For those DIY enthusiasts who fancy themselves as skilled enough to successfully undertake many tasks in their home, replacing a toilet suite can seem like an appropriate challenge. Whether it is because your current WC suite is faulty or because you would simply like a change in your home, there is a set procedure to follow to ensure that installation goes to plan.
Firstly, it is worth noting that the replacement of a toilet suite can be relatively simple if you are installing a suite that is very similar to the one you currently have in your home. However, this can be more complicated if you decide to install an entirely new style of pan and cistern.
The most important thing to remember is to avoid damaging the soil pipe, as this can cause problems for the entire installation. Make sure that treating the soil pipe with care is a top priority when you undertake the task. In an ideal world, your WC will be located directly over, or at least near to, the soil pipe that is already in place.
The first step in the process is removing the old cistern. The cold water must be turned off and the old cistern needs to be completely drained before it can be removed from the wall. An extra pair of hands can be useful in lifting the cistern from its brackets if it is a high-level installation.
Next, it is necessary to remove the old toilet pan, which needs to be emptied of water by scooping out the liquid using whatever suitable objects you have to hand. The WC pan will need to be unscrewed, or detached from the floor with the use of a chisel, and any joint between a p-type trap and the soil pipe loosened.
The WC pan then should be able to be removed by rocking the object at the same time as pulling on it. If necessary, smash any p- or s-type trap with a hammer to further loosen the pan, taking care not to damage the soil pipe. To prevent any debris falling into the soil pipe, rags can be stuffed into it.
For the next stage in the process, you will need to have your new pan as well as an appropriate pan connector at the ready. This of course, if after making sure the floor area where the pan will be placed has been cleaned of any debris from the un installation of the old pan.
There are several types of pan connector, including the obtuse angle, straight, curve, tee shaped and knuckle pan connector. When making your choice of pan connector, make sure to consider the external diameter of the pan outlet pipe, the internal diameter of the soil pipe and the distance between the pipe and outlet when the new pan is in position.
When the new pan has been put into place, make sure that you are happy with the position it is sitting in before pushing the pan connector on the pan outlet. After checking for obstructions in the soil pipe, push the pan connector firmly into the soil pipe while sliding the new pan into position.
After these steps have been carried out, the new pan will need to be firmly fixed to the floor. This can be done by using a silicone sealant and screws to make sure that the toilet pan stays in position. If using sealant only, give it sufficient drying time to bond to pan to the floor. Before fixing, be sure to attach the flush pipe to the pan.
Finally, you will need to attach the cistern to the wall. After pre-drilling holes for the screws you will use later, hold the cistern to the wall to ensure that the position is correct and that the lid fits appropriately. After screwing the cistern to the wall, attach the flush pipe to the base of the cistern using the correct type of connector.
After all this procedure is followed, all that remains to be done is the installation of the flush mechanism and float value inside your WC. This is the basic process of installing a new toilet suite for your home, and by following these straightforward steps and with a little elbow grease, it can be relatively quick and painless.
