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When the handle on our old toilet broke we decided to replace it. We chose a comfort height (for someone of N's height) with elongated bowl - (insert angel choir here). The guy at Home Depot assured us it was an easy job and should take us 30 min - an hour tops. (trip 1)
So this last weekend we installed the toilet. And I say last weekend because that's how long it took us to do it. Name something that could go wrong and it did. List of challenges:
Begin Day 1, 11 am
* Black gunk in old tank - made everything so fragrant and pleasant.
* Rotted Seals broke and leaked nasty-nasty water all over me. <I heard myself scream in horror>
* Rusted bolts and nuts - Near friggin' impossible to remove. My hands still hurts.
* Installed Toilet leaked out the base - F-ck! Needed to go back to Home Depot (trip 2)
* Flange below floor - WTF! G-dd-mitt! Had to go buy the ring with extension (trip 3)
* Flange *really* below floor - *&^%^%#@! Had to buy new ring with extension AND extra collar (trip 4)
* Uneven Floor - made me tighten the bolts too tight. Broke the bowl. $(#)*@!!#(*&$(*#&@! <deep breath> #(*&$(*#(!*@^$#@(!!*#&$! A hammer was looking like a good tool to finish the job.
End Day 1, 10:30 pm
Begin Day 2, 9 am
* Went to back to Home Depot to get new bowl. (trip 4)
* New Bowl suggested to me by Home Depot help was wrong match. - <see above for cursing> went back for matching tank since wrong bowl was installed. (trip 5)
So yes finally at 5 pm Sunday we finally got the toilet installed. The first time it flushed it was so unexpectedly loud I thought it was exploding. I jumped back and hit the wall behind me. It works now, but I still can't talk to people about it without swearing like a sailor. So the lessons learned here are:
* Tools absolutely essential for removing an old toilet, but are to be banished from the room once installation begins
* Gloves and hazmat suits should be seriously considered - alright just the gloves
* To save on return trips, buy enough wax rings to sculpt a toilet
* Last, but certainly not least always suspect the "advice" from he Home Depot to be dirty, dirty, dirty lies.
So this last weekend we installed the toilet. And I say last weekend because that's how long it took us to do it. Name something that could go wrong and it did. List of challenges:
Begin Day 1, 11 am
* Black gunk in old tank - made everything so fragrant and pleasant.
* Rotted Seals broke and leaked nasty-nasty water all over me. <I heard myself scream in horror>
* Rusted bolts and nuts - Near friggin' impossible to remove. My hands still hurts.
* Installed Toilet leaked out the base - F-ck! Needed to go back to Home Depot (trip 2)
* Flange below floor - WTF! G-dd-mitt! Had to go buy the ring with extension (trip 3)
* Flange *really* below floor - *&^%^%#@! Had to buy new ring with extension AND extra collar (trip 4)
* Uneven Floor - made me tighten the bolts too tight. Broke the bowl. $(#)*@!!#(*&$(*#&@! <deep breath> #(*&$(*#(!*@^$#@(!!*#&$! A hammer was looking like a good tool to finish the job.
End Day 1, 10:30 pm
Begin Day 2, 9 am
* Went to back to Home Depot to get new bowl. (trip 4)
* New Bowl suggested to me by Home Depot help was wrong match. - <see above for cursing> went back for matching tank since wrong bowl was installed. (trip 5)
So yes finally at 5 pm Sunday we finally got the toilet installed. The first time it flushed it was so unexpectedly loud I thought it was exploding. I jumped back and hit the wall behind me. It works now, but I still can't talk to people about it without swearing like a sailor. So the lessons learned here are:
* Tools absolutely essential for removing an old toilet, but are to be banished from the room once installation begins
* Gloves and hazmat suits should be seriously considered - alright just the gloves
* To save on return trips, buy enough wax rings to sculpt a toilet
* Last, but certainly not least always suspect the "advice" from he Home Depot to be dirty, dirty, dirty lies.
