Why Replacing a Toilet Suite is Not As Easy As You Might Think and Why You Should Hire a Professional

April 26, 2025
Patrick James

Challenged by a leaking or worn-out toilet? You might consider rolling up your sleeves for a weekend DIY project. However, it’s not as easy as it seems. Save yourself the hassle and the potential long-term costs by hiring a professional.

Contents

The Challenge of Toilet Replacement
Why New Toilet Selection Matters
Investing in Quality Sanitary Fixtures
DIY vs. Professional Installation
Steps to Successful Toilet Installation
The Delicate Art of Wax Rings
After-Installation Guidelines for Usage
Introduction
Why Toilet Suite Replacement Isn’t Child’s Play
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Plumber
Transform Your Restroom with Panelling
Maintaining Sparkling Shower Doors
Conclusion

The Challenge of Toilet Replacement

Replacing a toilet suite is no easy task. It involves working with tools like wrenches, nuts, bolts, and caulk to ensure correct removal and installation. The process can be messy and time-consuming. According to ImproveNet, only 31% of homeowners feel confident enough to attempt a toilet installation themselves.

An average toilet installation takes a professional plumber between two to four hours, and an inexperienced individual may take much longer – often double the time. This means more labour and more time spent. Lastly, you might encounter unforeseen problems, such as incompatible equipment or parts that don’t fit properly. The DIY route vastly contrasts with the easy and seamless experience that a professional provides.

Why New Toilet Selection Matters

Toilets are not one-size-fits-all. They come in various shapes, sizes, designs, flush system types and water efficiency rates. This range complicates the process of selecting the perfect fit for your bathroom space and plumbing system.

For instance, let’s talk water efficiency. A water-efficient toilet can save up to 13,000 gallons of water per year for an average household, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, improper installation could negate these savings. Therefore, both the selection of a new toilet and the installation process itself are significant to your long-term cost and water usage.

Navigating through these choices and functionality considerations can be overwhelming without expert knowledge in plumbing and bathroom building materials.

Investing in Quality Sanitary Fixtures

Quality fixtures impact more than just aesthetics – they’re integral to saving water and durability. Cheaper options may seem tempting initially, but they might compromise on performance or break down sooner – likely costing you more in repairs or replacements in the long run.

It’s not merely about buying from a renowned company but also choosing fixtures well-suited to your bathroom’s specific needs. Professionals can help you make informed decisions about investing wisely to avoid incessant leaks or other functional issues down the line.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) emphasises selecting sanitary fixtures that offer style, durability, and efficiency. It demonstrates why knowledgeable advice is invaluable when making effective purchases targeted towards longevity and easy maintenance.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

Installation problems are significantly higher for DIY-ers, with up to 28% facing leaks or other issues, as opposed to only 5% when done by professionals. Leaks can result in damage to floors and walls alike – costly collateral damage that is often not planned for.

The risk of injury should be factored into your decision as well. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there are over 2,300 toilet-related injuries in the U.S each year. Investing in a professional means prioritising safety along with a high-quality finish.

Steps to Successful Toilet Installation

Successful toilet installation requires expert knowledge of plumbing and accurate handling of various tools and components like the valve, flange, tank, gasket, and wax ring. Even small mistakes can escalate into substantial problems later on.

Guidance from a seasoned plumber is crucial for tasks like removing the old toilet, replacing the wax seal correctly, positioning the new toilet precisely over the flange, securing it in place with nuts and bolts without damaging the construction or injuring yourself.

All these steps demand attention to detail that a seasoned professional possesses. They help ensure your investment is fit for purpose and lasts.

The Delicate Art of Wax Rings

The wax ring seals your toilet to its waste pipe. It’s a small component but so important that any minor misplacement can result in leaks, compromising your bathroom floor’s structure and leading to water wastage – potentially 200 gallons daily as per EPA statistics.

It takes skill to set the considerable weight of a toilet onto a much smaller wax ring with precision – an error-free task assured by experienced plumbers.

In short, the delicate art of handling a wax ring forms crux of skillful installation. Its handling requires exact proportions and experience to guarantee an instance of zero leakage subsequently.

After-Installation Guidelines for Usage

Once your new toilet suite is installed, understanding how to properly maintain it is paramount. Preventive steps can vastly extend its lifespan and maintain optimal performance.

All this may include daily cleaning routines using appropriate cleaning products and tools, seasonal thorough cleansing, or checks for detecting early signs of leaks or other problems. Ensuring tightening of fixtures or seals in place to contain water pressure properly are aspects best explained by professionals.

Hiring a pro means you’ll have expert advice specific to your chosen toilet and personal usage habits – information that allows you to maintain the toilet suite effectively and ensure its maximum longevity.

Introduction

Exciting as it might be to take on a DIY project like replacing your toilet suite, from both a budgetary and accomplishment perspective, it’s not as easy as you may think. This task involves more than just nuts and bolts or screws and washers – it requires detailed knowledge in plumbing and building engineering. When it comes to fixtures in the bathroom, particularly those directly related to plumbing systems like the toilet, professional expertise matters a lot.

A widely shared statistic mentions that the average toilet installation takes a seasoned plumber about 2 to 4 hours. However, if an inexperienced individual attempts this task, it could take almost double the time – if not more. The question then arises-does risking this valuable resource of time facilitate potential savings? Let’s dive in deeper to explore.

Why Toilet Suite Replacement Isn’t Child’s Play

If you’re contemplating plunging into toilet replacement by yourself, pause and consider some hard facts. Only about 31% of homeowners believe they can efficiently take up and perform a toilet installation themselves.

The installation process isn’t merely about eliminating the old toilet seat and installing a new one. It involves dealing with intricate parts such as flanges, gaskets, tanks, valves-each of which needs careful handling. Improper installation can cause severe leaks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this can potentially waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

What’s more, a study reveals that 28% of DIY toilet installations subsequently faced leaks or other significant issues, compared to just 5% in professional cases⁴. Then there’s the risk of injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports over 2,300 annual toilet-related harm cases in the U.S., underlining potential threats with DIY ventures.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Plumber

In light of these realities, hiring a professional plumber seems like a sensible decision. Not only do you get guaranteed workmanship with professional installation, but it also can help prevent excessive water consumption resulting from leaks. According to the EPA, an average household can conserve approximately 13,000 gallons of water annually by installing a water-efficient toilet correctly.

Transform Your Restroom with Panelling

If you have already made up your mind to hire a professional plumber for installing your new toilet suite, why not take this opportunity to also consider refreshing your bathroom aesthetics? One of the easiest ways to add a tasteful air to your restroom is with panelling. Available in a variety of materials and designs, panelling not only upgrades your bathroom’s appearance but also adds a layer of protection to your walls from moisture and potential leaks.

Remember, while installing panelling isn’t as tricky as replacing a toilet suite, it’s still worth hiring an expert. Just like with toilet installation, professional experience can make a significant difference in the outcome.

Maintaining Sparkling Shower Doors

Now that you’ve upgraded your restroom with a newly installed toilet suite and fresh panelling, it’s crucial to ensure all aspects of your bathroom maintain their lustre-especially shower doors. Keep in mind that proper maintenance goes beyond regular cleaning. It also includes checking for leaks regularly, since these can cause unsightly water stains and potential water damage over time.

Take the help of adept plumbers not only in inspecting and rectifying any such leaks but also to provide relevant suggestions in maintaining your shower doors’ sparkle. The proper maintenance of equipment, especially the ones which are bathroom-related, is an area where professional advice truly comes in handy.

Conclusion

Although replacing a toilet suite might initially seem tempting as a DIY project, given the numerous possible complications and risks, it is advisable to hire a professional plumber for the task. Not only does it save you from potential mishaps but also aids in water conservation and proper functioning of your newly installed toilet suite. For tasks like these, getting trained hands on board gives you both peace of mind and higher operational efficiency.

About
Latest Posts

Patrick James

The Blog Team at Dan's Plumbing
Dan’s Plumbing is a leading name in emergency plumbing across Australia. We ensure prompt and effective plumbing solutions for residents across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast.