DIYbanter - View Single Post - New Toilet install

Al Bundy

dpb wrote in :

wrote:
On Jul 23, 2:42 pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
wrote:
I've got a 67 year old toilet that is cracked and also has started
leaking a bit down onto the pipes in the basement. I've never put
in a new toilet, but from everything i read, it doesn't sound like
brain surgery. One obstacle that makes me want to get a pro to do
it is that the water supply line to my toilet goes straight into
the wall. It doesn't have a shut off value that I can easily get
to. Has anyone seen one like this? Will I just need to shut off
the water to the entire house before starting work on it?
Fixing the crack might be easier...

The leak isn't coming from the crack. I think the wax ring or flange
might be bad. The crack is more of an aesthetic thing on the bowl
and near the base. The toilet has a mfg. date of 1940 on it...i
think its time has come...

If the house/installation the toilet is in is the same age as it is
itself, you may find some other "issues" when you take it up.

Things like cast drain and flange that have at least a chance of being
rusted out and who knows how corroded up stuff will be.

Not to say it can't be done by a reasonably able DIY'er, but as a
first project it just may come w/ challenges.

What is the feed line? If original and galvanized, it's good chance
it's on its last few years of life, as well, so need to be prepared
there, as well.

As for the cutoff valve, normally one has a straight supply line thru
the wall and then uses a 90-deg valve w/ a compression fitting to
supply the stool tank. It only takes a short section of pipe to
install one of these, but you do need either a threaded end if
galvanized or enough of a stub to sweat a fitting onto if copper.

If they did something like run a small diameter flex copper or worse
of a homebrew, then you'll need/want to work backwards to clean that
up, too.

If it might include any of these complications and if the supply lines
to the bathroom were accessible, you might consider installing another
cutoff there to isolate the room before you delve into "who knows
what?" territory. That would especially attractive if have more than
one bath so it's only a little inconvenience if this one is out of
service a couple of days (as opposed to a major problem/disaster).

--

Reality.

Pay attention to the reply this references. They are all real
possibilities. Or it could go easily. But think probability with a 67
year old install. That in combo with this being your first replacement
might be worth having it done. If you don't have a 2nd crapper you're a
gambling man. Plumber has everything in the truck. Don't forget to add to
cost of DIY gas $ for 4 trips to HD, time returning stuff, possible HD
wing nut that gives you bad info, blah blah.

One thing that can be very helpful for DIYer going to home center for
solutions is a digital camera. Take a pic of what you are trying to
solve, print it in gray scale and bring it with you. Pic worth 1k words
and if you get a good guy in the plumbing dept, they might foresee a
problem or alternative solution.

Just my .02 (actually worth less than that).
Al...