Turn the toilet sideways on the floor and locate the round mouth where the toilet sits atop the flange. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. However, you can also lay the ring (rounded side up) on top of the toilet flange, then set the toilet on top of it. Fix Broken Toilet Flange. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. How do I know if the wax ring needs replacing? Set it aside on the newspaper. References 11. Remove the old wax that sealed the toilet to the flange and pipe with a putty knife. When I try to pull it, the pipe moves with it. You could also place the removed toilet in a nearby tub or shower stall, but there’s a chance the bottom of the toilet will scratch up the tile and/or the tub’s finish. Should it be flush with floor, or below or above? Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The new toilet flange set should come with nuts, bolts, and washers, but keep these ones handy just in case you need them. How high above floor can toilet flange be? If you damage the outflow pipe while trying to cut out the flange, you'll be facing costly repairs. Whilst there are a range of shower tray sizes available, shower trays also come in varying heights. Find the screws (up to four) on the outside of the flange, which will need to come out. In this case, 85% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. If the flange has no cracks, chips, or deformations, you may choose to just reinstall it with a new wax ring. Without a secure, solid footing on your commode, persistent leaking can damage flooring, cause mold to develop, or even emit wastewater, potentially causing hygiene and health issues for anyone in the household. Fit the Toilet Flange . Double-check your measurements and make note of them. If you’re able to take the old flange with you to the hardware store, this measurement is largely for backup purposes. Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed plumbers near you. Reattach the water supply hose to the inflow valve on the toilet. wikiHow's. Purchase a toilet flange extension ring thick enough to raise the toilet mounting surface so that it's approximately 1/4-inch above the level of the finished tile floor. Great! If the lip of the flange won’t rest flush to the floor all the way around, the flooring is likely warped or damaged due to water. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. But a piece that's about 4 inches is missing. Once full, flush it. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. This article has been viewed 534,258 times. Once the ring is centered in place, carefully lower the toilet onto the flange, using the bolt holes on the toilet base and the flange to line everything up properly. This process is the same whether you pressed the wax ring to the underside of the toilet or placed it on top of the flange. 12. Set the nuts aside to reattach the toilet when the flange replacement is complete. This dampness means it might be time to replace the flange, the circular pipe fitting that connects the toilet to the sewage pipe. If the flange is PVC but is glued to the inside or outside of a PVC outflow pipe, you’ll have to carefully use a chisel and/or a drill with a hole-saw bit to work it free. If you discover a leak beneath your toilet and remove the toilet, you may discover that the flange is undamaged. Use the adjustable wrench if the nuts don’t loosen easily by hand. 10. Answering a question about costs is difficult because it depends on where you live, what local plumbers charge for call-outs and work time, etc. If you damage the outflow pipe in the process, you’ll be facing costly repairs. You can find replacement bolts at any hardware store. Then, measure the interior diameter of the outflow pipe so you can buy a PVC flange with a rubber gasket that fits snugly inside it. Toilet flange repair is one of those things…you don’t know you need it until you see a leak or see the flange when replacing a toilet. Keep some newspaper or an old towel nearby so you can wipe off your putty knife as you work. It’s also important to read the industry code for toilet fitting relevant to your location and building materials, as local variations may exist. Broken flange must be completely free of trash or debris around and under broken flange. If I have a new toilet, what can cause smells to come out of the wax rings: If you tilted the toilet while installing it, it could have caused the wax to squeeze out more on one side. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Assuming you’re asking for a plumber to come out, this could cost roughly around US$50 to US$200, probably leaning mostly to the upper end of costs. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You should be able to twist it off by hand, but if it’s too tight, use an adjustable wrench. Mop up any leftover water in the tank and bowl with an old towel. Replace the nuts back onto the bolts. Once the toilet has been removed, plug the outflow pipe with a towel, and then scrape off the wax ring. Wait for the bowl to fill, then flush again. Now screw the flange into place on the mount, using the new bolts and screws. Thanks!". Double-check that the new flange is flush against the floor and fitting correctly with no gaps below. Install taller wax rings just as you would a typical wax ring. It's conveniently compatible with all flange and toilet installations, as well as flooring types (including concrete). Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Put the old flange into a plastic bag and head to your local hardware store, plumbing supply, or home center and buy a flange of corresponding size, type, and shape. I was able to read the step-by-step, "I am getting ready to replace an old toilet, and was unaware of the flange and how to replace or even remove it, "The refresh on the toilet flange height and install helped.The whole article was interesting. What can I do? Use your multi-head screwdriver fitted with the corresponding screw bit to remove the screws. By Steffani Cameron and Bob Vila. If closing this valve fails to shut off the water supply completely, you’ll have to shut off the water further down the line—potentially at the main shutoff valve near your water meter. "I never thought I could install a new flange and wax ring for a toilet. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! Steffani Cameron, Bob Vila. Carefully lift the toilet (use your legs, not your back!). Turn the toilet sideways on the floor and locate the round mouth where the toilet sits atop the flange. Eyeball the base to see if it looks level on all sides. An improperly fitted toilet is often caused by the flange not sitting on the finished floor but rather, sitting above it, or it is not level with the floor. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If the hole needs to be enlarged, trace around the flange's base with a pencil, then cut away the excess flooring with a jigsaw. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. If not, wiggle it until it’s situated equally all around. Dry-fit the soil pipe into the closet bend. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Do not tighten the nuts that hold the toilet to the flange too tightly. Can be installed in minutes once existing flange is cleaned and prepped. Once back in the bathroom, remove the rag from the outflow pipe and place it in a plastic bag for disposal. There’s no need to remove it from the wall unless you’re planning to replace it, too, or it’s so long that it might get in the way when your hands are full, trying to replace the toilet at the end of this project. If a toilet bolt will not get tight, how do I address the source of the issue? This is a braided pipe or metal hose that runs out from the wall to the toilet, next to the valve. Make sure you’ve got it affixed tightly so there’ll be no dribbles or leaks later. Replace the subfloor and the finish flooring. Prepare to remove the toilet, keeping in mind that the average commode weighs between 70 and 120 pounds. Instead of wax, some newer rings are rubber gaskets instead. If you’ve lost the new bolts, you can likely reuse the bolts from the old flange, provided that they’re still in good condition. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Lower the toilet slowly, as levelly as possible, so it slides over the bolts and returns to its rightful spot. Shower tray riser kits. However, if you’re adding new flooring, your flange could be too low. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! And remember to plan your DIY day accordingly: You’ll need to remove the toilet, measure the flange, and then make a run to the plumbing supply or hardware store in a short span so that you aren’t living with a nonworking toilet for long. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet and flush the toilet to empty the tank. Now put your weight into it and press the toilet down as firmly to engage the wax seal with the flange. Plastic couplings are usually only intended to be hand-tightened, while metal ones can be tightened with a wrench or pliers. Some residual water may leak out when you do this, so have a towel handy to wipe it up. After you placed it the rest of the way down, that now-flattened side could have left a gap, allowing smells to escape. Do I have to replace the whole drain pipe? Even if you reuse the flange, always install a new wax ring. If you have an old flange made of cast iron that’s joined to a cast iron outflow pipe, you’ll have to meticulously chip away at the flange lip with a chisel and rubber mallet. Plus, 10 mounting holes and … If you’re not confident in your ability to lift it on your own, enlist a helper. Most modern shower trays feature a low level design for ease of access, but if you wish to raise your shower tray up, you can use a shower tray riser kit. How much does it cost to replace a toilet flange? I think this will be around for the long haul. The flange should sit on top of the finished floor, if it doesn't you'll have to modify the plumbing or find another way to achieve this. Turn the water valve back on and wait for the toilet reservoir tank to fill. Finally, purchase a new flange and screw it over the gasket on the outflow pipe. The plan is to tile this bathroom. Purchase a correct-size wax seal for the new flange too. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. However if you notice damage to the floor, or flange, you may want to replace them depending on the severity of damage. While the tank fills, check for leaks at the connection point between the supply line and the toilet tank. So my question is- should the toilet flange sit on top of the backer board so that the top of the flange is close to flush with the top of the tile? The keys to success are precise measurements (so that you purchase the right-sized replacement flange) and extra attention to ensure that the toilet sits flush on the floor at the end of the project. The flange should be a little higher than your finished floor. Thank you, I didn't have to call a plumber! Use your hand at first, and then tighten with the adjustable wrench to ensure the toilet won’t rock or wiggle in months to come. It is best that the flange is level with the floor; the higher a flange sits above the floor, the greater the likelihood of poor fitting and problems with the toilet leaking. Affix the new wax seal around the mouth by pressing firmly into place without over-handling or misshaping it. Remove these also. If the flange is badly corroded, use a hammer and cold chisel to chop out the flange. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Disconnect the water supply from the toilet. Use a drill to create new pilot holes in the flooring, if needed. Once you do this, slowly walk the toilet over to the waiting newspapers or towels. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If it's cast iron, it's probably integrated into a cast iron outflow pipe. Hate Cooking and Cleaning? ... You may have to carve out some of the tile or other flooring around the edge of the drain hole. Turn off the water main for the toilet by locating the knob on the wall behind it and turning clockwise. Do you have to replace the flange when you get a new toilet or can you just replace the wax ring? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. ", https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-toilet-flange/, https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/how-to-replace-toilet-flange.htm, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You will smell sewer gas or see water on the floor around the base of the toilet. In this case, simply replace the wax ring and see if that corrects the leak. Once the water is turned off, flush the toilet, then wait for the bowl to refill, and flush again, repeating until all the water from both the bowl and reservoir has drained from the toilet. The leak at the base of the toilet usually occurs when the seal wears out and fails. Then, remove the toilet by disconnecting the hoses and unscrewing the bolts on the floor. Notice in this image how the toilet waste pipe sits just inside the flange opening, this is the proper way for a toilet to sit on a flange. However, if it doesn’t look to be in ideal condition, it’s best to just replace it. Use your body weight to compress the wax seal and settle the toilet into place. Watch for the bolts to meet up with the bolt holes on the toilet base. Existing holes from the previous flange may be in the same location but be too large to hold the new screws. If the flange is PVC, it is probably glued to a PVC outflow pipe. Vacuum up all dust and debris from around the drainpipe and bathroom floor. The drain pipe for my toilet sort of looks like a horn. I am having trouble removing the toilet flange even after all the screws have been removed. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. To replace a toilet flange, lay newspaper down on the floor around the toilet, and turn off the water to the toilet before flushing and siphoning all of the water out of the bowl. Products, such as taller wax rings and flange spacers, are available to create the proper seal when the toilet is in place. If you have plastic caps that cover the bolts, just snap them in place. What to Do About a Leaking Toilet Tank. Now you’ll see the outflow or sewage pipe with the flange. It’s a good idea to call your local plumber and ask for a quote first, then you won’t get any nasty surprises. I used this flange to piggyback on top of an old iron flange after tiling floor in order to raise the height, seems like a much sturdier connection to toilet with more integrity than a spacer. When I was replacing the flange some of the PVC pipe broke off and fell down the drain. The bathroom may well be the wet spot in any home, but water pooling around the base of the commode doesn’t fall in the norm. When done, you’ll have two bolts protruding up from the flange and floor, where the toilet will be remounted. If the toilet is flushing correctly, run your hand along the floor around the toilet base. Don't cut any joists. Measure the width the outflow pipe’s mouth. If you’re using the newer type of “wax ring” that is actually a rubber gasket, lay it rounded side up on the toilet flange and place the toilet on top of it. 13. Most toilet flanges come with 4 screws, but yours may have more or fewer. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1804632-v4-728px-Replace-a-Toilet-Flange-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"