Replacing a Bathroom Tub

Replacing bathroom suites can be complicated if you don’t know what you’re doing, but with thorough preparation – and expert help should you need it – it should be possible for you to do at least part of the job yourself.

With this in mind, this article takes you through the basics of replacing a bathroom tub.

First of all, you should make sure you have got all of the relevant tools for the task at hand.

This includes items such as a spirit level, pipe cutter, sealant, pipe cement, a wrench, screwdrivers and cleaner for your drain. You also need to make sure you follow all the relevant electrical and plumbing regulations relating to bathrooms.

For example, you will need isolation valves for your hot and cold water supply, non-return valves to prevent water contamination, and copper or plastic pipes (not lead).

Since regulations change occasionally, it is worth consulting a professional plumber and/or electrician before you begin.

Now we turn our attention to removing the old bathroom tub. Firstly, turn off the water supply and then open the taps to drain the pipes.

Now you need to remove the side panels from the old bath and then remove the taps.

If you can, make sure you leave the current pipes in good condition so that they can be used again with minimal effort; however, sometimes you might find you have to cut through them in order to remove the old taps. You might also need a hammer and chisel to remove plaster and/or tiles if your bath is attached to the wall using brackets. Release the waste pipe from the bath outlet and any electrical earth wire attached to the bath.

Once the old bath has been removed and disposed of correctly, you can start the process of fitting the new bathroom tub. You will need a level surface on which to assemble it. As the method of assembly of all baths varies, make sure you carefully follow the instructions that come with it to make sure you put it together properly and end up with a sturdy piece of bathroom furniture.

One of your first installation jobs will usually be to fit the waste outlet and overflow facility to the bath and also the taps before you put the bath in position. Once the waste pipes and taps have been fitted, you need to set the bath on its feet.

It is much easier if you are installing the new bath in the same position as the old one as the waste and water supply pipes will usually not need to be moved. However, if you need to fit isolating valves, this will be easier to do without the bath in position, but remember to ensure that they will be accessible when the bath is in Place. If you are moving the bath, make sure that any new waste  pipework meets current regulations, ask a plumber to advise if necessary to make sure it is done correctly.

Then you need to set about putting the bath into position. You might like to mark out on the wall where any brackets are going to go and use a spirit level to make sure it is all level (usually the side edges of the bath should be level, not the bottom – this should slope towards the drain hole). When you are fixing the bath tub into place, make sure the water and waste pipes are connected properly, as well as the tap connections. You might need to use sealant between the wall and the bath before you fix the final brackets. Then, when everything is in place according to the instructions, you can turn the water back on and check that your taps, waste and new bath doesn't leak.

This article was submitted by bathrooms.com