Owning a home can be expensive, which is why many Salem, OR homeowners look for DIY solutions to common household problems and installations. If you need to install a new toilet, you might have researched how to complete this process. While installing a new toilet can look quite easy in a tutorial video, looks can be deceiving. There are quite a few things that can go wrong in a DIY toilet installation. Should these mishaps occur, they won’t just result in a poorly functioning toilet, they can lead to serious damage to your home.
Improperly Sealed Flange and Installed Base
One of the most important aspects of installing a toilet is ensuring that the toilet flange is properly connected to the drainpipe. The seal needs to be extremely tight with no cracks or small gaps whatsoever. If this part isn’t connected properly, you will experience leaks of dirty and potentially toxic liquid. If these small leaks are allowed to persist undetected, you might experience mold growth and damage to the structure of your home over time.
While any part of a toilet has the potential to leak, the toilet flange presents the most possibility for some serious situations if not properly sealed. If you do have a leak, you won’t be able to see it with the naked eye, as it’s concealed by the base of your toilet. Many people who install their own toilet and improperly seal it to the drainpipe don’t realize that there’s a problem until they feel the floor becoming soft with rot. By this point, a fast installation by a professional becomes a household disaster.
Furthermore, screwing the base of the toilet to the floor sounds like it would be a simple task in theory, but it requires a delicate balance that only a professional can provide. If you don’t screw it tightly enough, the toilet will rock back and forth when you use it. If you screw it too tightly, you’ll put pressure on the bowl that could cause it to eventually shatter. Furthermore, even if you install the flange correctly, if the base is poorly tightened or misaligned, it can cause that seal to become loose.
Poorly Installed Water Supply Line
If you don’t properly connect the water supply line to the toilet, there is the potential to experience leaks that could cost you a fortune on your monthly water expenses over time. Furthermore, the supply line needs to be properly connected to the shut-off valve so that you’re able to turn off the water in the event of a malfunction. You don’t want to figure out that you didn’t properly connect the supply line to the shut-off valve when your toilet is overflowing with no signs of stopping.
Issues a Professional Must Diagnose
Even if you believe you’ve adequately researched how to install a new toilet, there is a reason that plumbers go to school to master their trade. During a toilet installation, or any plumbing installation, trained plumbers know how to look for existing issues that could lead to problems. These issues should be addressed before the toilet is installed. They have the tools and the knowledge to detect existing plumbing problems that may be a relatively simple fix between the removal of the old toilet and the installation of the new one. It could become quite difficult to repair if the new toilet is installed on top of these existing issues. You don’t want to install your new toilet only to discover that it needs to be removed so that your plumber can access a serious problem with your pipes.
Unexpected Expenses
Installing a toilet isn’t as simple as buying the unit and screwing it in with whatever tools you have lying around the house. Many people purchase a toilet with the plan to install it on their own, only to find themselves constantly running to the hardware store to purchase yet another tool or material that they need to do the job correctly. By the end of the process, they’ll have spent as much money as they would have if they’d just called a professional plumber to do the job for them.
Local Codes and Compliance Requirements
Perhaps unbeknownst to you, the Salem area has codes in place regarding what is and isn’t permitted when it comes to installing new plumbing. Professional plumbers are constantly updated and trained on local codes in the various areas and towns where they work. However, you might not be, which means you could end up installing something that needs to be removed. When this happens, not only will professional service cost you, but you may also get hit with expensive fines. While it’s easy to dismiss these codes as unimportant, it’s truly important to follow them to avoid issues with your plumbing. It’s also important that all the plumbing in your home is up to code if you plan on selling your home soon. Anything that an inspector spots that isn’t correct will ultimately need to be fixed before you can sell your home. Inadequately installed toilets can decrease the value of your home as well.
Problems With the Flush Mechanism
Many homeowners believe that they’re more than capable of replacing parts in a flush valve on their own. While this does tend to be one of the simpler and more low-risk aspects of a DIY toilet installation or repair, it’s generally a better idea to have a professional install your flush mechanism for you. It’s very easy to create small gaps in the seal that you might not be able to see, but that can create leaks and drips that will cost you a fortune on your water bill over time. It’s much cheaper to have a professional ensure that your flush mechanism is installed properly and sealed correctly so as not to let leaks through.
Issues With Your Insurance Company in the Event Something Goes Wrong
Your homeowner’s insurance policy may very likely have stipulations that pertain specifically to DIY projects gone wrong. Many policies will explicitly state that they will only cover damage caused in the wake of a professional installation. Attempting to do the project yourself will leave you on the hook to cover the costs of any damage if things go wrong. While not all policies contain these stipulations, many homeowners learn the hard way after a DIY disaster has already occurred.
It’s crucial that you leave the toilet and other plumbing installation projects to the professionals. While you might feel like you’re saving money, if something goes wrong, you could end up spending way more than you would have if you’d just hired professionals in the first place.
At Woodward Heating Air Plumbing, we think the tough jobs are best left to the professionals. We invite you to call us if you need a new toilet installed. We also offer other plumbing services, such as unclogging pipes, new pipe installation, water treatment, shower repair and replacement, garbage disposal installation, and more. We offer heating and cooling services, such as the installation, maintenance, and repair of furnaces and air conditioning units as well. This includes gas piping, thermostat installation, and indoor air quality services.
Reach out to Woodward Heating Air Plumbing for more information.
