How to install corrugation on the toilet

Work related to the installation of the toilet, until recently, was accompanied by a difficult fitting of its outlet fitting to the socket of the sewer system. This was due to the use of heavy cast-iron pipes, which turned the installation of plumbing into an uncomfortable and many-hour process. With the advent of plastic components, metal parts were replaced by flexible corrugated connectors. Meanwhile, you need to know how to install the corrugation on the toilet, using a minimum of tools.

What is corrugation and how can it be installed on the toilet

The corrugated universal connector is a flexible pleated adapter connecting the toilet outlet and the socket of the sewer system. The inner diameter of the corrugation is 75 mm, and its length can vary between 231–500 mm, depending on the distance between the plumbing and the drain pipe. The corrugated connector is put on one end on the outlet of the toilet bowl, and its other edge is inserted into the receiving socket of the drainage system.

When to use the corrugation

In most cases, the corrugated connector is used when installing the toilet, when the sanitary ware is offset in relation to the socket of the sewer system. Usually this happens when installing new plumbing. In this case, the release of the toilet may not fit the old design of the drain system. The need for corrugation can also arise after repair in the bathroom. For example, when raising the floor level, there was an axial displacement of the toilet drain and the receiving socket of the sewer.

How to choose a corrugated connector

When choosing a corrugation, you need to give preference to a product that is equipped with a reinforcing wire or a mesh of metal. This will ensure a longer service life and allow such a connector to remain in its original form for longer.

When choosing such a product, the actual distance from the release of the plumbing to the pipe of the sewage system should be determined in advance. Correspondence of the length of the corrugation to this parameter will prevent its excessive stretching or sagging.

Today, the market for sanitary products has a fairly wide selection of such corrugated joints. Meanwhile, the quality of such products may vary significantly, depending on the manufacturer. When choosing a corrugation, it is necessary to pay attention to the density of the elastic material, the uniformity of the cuff, as well as to the integrity of the outer o-rings.

Corrugation Installation

During repairs in the bathroom, in most cases, the purchase of new plumbing products. The toilet is not an exception, the replacement of which is accompanied by the correct installation of the corrugated connector with the sewer system. Meanwhile, such plumbing products have differences, depending on the design features. For example, the toilet can be equipped with a straight, oblique, or vertical outlet. This, in turn, will determine the length of the corrugation.

The process of replacing the corrugated connector on the toilet can be divided into several technical steps. In this case, a certain sequence must be observed. The installation of the corrugation involves the following working stages:

• the study of the design of the toilet in order to determine the length of the corrugation;
• connector purchase;
• processing the sealing composition of the surface of the drain pipe on the toilet and the membrane on the corrugation;
• connector mounting;
• additional treatment with sealant compounds;
• leak test.

There are two main options that involve connecting the toilet to the sewage system. In the first case, it is necessary to install a new plumbing product. The second option involves the correct installation of the corrugated connector on an already installed toilet. The difference between the two is only in the preparatory work before installing the corrugation.

Basic steps for installing a corrugated connector

In practice, the connection of the toilet to the sewer system must be carried out in a certain sequence.

1. Preparatory work. When installing a new toilet, there is no need to specially prepare it for connection. If you install an elastic connector on an old plumbing product, you should clean its release from traces of the previous sealing compound or cement mortar. The fact is that any hard layers will impede the tightness of such a connection. To clean the ceramic drain pipe, you can use any metal tools that ensure the effectiveness of such a process.
2. Surface cleaning. After cleaning the ceramic surface of the outlet fitting, you should get rid of traces of clogging at the receiving socket of the sewer system. If such a structural element is made of cast iron, then it must be cleaned carefully without hitting it with heavy objects. Otherwise, the destruction of such material can be caused. The same precautions should be applied in the case of a plastic bell.
3. Sealing. On a cleaned or new surface of the toilet outlet, it is necessary to apply a sealing compound, evenly distributing it around the entire circumference. After that, the corrugation should be put on it with the edge where the inner elastic membrane is located. In this case, the cuffs of the corrugated connector should overlap the edge of the outlet by about 5-6 cm. In this process, it is necessary to ensure the uniformity of the nozzle, excluding distortions.
4. Installing the toilet and replacing the corrugation. After this, wait a bit so that the sealant dries. Now you can begin to install the toilet in the intended place, which was determined during the preliminary fitting. After installing a plumbing product, you need to connect its release to the socket of the sewer system. To do this, tightly insert the edge of the corrugation having an external seal into the cleaned opening of the discharge inlet pipe. If necessary, this compound can be treated with sealant.
5. Check the connection density. Having established such a connecting element, it is necessary to visually inspect the entire system for visible distortions or insufficient tightness. If necessary, all problems should be eliminated, and existing gaps and loose fit must be filled with a sealing compound. You also need to inspect the corrugation itself in order to make sure that there is no twisting or kinks.
6. Checking the operation of the exhaust system. After completing all the basic work, you should check the system’s performance. To do this, connect the toilet tank to the water supply. After filling the drain tank with water, a test flush is necessary. In this case, you should carefully inspect all connections, making sure that they are tight. If a problem is detected, corrective action must be taken.

In general, replacing the corrugated connector on the toilet is not associated with any difficulties and does not require special tools and equipment. Meanwhile, when performing such work, you must follow all the rules for installing the corrugation and a certain sequence of technical operations.