Renovations 101: How To Replace A Toilet

Whether you've decided to give your bathroom a big makeover or just happen to have a toilet that is no longer working properly, replacing it may feel like a daunting task. However, it's actually one of the easier DIY plumbing projects you can undertake. If you're willing to give it a try, here's how to replace your toilet.

Get Rid of the Water

To start, turn off the water to the toilet and flush the tank. If your tank is full, then this process may require a few flushes before you get to the point that flushing doesn’t get rid of water. At this point, you’ll need to soak up the remaining water. Many people choose to use towels and sponges but professionals may use a water pump to go from the tank directly to the toilet bowl, at which point one last flush should do the trick.

After you've soaked up any remaining water in the tank, you will likely want to clean the toilet. That way as you are removing it, you don’t have to worry about handling a dirty toilet. 

Disconnect All of The Water Lines and Nuts

After you’re done cleaning it, then you can disconnect the water lines. Additionally, you can prep to move the old toilet by loosening the nuts and bolts holding the toilet bowl to the floor. Sometimes there will be a build-up of gunk on the bolts so you may need to clean the nuts and bolts before being able to unscrew them.

Remove the Old Toilet

This is the part of the process that often results in a damaged flang, which is needed for your new toilet. With that in mind, it may be ideal to recruit someone to help you lift it so you can lift it straight up and off of the hardware in the ground. When getting rid of your old toilet, look at your local regulations for how to dispose of it properly.

If you didn’t remove the tank beforehand, you should ask for assistance because it might be too heavy. Don’t put too much pressure on the tank bolts when lifting the toilet because excessive force can cause the toilet porcelain to crack. A pro tip after lifting the toilet is to put it inside a durable trash bag so that the remaining water will not drip on the floor. You can also opt to replace your old one with a compact toilet, which is perfect for small and cramped spaces.

Remove the Wax Ring and Old Wax

Now that the old toilet is set aside, remove the wax ring and old wax on the flange. Since wax rings can't be reused, you can take a putty knife to scrape off the old wax. To keep your tools or anything from falling in the drain, stuff a rag or towel inside. As an added bonus, this will also prevent foul-smelling sewer gases from filling your bathroom.

Fix the Flange

Once you remove your old toilet, chances are the flange may need some repair work. Fortunately, repair kits are readily available, and it's somewhat simple to do. Remember, the flange should be slightly higher than your floor. Otherwise, there may be rocking issues after the toilet is installed. 

If, for any reason, you aren't comfortable doing this repair or run into unexpected problems, contact a local professional for plumbing services and assistance. Though professionals can handle the entire toilet replacement, they may also be willing to answer any questions you may have as you are already going through the process.

Install New Closet Bolts and Wax Ring

When you're ready to install your new toilet, begin by installing new closet bolts on the ground around the flange where the slots are. These bolts are what will hold the toilet in place. At this step, you’ll also be adding the wax ring to the bottom of the toilet. The wax ring will be what seals the toilet plumbing to the piping. To make sure the wax ring seals properly to the toilet, run it under warm water for several minutes before placing it on the toilet.

Install and Secure the Toilet

Now that it's time to install the toilet. If you placed a towel in the drainpipe, then make sure you remove it before placing the toilet. Place the new toilet straight down on the flange and secure it by tightening a nut over each closet bolt. When placing it on the flange, set it down straight instead of rocking it into place. This part may require two people, so consider recruiting someone to help you lower the toilet in a controlled manner. 

Connect the Tank and Lines

Next, check the tank's valve assembly and connect the rubber gasket to the base of the toilet. You will set the tank on the bowl and secure it with its nuts and bolts. Once the tank is in place, you can connect the water lines and secure the valves.

Review the Connection Points and Check for Leaks

After everything is connected, make sure that you check all of the connection points for leaks. You can do this by slowly turning the water on. In addition to looking for leaks, you can feel for leaks with your fingers and listen for leaks with your ears. If you installed everything correctly, then you shouldn’t need to make any adjustments. However, it is worth checking every 5-10 minutes as the tank is filling to make sure it isn’t leaking and thus flooding your bathroom.

Install the Toilet Seat

Once the toilet and tank have been installed and the tank is full of water, then you can add the final touch - the toilet seat. Most seats have a screw that goes directly into the toilet base and then a plastic cover goes over the screws for a nice clean look.

While it may take some time, replacing your toilet may be easier than you anticipated. However, after you’ve done it once, it seems even easier to do for the rest of the bathrooms in your home.

How to Upgrade Your Toilet with a Bidet

It wasn’t all that long ago that bidets were found almost exclusively in European bathrooms or the homes of the extremely wealthy. However, more and more Americans have been turning towards bidets in recent years, and for good reason. Using a bidet is generally considered to be far more hygienic than using toilet paper alone. Moreover, bidets tend to clean things better and more thoroughly. These reasons make upgrading your bathroom with a bidet something everyone should consider, and here is everything you need to know to get it done.

Traditional Bidets vs Toilet-Mounted Bidets

If you plan on renovating your bathroom, a traditional bidet is definitely an option. However, you can also enjoy the benefits a bidet can provide without the need for major construction work. There are now a large number of toilet-mounted bidets and bidet sprayers on the market that can be installed easily on your existing toilet.

Choosing the Right Bidet

You typically have two options for adding a bidet to your toilet: a bidet toilet seat or a handheld bidet sprayer. Handheld bidet sprayers resemble a showerhead and are mounted next to the toilet, whereas a bidet toilet seat is mounted directly on your toilet in place of the old toilet seat. Both bidet types can be a good option, but the majority of people opt for a bidet toilet seat for ease of use and added convenience. Bidet sprayers require you to hold the sprayer head in your hand and lean to the side while attempting to aim the stream of water where it needs to go. This often results in spraying water all over the bathroom and still not getting fully clean. However, these issues aren’t something you need to worry about with a bidet toilet seat. All you have to do is turn the bidet on and it automatically directs the stream of water directly where it needs to go.

Installing the Bidet

No matter which option you choose, the process for installing it is mostly the same. Primarily, it involves connecting the bidet into your existing water line and then mounting the unit. Depending on your skills, this could be a job that you can do by yourself fairly easily in just a few hours. However, not doing the job properly could result in damage to your toilet or water line. Improperly installed bidets also tend to leak, which could lead to more serious water damage. For these reasons, it is usually best to enlist the help of professional plumbers to ensure the job is done correctly.

Most people that upgrade to a bidet soon swear that they’ll never go back to just using toilet paper again. This means that it could be one of the better decisions you ever make. Nonetheless, it is important that you take the time to ensure the bidet is installed properly to prevent damaging your bathroom.

4 Tips for Adding More Storage Space in Your Bathroom

Even though your bathroom is likely the smallest room in your home, it doesn't mean that you don't have to sacrifice storage space. You might want to keep items for your nighttime routine in a separate area from what you use for getting ready in the morning, which means that you would need a few additional shelves or cabinets. Here are a few ideas to consider that can give you more space while also giving your bathroom a stylish look.

Racks

From wooden towel racks to metal racks to store shampoo bottles and makeup, there's an assortment that you can install on your bathroom walls to give you more space. This technique allows you to utilize the vertical space that's available in the room instead of taking up more space moving out horizontally. If you choose to use wooden racks, you can paint them or add details to match the decorations in the rest of the room so that everything blends together.

Storage Bins

If you have empty cabinets, then utilize the space by putting storage bins in them. These can be colored bins to keep everyone's items sorted or baskets with fabric in them to give more of a neutral and sophisticated look. You can sort everything from makeup and moisturizer to hair supplies and toiletries in the bins so that you're not hunting all across your bathroom for one thing that you need. If you have children, then you might want to use colored bins that they can put stickers on so that they have their own space for what they use in the bathroom.

Cabinets

Adding cabinets is one of the bathroom renovations that can be quite easy to do if you have the proper tools. You need to measure the space where you plan to put the cabinets and find just the right size for the room. Consider finding taller cabinets as they won't stick out as much as those that are boxier. If you install cabinets that have a metal backing on the inside of the door, then you could use magnetic strips to hang scissors, clips, and other metallic items that sometimes get lost in drawers.

Rolling Away

If you have a small bathroom, then you might not be able to add a lot of permanent details. However, a beverage cart can add a touch of class to your bathroom for the duration that it's in the room. It can be used to store towels, toiletries, and other essentials that you know you're going to need when you're getting dressed.

When you look around your bathroom, you might not think of some of the simple ways that you can add more space. Utilize the walls as much as possible so that you can add items vertically. Take the time to consider what will benefit your family when you begin the process of adding more storage.

7 Simple Habits to Give Your Bathroom an Eco-Friendly Makeover

If you are thinking of living a zero-waste life, the key is to do it bit by bit. You can start in one area of life, such as your hygiene and bathroom routine. Doing so makes your transition eco-friendly and manageable.

That said, we have listed down seven eco-conscious habits you should start building to have a sustainable bathroom.

Use energy-efficient lighting

If you want to be more eco-friendly, the first thing that you need to do is ensure that you don’t use more resources than you need. An example of a resource that you might want to be more efficient in using would be energy.

In the bathroom, you would often use energy to light the bathroom. Therefore, if you want to be more energy-efficient in the bathroom, switch to LED lights.

When you have energy-efficient lighting, you reduce the energy you need to run your bathroom. That means that you are more resourceful while also reducing the energy costs that you have to pay. 

Minimize water usage

Aside from being more mindful of how much energy you use, it would help to keep in mind your water usage. Reducing water usage enables you to reduce your water bills, and it’s more sustainable since you’re not using more than you need. 

There are different ways you can reduce your overall water usage. Cutting down on how often you wash your hair is a great way to minimize water usage and is one way you can have healthier hair. You can also use a low-flow showerhead which will help provide the same water pressure you want but with just the right amount of water you need.

There are also low-flow toilets that can reduce water usage while still being efficient at their intended tasks.

Heat water more efficiently

Aside from the lighting in the bathroom, you also use energy when you heat water. Heating requires a lot of energy, so by focusing on heating water more efficiently, you can also cut back on your household energy usage by a lot.

With that said, there are many ways you can heat water more efficiently in your bathroom. You can heat water more efficiently by getting a tankless water heater that will only run when you open any hot water faucet. It saves you a lot more energy than the standard tank water heaters.

Ditch those plastic bottles

Your toiletries usually come in single-use plastic bottles. That means that you can’t reuse them. Instead of continuing to use those plastic bottles, try and look for greener alternatives.

For example, nowadays, there are shampoo and conditioner bars that look like a bar of soap, except they’re shampoo and conditioner. You can also support brands that would refill your old bottles for a lower price, which is a service that many shops use nowadays.

If you have specific hair concerns that you can’t get from any other brand, though, opt to purchase that item in bulk or larger quantities instead. That way, you can reduce the impact as much as possible.

Switch to all-natural cleaners

You can also have a more eco-friendly bathroom by changing the cleaning solutions and products that you use there.

We often use harsh chemicals to clean our bathrooms, which are harmful to us and the environment. Instead of using those, you can opt for the greener alternatives that work just as well but use less harmful and natural ingredients.

If you have children or pets, using all-natural cleaners can be the safer option. Doing so ensures that your home is free from any toxic ingredients that can cause a reaction to you and your family members.

Some people even opt to make homemade cleaners made from household products like baking soda and vinegar. If that’s something that interests you, then consider making cleaning products at home. Be careful and test the cleaning solution first so that it doesn’t end up damaging your bathroom instead.

Replace your shower curtain

Those cheap vinyl shower curtains you find almost anywhere are often made from harmful materials. These materials release detrimental fumes throughout their lifetime.

Instead of using those, look for shower curtains that state non-PVC so you have a green shower curtain. Better yet, install a shower screen instead. Those will last longer, are easier to clean, and they’re eco-friendly.

Of course, they’re more expensive than a shower curtain, but you won’t have to replace them any time soon anyway.

Incorporate sustainable furnishings

Sustainable furnishings in the bathroom are also a great way to incorporate greener elements. Using fixtures made from recycled materials helps reduce your carbon footprint.

Recycled glass and ceramic, for example, are long-lasting and aren’t as wasteful to use in your bathroom. Bamboo is another example of an excellent material that is sustainable and attractive in your bathroom.

These changes should be able to help you spruce up your bathroom without adding damage to the planet. This should also encourage you to continue doing the switch for the environment.