Should Your Toilet Be Shimmed? What Is Shimming, Anyway?
The Importance of Shimming Toilets: Ensuring Stability and Longevity
When it comes to bathroom fixtures, toilets play a crucial role in our daily lives. While the primary function of a toilet may seem straightforward, proper installation is key to ensuring its effectiveness and longevity. One essential step that is often overlooked during installation is shimming. This article explores why shimming toilets is critical for maintaining stability, preventing leaks, and enhancing user comfort.
What is Shimming?
Shimming involves placing small wedges or shims under the toilet base to achieve a level and stable installation. These shims can be made of plastic, wood, or metal, and are designed to fill any gaps between the toilet and the floor.
1. Preventing Leaks
One of the primary reasons to shim a toilet is to prevent leaks. If a toilet is not level, it can cause the wax seal— which creates a watertight connection between the toilet and the waste pipe—to fail. A rocking toilet can lead to an incomplete seal, resulting in water leaks that can damage your flooring and create a breeding ground for mold.
2. Stability and Safety
A stable toilet is essential for both functionality and safety. A wobbling toilet can be a nuisance and may even pose a risk of injury. Shimming ensures that the toilet sits flat and securely on the floor, minimizing any movement. This stability not only protects the toilet itself from cracking but also safeguards the surrounding area from potential damage.
3. Enhancing User Comfort
A properly aligned toilet contributes to a more comfortable experience for users. A toilet that rocks or is uneven can be uncomfortable and may lead to a poor posture while using the fixture. By shimming the toilet, you ensure a more pleasant experience for everyone in your household.
4. Extending Lifespan
Proper installation through shimming can significantly extend the lifespan of your toilet. A stable toilet reduces stress on plumbing connections, which can prevent premature wear and tear. This not only saves you money on potential repairs but also helps maintain the overall integrity of your plumbing system.
5. Ease of Installation
Shimming simplifies the installation process. When a toilet is level, it is easier to secure it properly to the floor, ensuring a solid and stable connection. This step can save time and effort in the long run, as it reduces the likelihood of needing to revisit the installation to correct alignment issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, shimming toilets is an essential step in the installation process that should not be overlooked. It plays a critical role in preventing leaks, ensuring stability, enhancing user comfort, extending the lifespan of the fixture, and facilitating easier installation. By taking the time to properly shim your toilet, you invest in the functionality and longevity of one of the most important fixtures in your home.
Happy Shimming My Friends!