Installing a Diaper Sprayer

[ribbit1019]

I got one 2 months ago and DH still hasn't installed it. Please tell me I can put this thing on by myself without flooding the bathroom.

Any tips? I really am tired of swishing smooshy toddler poos; especially since the darn sprayer is on the tank of the toilet taunting me while I do it.

I know I have to turn the water off, can I use a wrench or something? I don't have enough hand strength to turn it on my own.

Christy
My Waterbabies
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[bcafe]

I can ask DH when he wakes up--his turn to "sleep in"--but I love mine. It must not have been too hard, I didn't hear any comments regarding installation! ;)

[MarisaSF]

I hear it is very easy, Christy. I say "hear" because (of course!) I have one of the 2% of toilets that the sprayer cannot be installed on.

I tried though. The one tip I have is: Have an extra towel or two on the floor (or a small bucket). After you flush all the water out of your tank, there's still a little bit that may come out when you loosen the pipe that's attached to the tank.

As far as the turning the water off goes, can you have someone tighten and loosen it for you? I don't know how well a wrench would fit around the handle, but I do know that it doesn't need to be super tight to turn off. It's not too different from like the handle on a garden hose.

[american_mama]

I can offer you a little advice from our two installations in two different houses. The directions are simple and I tried to do it myself, but couldn't because of an awkward angle and some confusion that I'll try to clear up.

First, I would recommend you get a plumber's wrench from Lowe's or a hardware store. I have never seen one, but I think it's longer and the clamp part opens wider than a normal wrench, and thus can help with leverage. If you don't need it (and many people don't) just return it.

Second, once you turn off the water supply valve (follow directions) and flush, the tank behind the toilet will empty of water. This is normal. I got lost at that point because I thought something bad had happened.

Third, if you encounter awkward angles accessing the pipes, find your inner plumber and get down. As in lay on the floor on your back staring up at your lovely toilet pipes just like pictures of plumbers. This is what I did not do and what DH DID do that enabled him to install it.

I second the bucket and an old towel there to capture any spills or leaks. YOu can leave it them there for the first day or two you use the mini shower to be sure you are having no leaks.

Finally, save any parts you take off in a safe place. When you're done with cloth diapers, you'll want to put the toilet back the way it was.

[MarisaSF]

Wanted to add: You will need a wrench to unscrew the part that attaches directly to the toilet tank. Forgot about that.

This is the model and the instructions I had:
http://www.wildflowerdiapers.com/catalog.php?item=595&catid=39&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D39

Very good diagram, directions, and PHOTOS :) included on that website!

[american_mama]

Marisa:

Can your diaper sprayer control the pressure of water just by squeezing the trigger? I thought Little Squirt was the only one that did that and it's like twice the price of all the others. If yours does that, it's good to know that feature is available in a less expensive model.

Also, is the one from wildflowerdiapers the Sharia Sharff whatever Bidet Spray that you mentioned getting in a previous post?

I ask because just yesterday I was doing some online research about kinds of diaper sprayers. I found Mini Shower, Handy Spray (which I have), the Bidet Spray mentioned above, and the Little Squirt.

[MarisaSF]

Yes, the one from wildflower is the Sharia Sharaff whatever that I mentioned earlier.

The website does say you can control the pressure, but I don't know firsthand.
Unfortunately, I never got to use it because I would have had to find a plumber to install a whole new wall connector thingy. I may get around to that someday, but for now I just returned the sprayer. :(

Shannon of wildflower mentioned some difference between the Sharia Sharaff and the Mini Shower:

Mini Shower:
-made in China, parts not quite as durable
-more intense and concentrated spray which means (pro) less water used and quicker clean, but (con) poo might splash

Sharia Sharaff:
-made in USA, more durable parts
-more diffuse spray. Takes longer to wash, but not as likely to splash.

She said it's 10 seconds vs. 5 seconds. Now I wonder if you can control the spray, but it never gets as strong as the Little Squirt? Sorry, again no firsthand experience.

[ribbit1019]

Hmm, thanks for the tips Mamas!!

I wonder if I will even be able to install it then since both toilets in the house are a whopping two inches from the wall, grumble grumble. I am going to try tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Christy
My Waterbabies
http://b3.lilypie.com/uVw3m4/.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/tbvhm4/.png
http://www.tickercentral.com/view/6p3x/1.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/steitzsmith/Other/jump.gif

[MarisaSF]

Good luck, Christy! Know that I'd come over and do it for you if I could. :)

[symesa]

I installed ours - it was no problem. Just remember - do NOT overtighten the connection to the toilet itself. That can break the seal inside the toilet and cause leaking. Connect it to the toilet, hand tighten, and then start checking for leaks. Go from there so that you don't inadvertently overtighten with a wrench...

You can do it - no problem.

[bcafe]

Ack! Forgot you posted this and I forgot to respond! DH says to remember to turn off the water, drain the tank, and use teflon tape to make the seal. HTH

[smilla653]

I installed mine myself. I have the minishower and it came with fabulous directions. It's pretty easy, but as PPs mentioned, you do need to be able to turn off the water supply to your toilet first. We had to have a shut-off valve installed several years ago when we were trying to make a repair, so it's worth having anyway.

The problem I had was that I lost track of which direction was off, but it worked OK because I had a bucket nearby just in case.

BTW, our toilet is almost flush against the wall and in a little nook and I didn't have huge problems installing it. It probably took me less than 10 minutes, total, and 13 month old DS was clambering all over the place while I was trying to do it. But darn it, I was going to hose off his blueberry poo, even if it killed me!