3 Safety Measures To Employ When Replacing a Toilet

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

When Replacing A Toilet, Take These Three Precautions.

When a toilet malfunctions in your Montclair NJ, home, you will probably want to take steps to fix it right away. A leaking toilet may be especially problematic because it can damage your floors and create the perfect environment for mold growth. If you need to replace your toilet, there are a few safety measures you can put in place for each step to keep yourself and your family safe.

1. Prepare the Area

Before you remove the toilet, preparing the area can prevent accidents before they start. Keep young children and curious pets away from the bathroom and have newspapers or a tarp handy to rest the toilet on once you remove it. Wear gloves and protective glasses and have a bucket within arm’s reach to prevent water spills during the toilet repair.

2. Inventory Your Tools

Removing your old toilet requires a few tools, including a scraper, wrench, pliers and a measuring tape. Collect all these tools ahead of time so you will not have to search for them during the repair process. When you use your wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor, be sure no tools are scattered around before you attempt to lift the toilet and check the wax seal and flange, as stumbling during this phase could cause serious injury.

3. Avoid Touching Contaminated Water

A leaking toilet may cause contaminated water to puddle around the base or run across your bathroom floor if it should spill from the bowl or if it has previously overflowed. If this occurs, call a flood cleanup and restoration company to inspect and sanitize your bathroom to prevent damage to your floors and walls and to check for the presence of mold before you install the new toilet.

Replacing a leaking toilet at your Montclair NJ, home does not have to be difficult when you take the time to work safely. Making the right preparations, reading through directions before you begin and taking one step at a time can help keep this a safe and painless process.