Do what BL suggests as far as removing the old toilet before going shopping. You can probably take part of the old wax ring to Lowes and show it to them and they'll point you to its replacement.
Posts: 45,536

05-17-2008, 08:58 AM	#7
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	get a Toto. And buy 2 wax rings. Otherwise murphy's law says you will make 2 trips to Home Depot today. They make non-wax rings, but I wouldn't recommend them.
Posts: 12,526

05-17-2008, 08:59 AM	#8
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	http://www.performancetoilets.com/in...FQ7WsgodHh1zow
Posts: 12,526

05-17-2008, 08:36 AM
Sully It Goes On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lees Summit Casino cash: $10026331	We are going to go buy a new toilet, and I have 2 questions... 1) Any recommendations? We have about $300 to work with. 2) Is it a job I can do on my own? My FIL has me a little worried about doing it... something about a wax seal. So should I find someone to help with it, or is it a pretty simple deal?
Posts: 18,295

05-17-2008, 09:05 AM	#9
Earthling MVP Join Date: Apr 2001 Casino cash: $10008447	I almost had a bad experience with replacing mine as the tank for the new toilet set back just a tad farther than the original. I had a VERY tight fit against the wall with the new toilet tank..Be sure you will have enough room for that Also, if you are getting the wax seal from a major store you might want to get a seal of both different thickness..(There are two basic thickness of wax seals) That way you are sure to have the correct one and can just take the unused one back for refund..They are inexpensive. I say this because once you get to the wax seal in your old toilet it is sometimes impossible to tell how thick it was originally..JMHO
Posts: 5,995

05-17-2008, 09:05 AM	#10
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	If you only have $300 with which to work, you'll be best served doing it yourself. I don't normally recommend homeowners install their own for a few of the reasons Baby Lee mentioned. Any slight problem and the installation is way over the head of the average homeowner. The last time I encouraged an average homeowner to install their own (because I knew they didn't have the money to hire me) they informed me it had become a 3 day/2-weekend problem that challenged their marriage. Heh. But as long as you feel the wax ring hit the bottom of the toilet and you press to fully seal it you'll be in good shape. You do want the American Standard Champion series and they're available at either Home Depot or Lowes. I prefer the elongated version because they sit a little higher but you'll get the same flushing power with the round version and they're roughly $25 cheaper.
Posts: n/a

05-17-2008, 09:07 AM	#11
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Regarding wax rings - rather than buying one $5 ring buy 2 $.99 rings and stack them. That's what we do usually.
Posts: n/a

05-17-2008, 09:07 AM	#12
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	American standard and new seal wax. Thats about it. They have different sizes of toilets. If you're or your loved was is taller then average, they have toilets higher up off the ground an inch or two. The round stools women prefer. The oblong ones guys prefer.
Posts: 25,265