We know when it comes to purchasing your gorgeous new anthracite radiator or that soft-close coupled toilet you’ve had your eye on it’s important you add the essential extras you will need to get them installed right away. We also know it can be pretty overwhelming to understand the products you do and don’t need.

This is where our installation kits buying guide comes in, to help run through all these products and their uses, helping you make the right choices when it comes to adding them to your basket.

Toilet kit essentials

Above, Nevada Rimless Close Coupled Toilet With Premium Soft Close Seat

What is a pan connector for?

These are fitted to the back of the toilet pan and are connected to the waste pipe – an essential part of any bathroom system. If you’re looking to create a permanent connection between your toilet pan and your soil pipe, then you will need a flexible pan connector – ideal when space is an issue. These work for any outlet connection.

Why do I need silicone sealant?

You need silicone sealant for all waterproofing or bonding applications where protection against mould and mildew is required. It’s specially formulated for use in hot, humid conditions such as bathrooms and kitchens. It quickly cures to form a flexible, durable waterproof seal to protect against common detergents used in the bathroom.

What is a cistern?

A cistern is the upper part of a toilet – this stores water ready to be flushed out. Cisterns hold the right amount of water to allow flushing of the toilet bowl. A concealed cistern is designed for easy maintenance and is the ideal partner to the whole back to wall toilet range, as well as the back to wall units.

What is an isolation valve?

The purpose of an isolation valve is to enable you to isolate any appliance. For example; if you want to remove a radiator to decorate behind it and you have isolation valves fitted to the pipes, it’s just a simple matter of turning the valve or valves off, disconnecting them and then moving the radiator. The same logic can be applied to taps, water tanks, showers, toilet cisterns and a variety of other household appliances.

Which products can this be used with?

• Taps

• Showers (Concealed & Exposed)

• Cisterns

• Radiators & Towel Rails

Shower bath essentials

Above, L Shaped 1700 Shower Bath with Front Panel & 6mm Easy Clean Screen with Rail – Right Handed

Why do I need a bath trap?

These are ideal for difficult spaces where pipes don’t line up, so a bath trap provides an extendable and flexible solution. The trap is what you can see at the bottom of the bathtub and links the bath with the drain.

What is the purpose of a bath waste?

The plumbing provides your water with somewhere to go once it flows down into your plug hole. The term ‘bath waste’ can also refer to the plug, the main link to the plumbing system and the overflow system.

Available in a range of designs, including standard, pop-up, push-button and exposed.

How do I know which is the front and end of a bath panel?

A bath panel is an essential addition to your brand new bath. When it comes to measuring up it’s important you’re clear what part of the bath is known as the end and which is known as the front. Luckily it makes sense, as the long end is known as the front and the short panel is known as the end- simple!

Radiator installation kit essentials

Above, Athens Anthracite Double Column Horizontal Traditional Radiator 600x1415mm

Types of radiator valves

> Angled valves (required if your water source comes in through the floor)

> Straight valves (required if your water source comes in through the wall)

> Thermostatic valves ( these usually have numbers on them to show the various settings, they work to equally regulate the temperature of a single radiator. Just select one of these numbers and the temperature remains constant in that room.

What do I need PTFE tape for?

A white tape is used to wrap around the threaded ends of pipes to improve the water tightness of a compression fitting joint. For example, you would use it on a radiator valve to prevent any leakage.

Basin kit essentials

Above, Lucia Chalk White Vanity With Oak Top & Round Counter Top Basin 640mm

Why does my basin need a waste trap?

A waste trap is designed to allow for wastewater to flow away while leaving clean water standing in the bottom half of the trap. An essential extra and are required for any waste from a bath, basin or shower.

Where does a bath trap go?

These are located under bathtubs and prevent any unwanted odours from spreading around your bathroom. With a discreet design and perfect function make sure you don’t forget to check you add one of these to your basket when you’re purchasing a new bath for your dream bathroom.

Basin wastes

Basin wastes, more commonly known as a plug, sit comfortably within the waste hole and this is where wastewater passes through, also helps to keep the plumbing system clear.

There are two different variations, it is important you get this right:

> Slotted – basins with an overflow

> Unslotted – basins without an overflow