Homeowners need to have a basic understanding of bathroom plumbing. Avoiding problems later on, like a faucet that leaks, a bathtub that takes forever to fill, a clogged sink or a toilet that won't flush, makes some self education in the subject worthwhile. With the right tools and a little knowledge, DIY homeowners can do simple plumbing repair and installation projects. They no longer need to rely on their local plumber for repairing frozen pipes, removing mineral buildup and replacing leaky faucets.

In some cases, plumbing an entire bathroom is a big project. Running all the waste and water lines through floor joists and walls is the hard part of plumbing a bathroom. Homeowners need to take some extra time to draw out their plans to make sure they'll be running lines the best way possible. Once they've run the waste and water lines, the rest of the plumbing job involves getting all the fixtures in place and hooking them up.

Those planning to install a toilet need to know that a toilet usually consists of two main parts: a bowl and a tank. The toilet bowl should be installed first. Prior to installing the bowl, homeowners should check if the toilet closet flange has been temporarily plugged with insulation or a rag to prevent sewer gases from escaping. They should install the toilet bowl on top of the toilet closet flange to determine if it sits properly. Before installing the toilet bowl, they should insert the toilet closet bolts into the slots on the toilet closet flange. A toilet wax ring gasket should also be placed over the outlet of the toilet bowl. Next, they must attach the toilet tank to the toilet bowl using the tank bolts, nuts and washers. Then, the toilet float supply unit should be installed into the tank and the water line should be hooked to the tank inlet. Finally, to complete the installation, homeowners should caulk around the base of the toilet bowl.