Thinking about a new toilet for your Claremore home? You should hold on a minute. I have seen many people make simple mistakes that turn a quick job into a real headache. These mistakes cost them time as well as extra cash. At Aim High Kitchen & Bath, we are all about doing things right the first time. This includes your toilet installation in Claremore. We will talk about some common pitfalls you absolutely need to avoid.
Mistake #1: Ignoring the Rough-In Measurement
This is probably the biggest mistake. It is a real problem. Your toilet's 'rough-in' is the distance from the finished wall behind the toilet to the center of the drainpipe. That drainpipe is also called the toilet flange. Most homes have a 12-inch rough-in measurement. Our team has seen many older Claremore homes, especially those classic builds around the Will Rogers Memorial, with 10-inch or even 14-inch rough-ins. We see this often in Claremore.
If you buy a toilet with the wrong rough-in, it will not fit right. A 12-inch toilet will not squeeze into a 10-inch space. A 10-inch toilet on a 12-inch rough-in will leave a big, awkward gap behind it. You cannot usually return a toilet once it has been unboxed. This is especially true for sanitary reasons. So, you are stuck with a pricey porcelain paperweight. Always measure twice from the finished wall, not the baseboard. Measure to the center of the bolts or the drain. This is important for any toilet installation in Claremore.
Mistake #2: Skimping on the Wax Ring
The wax ring is a small and inexpensive part. It is absolutely important. It creates the watertight seal between your toilet and the drainpipe. Many people try to reuse the old one. They also install a new one incorrectly. This is a big mistake for any toilet installation. Aim High Kitchen & Bath always uses new wax rings.
If that wax ring is not seated perfectly, you will get leaks. It is not always a gushing flood. Sometimes it is just a slow drip that you do not notice. You might not notice it until your subfloor is rotting or you have a funky smell in the bathroom. Always use a new wax ring. Make sure it is aligned right as well as compressed evenly. This helps with a proper toilet installation in Claremore.
Mistake #3: Forgetting to Check the Flange and Floor
You have to inspect the toilet flange and the floor underneath before that new toilet goes down. The flange connects the toilet to the drain. It needs to be in good shape as well as at the right height. This is a key step for any toilet installation in Claremore.
Our team has seen flanges that are corroded. We have also seen them cracked or even broken. If you just put a new toilet on top of a bad flange, it will not seal properly. This leads to leaks as well as wobbling. We also make sure your floor is level. Our Oklahoma soil can sometimes shift. An uneven floor means an unstable toilet. This can eventually break that important wax seal. You might need shims to get it perfectly level for your toilet installation in Claremore.
Mistake #4: Overtightening (or Undertightening) Bolts
It is a common thought that tighter is better. This is not true with toilet bolts. Overtightening the bolts that secure your toilet to the floor can crack the porcelain base. This is an expensive mistake. Aim High Kitchen & Bath avoids this during toilet installation.
If you do not tighten them enough, your toilet will wobble. A wobbly toilet puts stress on the wax ring. This can lead to leaks as well as damage over time. There is a sweet spot for tightening. A professional knows exactly how much pressure to apply to get it secure without risking damage. Our team knows how to do this for your toilet installation in Claremore.
Mistake #5: Not Testing for Leaks Thoroughly
You have the new toilet in. Everything looks good. You might think you are done. You are not. You absolutely have to test for leaks. Flush the toilet several times. Carefully inspect around the base as well as the water supply connection. Small leaks are not always obvious right away. They can cause big problems later on. This is a very important step for any toilet installation.
At Aim High Kitchen & Bath, we always take the time to make sure everything is sealed up tight. We also make sure everything is working correctly before we call a job done. This is about protecting your home in Claremore. It is also about giving you a reliable toilet installation.
Installing a toilet might seem straightforward. There are many little details that can go wrong. If you are not confident, or if you just want it done right without the headache, give us a call. We are here to help Claremore homeowners avoid these common mistakes. We will also provide a reliable, leak-free toilet installation for your home.