Toilet Installation- DIY or Hire a Professional Plumber?
Recently a friend was renovating their home and I would help with the occasional knocking down of a wall or do some painting but when it came the toilet installations I advised my friend to just call the plumber. But being the stubborn type my friend was keen to renovate his home almost entirely on his own – keeping in mind he has zero toilet installation or plumbing experience. He consulted the internet and felt he was entirely knowledgeable on what to do to install his toilet.
The next weekend at a dinner party my friend and I were at we started talking about the renovations and how the place was looking better by the day. My friend started talking excitedly about the next day’s project – the toilet installation. He started listing all the steps involved in a toilet installation (using terms like cistern, pan, sewage, flush pipe) to the disgust of the other guests who were just starting their entrée’s. A late arrival sat down during my friends toilet installation lecture and strongly advised that my friend employ a reputable plumber to do the toilet installation as the risks of errors is great. It turned out the late guest was a plumber and he went on to explain the risks of doing a toilet installation without a plumber. Some of the points he raised included:
- There are Australian Standards that need to be met when installing a toilet and a licensed and experienced plumber will know this and install your toilet to these standards
- A toilet installation mistake could end up risking your drinking water. A plumber will know exactly what to do and how to avoid any contamination to your drinking water.
- Installing a toilet on your own means simple mistakes can be made and one simple mistake could leave you with a sewage leak – which is not only unsightly but also unhygienic. Don’t risk it.
- Setting the cistern water level correctly is also very important and not doing this correctly could leave you with an overflowing pan and more trouble.
My friend came away from the dinner with a whole new respect to what’s involved in a toilet installation – whilst the rest of us would have been happy if we never heard the words toilet installation again. My friend was recommended a local plumber who had a terrific reputation. He called Rose Bay Plumbing the next day and received great service and had his toilet installation done in no time. After seeing the work involved he felt lucky that he hadn’t attempted the toilet installation himself.
The next weekend at a dinner party my friend and I were at we started talking about the renovations and how the place was looking better by the day. My friend started talking excitedly about the next day’s project – the toilet installation. He started listing all the steps involved in a toilet installation (using terms like cistern, pan, sewage, flush pipe) to the disgust of the other guests who were just starting their entrée’s. A late arrival sat down during my friends toilet installation lecture and strongly advised that my friend employ a reputable plumber to do the toilet installation as the risks of errors is great. It turned out the late guest was a plumber and he went on to explain the risks of doing a toilet installation without a plumber. Some of the points he raised included:
- There are Australian Standards that need to be met when installing a toilet and a licensed and experienced plumber will know this and install your toilet to these standards
- A toilet installation mistake could end up risking your drinking water. A plumber will know exactly what to do and how to avoid any contamination to your drinking water.
- Installing a toilet on your own means simple mistakes can be made and one simple mistake could leave you with a sewage leak – which is not only unsightly but also unhygienic. Don’t risk it.
- Setting the cistern water level correctly is also very important and not doing this correctly could leave you with an overflowing pan and more trouble.
My friend came away from the dinner with a whole new respect to what’s involved in a toilet installation – whilst the rest of us would have been happy if we never heard the words toilet installation again. My friend was recommended a local plumber who had a terrific reputation. He called Rose Bay Plumbing the next day and received great service and had his toilet installation done in no time. After seeing the work involved he felt lucky that he hadn’t attempted the toilet installation himself.
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