Need plumbing advice - new toilet

[kjsgrammy]

OMG - Never thought my OP would generate so many responses!! Thanks everyone!! Appreciate the posts about "doing it yourself", but as much as I love my husband, I would not let him do this on his own (and I have no desire to take it on). He is NOT the "handyman" type person. If things don't go exactly as planned, well, let's just say he's good at demolition.

 

[bjones9942]

I'm sure you know your husband best, but akp was right - installing a new toilet consists of a new wax seal and the toilet. Add a connection to the water line and securing a couple of screws and it's done. I will admit that toilets are heavy buggers

You might offer to let your hubby smash the old toilet after he installs the new one

 

[AwayWeGo]

Not Always As Simple As It Looks On This Old House & Home Time, Etc.

I'm sure you know your husband best, but akp was right - installing a new toilet consists of a new wax seal and the toilet. Add a connection to the water line and securing a couple of screws and it's done. I will admit that toilets are heavy buggers

You might offer to let your hubby smash the old toilet after he installs the new one

Good luck helps -- e.g., if the new toilet flange fits neatly onto the new wax seal so that the seal is air- & water-tight and the base of the toilet fits flatly on the floor.

Otherwise, you can get either a poor seal between the bottom of the toilet & the top of the sewer pipe, or a wobbly rock & roll toilet -- or both.

It also helps when the shut-off valve for the water supply to the tank is in good condition -- turns off & on easily, does not leak, etc. If not, then the valve has to be fixed or replaced -- an extra work item that's no fun when you're on your knees or lying face down between the tub & the potty.

Those newfangled bendy-flexy water supply tubes for toilet tanks are outstanding in comparison with the old, rigid tubes that had to fit just so (length, angle, etc.) or they would not go on right & would leak.

Plus, it's important not to screw down the toilet bolts so tight that the porcelain cracks. The china bowl & tank are rigid & hard & have no "give" at all.

With good luck, new toilet installation can be (almost) a breeze.

Without good luck, new toilet installation can make you wish you'd called in the professionals.

So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Htoo0]

I've changed more than a few in my life and it's no fun to find the mounting bolts won't unscrew, the flange needs to be replaced on a slab floor and/or the space from the mount to the wall is too close for the new commode. Yes, you can cut the bolts if you have the right tools (new bolts usually come with the wax seal kit), there are several styles of flange repairs, you can turn off the water main and replace the valve, etc. However, if those are things you've never done, the plumber can be cheap in comparison.