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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: eagl on December 02, 2012, 03:57:08 PM

Title: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: eagl on December 02, 2012, 03:57:08 PM
Anyone know if I can reasonably expect a new toilet to fit where an older one used to be?  The original is a discontinued eljer toilet and the tank is broken, and I can't find a replacement tank.  So the whole toilet is going to be replaced.  So, if I remove the old one and put a new one in there, will all the mounting holes and bolts line up?  Are toilet mounts standard?  Can I just take off the mounting nuts, pull the old one out, and expect a new one (and new wax seal) to just line up ok?

Thanks...
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Vulcan on December 02, 2012, 04:00:29 PM
Anyone know if I can reasonably expect a new toilet to fit where an older one used to be?  The original is a discontinued eljer toilet and the tank is broken, and I can't find a replacement tank.  So the whole toilet is going to be replaced.  So, if I remove the old one and put a new one in there, will all the mounting holes and bolts line up?  Are toilet mounts standard?  Can I just take off the mounting nuts, pull the old one out, and expect a new one (and new wax seal) to just line up ok?

Thanks...

depends on the calibre of the toilet, also is it centrefire or rimfire?
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: morfiend on December 02, 2012, 04:17:26 PM
  simple answer Eagl is yes!

  All toilets are mounted 12 inches from the wall for the flange,you can use a wax or one of the new foam seals and just reseat the new unit.

   There may be some subtle differences with the size and depth of tank so you may need to paint the wall if it's not finished behind the tank.

   If you're handy at all shouldnt take more than hour and you can go back to reading! :devil :devil



   YMMV.


    :salute
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: eagl on December 02, 2012, 04:18:28 PM
Funny man you funny.   :x

So far it sounds like if the closet bolts (why are they "closet" bolts when they're holding onto a toilet and not a closet?) are 12 inches from the wall then it is "standard".
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Tupac on December 02, 2012, 04:21:22 PM
Get the one that can flush like 40 ping pong balls
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: mrmidi on December 02, 2012, 04:25:09 PM
You shouldn't have any problems setting the new one in place of the old.
You may find however that the base of the new one is not the same shape/size as the old one and you'll see any stains that where under it.

They are called closet bolts because the fixture you are referring to is called a "Water Closet"

Down here in the south some home owners still call the "Lavatory Sink" a "Face Bowl"

 :salute
midi
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: morfiend on December 02, 2012, 04:36:57 PM
Funny man you funny.   :x

So far it sounds like if the closet bolts (why are they "closet" bolts when they're holding onto a toilet and not a closet?) are 12 inches from the wall then it is "standard".

  Ya thats about it.

  It's usually the first question they ask you if you say you know how to do plumbing,how far back do you set a toilet?   Why 12 inches of course..... Now back to reading..... :rofl



    :salute
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: ImADot on December 02, 2012, 04:48:47 PM
Not all toilets are 12" mounts (which will be the minimum distance from the wall that the toilet can be installed. Measure from the wall to the center of the hole in the floor (generally the bolts are the same distance as the center of the hole). Some toilets, because of their design need more clearance from the wall than others, so make sure you get the right kind.

Also, if your bathroom floor is tile, there is probably more distance from the drain flange to the surface of the floor, and you should use a double-high wax ring to ensure a good seal between the toilet and drain.

I'm not a plumber, but have replaced a few toilets in my time.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: morfiend on December 02, 2012, 05:18:19 PM
 Dot,

  You're correct some commercial units require a specified mounting distance,same can be said about some of the handicap specialty units. However in Canada the code states 12 inches minimum distance from the wall.
   
  I had assumed it was just a standard home unit,sorry for not being more specific.

 
   I;m not a licensed plumber either but I was a licensed contractor that specialized in kitchens and baths.


    YMMV.

    :salute
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: skorpx1 on December 02, 2012, 05:50:20 PM
Get the one that can flush like 40 ping pong balls
Pfft. Give me some Taco Hell food and I can make that toilet perpetually clogged.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: guncrasher on December 02, 2012, 09:38:32 PM
they sell adapters that can be installed if you need a little more space.  but you will need to do some work.


midway
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Drano on December 02, 2012, 09:52:52 PM
Tank toilets come in two varieties, either 10" or 12" rough in. This is the distance from the finished wall (without  the baseboard) to the center of the flange bolts. This determines tank clearance. For example, if your toilet is roughed in for a 10" and you get one that's a12" the tank will hit the wall and the bolts won't line up. It's OK to mess up the other way but you'll have extra space behind the tank.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Buzzard7 on December 02, 2012, 10:19:26 PM
Just put in an American Standard Cadet3 about a 2 months ago. 1.2 gallons per flush. Took me about half an hour. Replaced an old 3 gal per flush unit. Went from 4000 gal. per moth water to 2.5 to 3000 gal. per month. Going to do the second bathroom toilet in the spring.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Maverick on December 03, 2012, 10:45:53 AM
Don't forget to get new gaskets for the new toilet where it mates to the drain. Wax I believe is standard. You do not want it to be leaking when you flush......  :O
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Ripsnort on December 04, 2012, 02:07:03 PM
Did the tank break from overload of pilot ego BS by any chance?
 :devil
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: eagl on December 04, 2012, 03:17:34 PM
Did the tank break from overload of pilot ego BS by any chance?
 :devil

If only.  Feats of strength are only one measure.  No, this was broken by what I can assume was a feat of stupidity by a previous owner.  The whole toilet is installed at around 13" instead of 12" and the tank was cracked at its base, so I am assuming that someone pushed the tank towards the wall and cracked the bottom of the tank.  It was then allowed to slowly leak until the region's naturally hard water sealed up the cracks.  Oops.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: morfiend on December 04, 2012, 04:47:15 PM
Eagl,

  If the toilet is 13 inches from the wall and you dont want to go to all the trouble to set it at the proper distance you can fill the gap behind the tank! A couple of strips of pipe insulation foam will work in a pinch but I'd get a small peice of high density styrofoam and cut it to fit the back of the tank before you install the tank.

    That should stop a repeat of what happened to the old one and is a cheap fix that only you will know about! :devil

      Then get your favourite book and admire your handiwork! :rofl



   :salute
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Babalonian on December 04, 2012, 05:39:01 PM
Similar issue with one toilet in my house, always had about a 1" gap behind it for a long time.  A couple years ago, while fixing some other things up in that bathroom (including a new toilet), I got some cheap tile and did the wall behind the toilet about 3' feet up from the floor.  Perfect 1/4-1/3" gap now.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: eagl on December 04, 2012, 11:39:07 PM
Thanks for the tank tips :)  I may try bracing the tank if it ends up too far from the wall.  It's possible it was simply improperly seated on the wax ring.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Sonicblu on December 04, 2012, 11:59:25 PM
What drano said.

American standard cadet 3 is probably the best bet from a home center.

I like and have install more toto g-max than anything else. It's what I have in my house. My kids flushed a spoon through it.

I have not had one unhappy customer with a toto g max's flush ever,  and I have put in hundreds of them.

One more thing if you bolt the tank down to the porcelain stops on the bowl you'll be find. Tanks are not made to recline on.





Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: rabbidrabbit on December 05, 2012, 07:20:17 AM
Just put in an American Standard Cadet3 about a 2 months ago. 1.2 gallons per flush. Took me about half an hour. Replaced an old 3 gal per flush unit. Went from 4000 gal. per moth water to 2.5 to 3000 gal. per month. Going to do the second bathroom toilet in the spring.

so....  3-1.2 = 1.8 gallon difference per flush.
That's 555 flushes per month to get 1000 gallons.  833 flushes per month if 1500 gallons.   

Do you run a daycare?
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Babalonian on December 05, 2012, 02:20:17 PM
so....  3-1.2 = 1.8 gallon difference per flush.
That's 555 flushes per month to get 1000 gallons.  833 flushes per month if 1500 gallons.   

Do you run a daycare?

Some people use water in their house for other things - like laundry, showers, baths, watering the lawn/garden, doing the dishes, cooking.... all these strange and unheard of things to you, sir.  :devil
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: rabbidrabbit on December 05, 2012, 02:27:07 PM
Some people use water in their house for other things - like laundry, showers, baths, watering the lawn/garden, doing the dishes, cooking.... all these strange and unheard of things to you, sir.  :devil

"Replaced an old 3 gal per flush unit. Went from 4000 gal. per moth water to 2.5 to 3000 gal. per month"

I assumed the reduced consumption was being solely attributed to the toilet change.  Perhaps my bad.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Stalwart on December 05, 2012, 02:32:46 PM
Anyone know if I can reasonably expect a new toilet to fit where an older one used to be? 

Yes, but don't expect it to flush.  :furious
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: bigsky on December 05, 2012, 11:19:51 PM
It would be a lot easier if you would just toejam in hole in the yard.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: chaser on December 05, 2012, 11:28:05 PM
Funny man you funny.   :x

So far it sounds like if the closet bolts (why are they "closet" bolts when they're holding onto a toilet and not a closet?) are 12 inches from the wall then it is "standard".

I can actually answer the closet question. Back when toilets were first coming into existance as we know them, the tank was called "water closet" (since closets store things, and it stored water.) The name stuck for the bolts, but not so much for the water closet.

Used to work for a plumber and the first time he asked me for closet bolts I had to ask what they were and why they were called that. This was the answer he gave me.

On a side note, the man who invented the modern day toilet was named Thomas Crapper. <--- True story
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: jimson on December 06, 2012, 09:37:40 AM
Just had one replaced. The wax ring failed and water was going under the tile and rotting the wall out.

Couldn't figure it out as the wall it was damaging had no pipes and never saw water on the floor.

There are now better options than the messy wax ring.

http://sanisealgasket.com/
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: Butcher on December 06, 2012, 09:53:28 AM
Be thankful you don't have to replace the flange, I had to drill through concrete a few times to replace it.
Title: Re: Replacing toilet - question
Post by: morfiend on December 06, 2012, 02:51:15 PM
Just had one replaced. The wax ring failed and water was going under the tile and rotting the wall out.

Couldn't figure it out as the wall it was damaging had no pipes and never saw water on the floor.

There are now better options than the messy wax ring.

http://sanisealgasket.com/

   These are the foam type gaskets I mentioned above!   If you have PVC pipe they work great but if you have an old cast system there's usually a lead liner that doesnt always play nice with the foam! However with a PVC system it's likely the best option for the DIY guys!


   YMMV.



    :salute