Toilet Replacement

Whether you need to add a new touch to your bathroom or the existing toilet in your house has become too old, replacing the toilet is your best option. Cracks and leaks are a frequent problem in an old toilet which further leads to massive water wastage and high water bills. Fortunately, replacing a toilet is an easy task, all you need is a new toilet, adjustable wrench, wax ring, rubber gloves, putty knife, and a hacksaw. Gather these tools and follow our guide for a perfect replacement.

Why you should ask for professionals

Any plumbing activity needs to carried out with precision and knowledge or at the very least, some prior experience. Especially in case of replacing a toilet, if you are not familiar with using the plumbing tools, you will end up damaging the pipes or probably to the new toilet. On the contrary, if you call a professional he will ensure the perfect replacement of your toilet without the possibility of any contingency. More importantly, a toilet stays in your bathroom for a considerable number of years, and getting it replaced perfectly becomes imperative.CJ Plumbing & Heating provides the most extensive and comprehensive professional toilet replacement service in Chicago.

Measure for a new toilet

There is a huge variety of toilets in the market which makes it difficult to choose the right one for your bathroom. To look for the perfect replacement and narrow down the options, you need to take the measurement. If you look at the base of the toilet, you can see the hold-down bolts attaching the toilet to the floor. The distance of these bolts from the wall will determine the toilet you need to buy. Usually, most houses in the greater Chicago area are equipped with a 12-inch toilet but it can be a 10-inch model or a 14-inch model too. If there is a 12-inch model and you want to replace it with a 14-inch model, you will require a professional plumber from CJ Plumbing & Heating to create the plumbing structure for the new toilet. Additionally, when you are shopping for a new model, look out for the adjacent furniture and doors. If you buy a wider toilet of an elongated one, it might not fit.

Drain the water

Now that you have selected a new toilet, turning the water valve off is the first step. This valve is probably located on the wall or behind the toilet seat. It controls the flow of water from the mainline to the tank of your toilet. After the valve is off, remove the pipe that connects to the tailpiece of the toilet tank using an adjustable wrench. Don’t use too much force as it may harm the water pipe. Next, remove the water from the tank by flushing it. For the extra water left inside the tank, use a sponge to remove it. Don’t forget to put on the rubber gloves first. Use a plunger to drain the water from the bowl. Again, remove the remaining water with a sponge. If you take out the toilet before cleaning, the water will spill out on the floor and increase your work so make sure that you remove all excess water.

Remove the Old Toilet

If you are removing the old toilet alone, it’s better to separate the load, that is, separate the tank from the bowl and remove them separately as together they are heavy for a single person to lift. The tank is usually attached to the bowl through a couple of bolts from inside the tank to the underneath of the bowl. Before removing these bolts with an adjustable wrench, lift the tank lid and place it safely down on the floor, a little away from the toilet. Now, lift the tank up and keep it on the floor, cautiously. Next, remove the nuts holding down the toilet. If they are old and rusty, you may have to cut the bolts with the hacksaw blade. If the toilet bowl has plumber’s putty around its base perimeter, you will need to cut it with a putty knife. All you have to do now is lift the bowl up. If the old toilet is one-piece construction, it will be quite heavy and you will need an added set of hands to lift it up. Place some newspapers or a piece of cloth on the floor and keep the bowl on top of it or it will leave marks on your floor.

Closet Flange

The flange is the metal rim or ring which is used to provide extra strength when attaching the toilet to the floor. It acts as a connection point between the base of the toilet and the pipe. You should inspect the flange properly, before installing the new toilet. Remove the wax ring and all the wax from the closet flange ring. If there are any cracks or signs of breakage, consider replacing it with a flange repair ring. You may not be familiar with the different types of flange or what size is needed for your toilet so you can take a photograph of the old flange for reference. Show it to the keeper of your neighborhood hardware store to get the perfect match. Don’t compromise on the quality of the flange as it is the only tool involved in anchoring your toilet to the floor and optimum quality will ensure a leak-free toilet.

Prepare and test-fit the toilet

From here on, there are significant steps involved in the installation of your new toilet. Therefore, you should test-fit the toilet before you actually install it so that you can avoid the hassle of removing it and installing it again in case something goes wrong. The most important thing is to place the toilet on the flange, temporarily, and check if the bolts of the closet flange are in alignment with the holes in the toilet base. You also need to level the toilet otherwise it will break due to rocking. You can use a 2-foot level to be sure. If needed, you can use shims for slight wobbles. Use only rot-proof shim as regular washers of stainless steel are susceptible to rust and leave stains on your floor. Once you make sure that the toilet is leveled you can lift it and put it gently on a soft surface.

Apply the wax ring

Applying the wax ring needs utmost care because once it is installed, it can be reused so it has to be installed perfectly in one go. There are two ways to apply a wax ring. The first one is that you have to lay down the new toilet on its side or on its back on a protected surface. Then you have to attach the wax ring on the base of the new toilet. Using this technique, you can make sure that the wax ring is attached in proper alignment to the base of the toilet. Another way to attach the wax ring is to place the ring in alignment with the flange and then carefully place the bowl over it. You may require a thicker ring if the flooring of your bathroom has been updated. If you want a mess-free alternative to wax ring, you can opt for a foam gasket or a waxless-ring. Both of them are reusable.

Set the toilet

After the closet flange is aligned and the wax ring is installed on the base of the toilet, you can set the toilet. For this, place the bolts into the holes on the flange with their ends pointing upwards. Lift the toilet and place it carefully over the flange such that the holes of the toilet base enter the bolts of the flange. Push the toilet down but be sure to not put too much pressure while setting the toilet as it may break the wax ring or the flange which can lead to leaks in the future. You can sit on the toilet seat to let it set naturally. At last, add a washer and tighten the nuts onto the flange bolts but don’t tighten with too much force as it can break the porcelain bowl. Attach the tank bolts to the bowl too if it is not attached already.

Make the plumbing connections

Your new toilet seat is installed, only the plumbing connections are left to complete it. Connect the water supply tube to the new toilet. Connect the pipe to the tailpiece of the tank to provide the water supply for the tank. You will need pliers and an adjustable wrench to make these connections. After the plumbing part is done, you should test the connections. Turn the water valve on and allow the tank to fill with water. Once the tank is filled, flush the toilet and check for leaks, use a wrench to tighten if there are any leaks. Water may be dripping out slowly so observe for a few minutes. Closely look near the base of the toilet and the connections to the tank. Once you tested all the connections, you may choose to apply plumber’s putty to the base perimeter of the toilet for further strengthening of the toilet’s attachment to the floor.

Toilet Repair – Chicago

Why people come to us

Overflowing Toilet

A toilet overflows either due to a clogged drain or a blocked vent. Our expert plumbers start by plunging the toilet and clearing the drain. We place a flange plunger over the drainpipe inside the bowl and plunge it. Even if the overflowing stops at the moment that doesn’t necessarily means that the problem is solved for good. The overflow may mean that there is a clog in the main sewer line which is why our plumbers carry out an inspection and clean the drains if necessary. Through our extensive service, we make sure that the toilet is free from overflowing for as long as possible.

Leaking Toilet

Toilet leaks are often left unattended but they have some major consequences. Apart from creating unhygienic conditions, it can lead to a high water bill. If you observe a leak in your toilet, call CJ Plumbing & Heating today to get it fixed at the earliest. Our plumbers conduct a thorough inspection and identify the source of the leak. With their rich experience in serving the Chicago residents, our plumbers are familiar with all types of toilets installed in the area and are equipped to repair them in no time. We also check the parts of the toilet and replace any parts that show signs of damage that can lead to a leak in the future.

Clogged Toilet

The dilemma of a clogged toilet is faced by almost every household in the greater Chicago area. Providing comprehensive toilet services, CJ Plumbing & Heating has been catering to the needs of the Chicago residents for almost 3 decades. Whether it just a blockage in the toilet drain pipe or your main sewer pipeline is clogged, our plumbers are equipped with the best-in-class equipment to solve your problem. From flange plunger to trenchless sewer line repair, we use all the advanced techniques to ensure that your toilet is never clogged again.

From toilet selection to replacement and repair, CJ Plumbing & Heating can attend to your every need. Our certified plumbers possess rich experience in provisioning the Chicago residents with high-quality toilet services. We offer the lowest rates for a high-quality service. Call us today to get the fastest toilet installation and repair service.