Tag Archives: how to

Plumbing

How to Replace a Toilet

You might be amazed by the amount of money you can save on your next water bill by replacing your toilet with a new 1.6 gal per flush water saving unit. This is a job that can be completed by the general homeowner in an afternoon. With sufficient preparation, replacing a toilet is a fairly straight forward task.
Step 1:
Remove the new 1.6 toilet from its box and make sure there is no chips or scratches. Verify that all the parts are there. You will also need a wax ring which should come with the new toilet.

Step 2:
Turn off the water behind the toilet and flush the toilet to drain it. You will need to soak up as much as you can with a shop vac or rag and wring it into a pal. A genereal pair of rubber gloves will be helpful for the next step.

Step 3:
Separate the tank from the bowl by loosening the tank bolts. Take the tank off the bowl and discard it.

Step 4:
Unscrew the floor bolts that hold the base to the floor. Use a pair of pliers if the bolts are hard to move. Gently rock the toilet base to break the wax seal.

Step 5:
Lift the toilet straight up and set it on a piece of the box in order to protect the floor from any remaining water in the bowl or wax from the bottom. The cardboard will make it easier to move the toilet out of the way. It is a good idea to cover up the pipe with an old rag or plastic bag to prevent sewer gasses from escaping.

Step 6:
Remove the wax seal with a putty knife or paper towels. Apply the new wax seal around the toilet flange. first remember to remove the rag from the drain pipe.

Step 7:
Apply the new wax seal. Place the new toilet base over the floor bolts and center it over the wax seal. Tighten the bolts but not to tight and replace the caps. Attach the tank to the new base with the included hardware.

Step 8:
Connect a new water line to the toilet. Turn the water back on and wait for the tank to fill and check for leaks. You will need to flush a couple of times to fill the bowl with water.toilet

plumbing, Plumber

Steps on How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Steps on How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
1dsfewr

Whether it’s the cause of water pooling under your sink, or the annoying dripping sound that keeps you up at night, a leaky faucet is a nuisance that could turn into a full-blown problem if not addressed properly. Fortunately, putting a stop to a leaky faucet, such as the compression faucet in your kitchen, can be surprisingly inexpensive and simple.

Tools you’ll need:

• Adjustable wrench; C wrench

• Phillips and/or flat-head screwdriver

• Penetrating oil, such as WD-40 or CRC

• Replacement washers and O-rings

Step 1: Don’t make a mess worse by transforming your broken faucet into Old Faithful. Before applying any wrench or screwdriver to your fixture, make sure your water supply is turned off, from the handles over the sink to the knobs underneath that control the water coming in from the main line.

Step 2: Remove any decorative parts of the handle knobs. A simple prying with a flat-head screwdriver will take care of that. Underneath each knob, there will be a screw that mounts the handle to the stem. Unscrew, then gently remove the handle with your flat-head. Using penetrating oil can assist in loosening it, allowing you to take the faucet handle off the stem.

Step 3: Use your wrench to loosen the packing nut. From there you should notice the stem. Remove that as well. Depending on the faucet, some stems pop right off, while others twist off from the valve. Check the removed parts for any damage.

Step 4: If everything is intact at this point, inspect the O-ring and washer inside the valve seat—they could be the reason for your leak. Remove the washer and put a replacement inside the seat.

It’s crucial to make sure your replacement washers and O-rings are an exact fit. If you are unsure about either, check the seat to see if the sides fit a cone-shaped or flat washer, and purchase the appropriate type. You may want to take the old O-ring to your local hardware store to verify the correct size. You can also buy a package including many different sizes of O-rings—sometimes it’s worth the extra few bucks.

Step 5: From here, carefully reassemble all the parts (in order of washer/O-ring, stem, packing nut, screw, and handle). Slowly and gently turn the knob to test the running water and check to see if you’ve licked that leak.

If, after all of your hard work, you notice the faucet is still dripping, then the cause may be corrosion in your valve seat. If not cleaned over time, it can produce leaks near the spout. Other potential problems are worn-out seals, loose parts, or, even worse, broken plumbing. If your troubleshooting leads to these areas, or if other sudden complications occur, then it may be time to call a professional Charlotte plumber.
source