Guide on Upflush Basement Toilets
For homeowners who make the decision to remodel their basement space by adding a small apartment that is equipped with a full bathroom, this would be a profitable and smart move. In certain areas, it is possible for persons to recover up to eighty-five percent of the money that was spent to carry out this renovation if they have to sell in the future. All things considered, when there is an extra bathroom in a house this will definitely increase its value and also make the living space more comfortable and convenient for family members. The frustration scenarios that older homes provide with only one bathroom is fast becoming a thing of the past as modern construction include this room in all possible areas of a house. Having the right basement toilet is definitely the solution to most problems.
If you are thinking about doing this kind remodeling work at home, you will discover that the process will be quite different from building a bathroom on the upper level. This section of a house will require careful consideration in order to deal with moisture problems; provide sufficient lighting and good ventilation as well as require special prerequisites for plumbing. In addition, a toilet on the lower level of the sewage lines is not going to flush efficiently and showers, bathtubs and sinks will have draining problems. For this reason a basement toilet and additional bathroom fixtures have to be installed correctly.
It is possible to put in a sewage ejector during the bathroom renovation, as this is actually the most popular and traditional approach. However, in order to get this done you have to dig deep into an area of the flooring. All waste water could be dealt with by doing this and it is actually a well-tested system to ensure that a toilet in the basement will work properly. In the event that you are doing this job on your own without any experience of working with this system it is best to get professional help.
An additional alternative that is considered a more expensive bathroom fixture, yet could turn out to be a cheaper option over time, is the macerating toilet. You are able to install tube waste water and sink with this just the same, providing that you choose the correct size unit. But, it is recommended to have additional space within the wall or at the back of the toilet in order to fit the macerating unit and a pump box. This particular solution is somewhat easier to work with and needs no upkeep; however it is more expensive to install initially when compared to a sewage ejector.
It doesn’t matter what type of bathroom toilet installation you are doing, it is important to understand about the plumbing that is required for this kind of renovation.
Steps on how to install a toilet in the basement
Installing a toilet in this area of the house could present a few obstacles, but the good thing is, there are also many variables that will help you to make this task easier.
The first step is to switch off the water supply in this area and then cut the cold water pipe. Ensure that you choose a pipe line that is nearest to the installation spot. A pipe cutter can be used to make this cut and then use tee fitting to fill the space created.
Next, use a circular wire brush to clean up the tee. Add some flux on the interior of the tee fixture and the pipe and then use a torch to apply heat to the joint between the fittings and the pipe. Once the spot is heated, use some solder to rub on the seam.
After that, you are now ready to put in piping from the new junction to the spot for the toilet. At this point, you can follow the previous steps to get the junction right. To ensure safety and convenience, you can set up a shut off valve before installing the toilet inlet, but ensure that all the connectors are secure.
When selecting a toilet ensure that it matches with the specifications that you desire for this space. For most basements it will be a good idea to install one of the upflush toilets. You can find reliable and sturdy units with a number of nice features; electrically powered and will give you the opportunity to also use tile drains from a tub and sink unit.
Next, you should attach the discharge line from the toilet to the closest drain pipe. If necessary, you can put saddle tee fittings onto the closest pipe in order to support the drainage pipe.
The final step is to examine all the fittings to ensure that they are secured and then on back the water supply.
A few tips on how to protect your basement from flooding
There is no doubt that finishing a basement bathroom on your own will leave you with pure joy, so you have to ensure that the best protection is in place. Considering the money and time spent to make this area a comfortable living environment, the last thing that you want to see pools of water settling on the ground from an infiltrated sewage line or rainfall.
A basement is definitely not finished without having a few measures set up for flood prevention. This could be a simple plan of action that will help to keep your home safe if flooding do take place and also have an emergency approach to secure your family.
Two of these solutions are mentioned below:
Prevention measures – In advance to any flooding crisis, examine your home to find easy approaches to divert rain water from your house. Some of the essential considerations are adding expansions to rain gutter to keep the downspouts from the house and ensure that the grade slope in the yard is pointing away from the building.
The other solution is to clean the rain gutters. When you have blocked gutters this can cause all the water from the roof to flow directly against the foundation and this will increase the possibility of basement flooding.
Hopefully, this article has provided enough information for you to successfully finish the renovations and end up with a basement toilet that is working properly.
