Now that we’ve installed a toilet, we’ll review a few tips to help you do the job with finesse.
1. It’s a good idea to pick up an extra valve just in case your soldering attempt isn’t up to snuff… particularly with a ball valve. Or do the job while the store’s open.
2. Use a MAPP gas torch when soldering such a valve.
3. When tightening the supply hose to the valve, note that it will freely swivel as you’re tightening – up to a point. After that, it will twist for the final bit of tightening. Determine how you want it to be oriented when tight (so it’s not all twisted), and compensate accordingly.
4. The pressure testing cap on the closet flange comes in a variety of forms. Make sure you know which one you have or you could waste a lot of energy (and damage the flange) by doing something such as trying to knock out a cap which should be pried up.
5. Always be careful when tightening nuts. Too much pressure can crack the porcelain.
6. The flush pull chain and other parts may be elasticized or tangled together inside the tank for shipping purposes. Remove and disentangle all this before you fill up the tank; it’s a lot easier!
7. Search for other extraneous stuff in the tank. A piece of tape on the flapper might not be noticeable until it starts to peel, bunches up, and causes the toilet to run on.
8. While plastic nuts are generally intended to be hand tightened only, count on using a wrench for at least a partial turn.