Why does CESCO suggest that toilet repairs should be done by licensed plumber? Last Update: Sep 03, 2002

"NOTE: All the repair parts required for repair/replacement have always been available to the handyman. The installation skill and time needed have really not changed with the promotion of low cost, consumer-packaged kits. Toilet designs and flushing actions vary greatly. To perform well, toilets must perform multiple tasks: (1) give adequate flow to scour the bowl; (2) remove all solid & liquid waste from the bowl and then refill the bowl with fresh water to the proper level; (3) move all waste through the trap and down the drain to avoid clogging; (4) retain a trap seal to protect against sewer gases; (5) refill the toilet tank to the same level; (6) operate well with supply pressures that vary widely and fluctuate; (7) maintain leak-free seals between flushes; (8) tolerate various minerals & debris in the water supply; (9) prevent the risk of contaminating the drinking water supply; and (10) handle all commonly used cleaning and sanitizing agents without degradation. Gravity flow toilets are relatively simple fixtures, but all parts must work together to function at or above the original design standard. While it is evident that many toilet fill valves and other replacement parts are effectively installed without a plumbing professional, we have yet to see any installation instructions (including CESCO’s) that optimize performance, guarantee results, and avoid the risk of damage to the fixture.