flooring around toilet flange

If you damage the outflow pipe in the process, you’ll be facing costly repairs. 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. Do you have to replace the flange when you get a new toilet or can you just replace the wax ring? Turn off the water main for the toilet by locating the knob on the wall behind it and turning clockwise. You should be able to twist it off by hand, but if it’s too tight, use an adjustable wrench. What do I need to do? Tuck the disposable rag into the mouth of the sewage outflow pipe to block unpleasant odors and gasses from emitting. Find the screws (up to four) on the outside of the flange, which will need to come out. Do this two to three times to ensure proper function. Do not tighten the nuts that hold the toilet to the flange too tightly. Double-check that the new flange is flush against the floor and fitting correctly with no gaps below. This is usually the more popular choice mainly because it is easier and can really do the trick if your broken toilet flange is iron or metal. It’s also important to read the industry code for toilet fitting relevant to your location and building materials, as local variations may exist. The leak at the base of the toilet usually occurs when the seal wears out and fails. 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. 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. What can I do? Mop up any leftover water in the tank and bowl with an old towel. Set it aside on the newspaper. Then engage your core and lift the unit straight up—using your leg muscles, not your back—so it that it lifts cleanly off the bolts. 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. This will prevent water from refilling the tank after each flush, but won’t stop water from leaving the system. 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. Super strong aluminum alloy will not rust or corrode. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. 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. Use your body weight to compress the wax seal and settle the toilet into place. Plus, 10 mounting holes and … If the flange is sitting only about ¼ inch of the floor, it is possible to use a wax ring sealed in place to fix this small gap. Now you’ll see the outflow or sewage pipe with the flange. 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. Can be installed in minutes once existing flange is cleaned and prepped. If so, use a mallet to tap plastic wall anchors into the holes, then drive the screws through the flange lip and into the anchors. 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. Wait for the bowl to fill, then flush again. In either case, it is best to call a plumber. The drain pipe for my toilet sort of looks like a horn. 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. For proper installation, must have 3/8 In. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. ... You may have to carve out some of the tile or other flooring around the edge of the drain hole. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Broken flange must be completely free of trash or debris around and under broken flange. Approved. Even if you reuse the flange, always install a new wax ring. Use the adjustable wrench if the nuts don’t loosen easily by hand. However if you notice damage to the floor, or flange, you may want to replace them depending on the severity of damage. If it's cast iron, it's probably integrated into a cast iron outflow pipe. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. clearance between flange and flooring. That may happen sooner or later. 13. Learn more... A toilet flange connects the bottom of a toilet to the drainpipe in the floor of the bathroom. However, if it doesn’t look to be in ideal condition, it’s best to just replace it. Turn the toilet sideways on the floor and locate the round mouth where the toilet sits atop the flange. Set the nuts aside to reattach the toilet when the flange replacement is complete. A toilet can last for more than 30 years with minimal care. Once the toilet has been removed, plug the outflow pipe with a towel, and then scrape off the wax ring. Great! If the toilet is flushing correctly, run your hand along the floor around the toilet base. The new flange should come with new bolts and screws; if not, buy those as well, checking for fit. In this case, simply replace the wax ring and see if that corrects the leak. 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. If not, wiggle it until it’s situated equally all around. Each nut should have a metal washer beneath it, and possibly a plastic one as well. Unscrew the tee bolts, remove the toilet from the floor, and move it aside. It’s a good idea to call your local plumber and ask for a quote first, then you won’t get any nasty surprises. How do I know if the wax ring needs replacing? However, if the old flange has broken into pieces, you’ll definitely need this measurement. Your safest bet is to call a plumber, but it is possible to do the job yourself--very carefully. Place the flange over the soil pipe, then measure the gap between the bottom of the flange's collar and the finish floor. 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. 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. Use a drill to create new pilot holes in the flooring, if needed. Dry-fit the soil pipe into the closet bend. 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. 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. Thanks, I believe I can do this! We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. How to replace a flange on a cast iron pipe? Don't cut any joists. By Steffani Cameron and Bob Vila. Vacuum up all dust and debris from around the drainpipe and bathroom floor. If the bolts are too long, however, you may need to trim them with a hacksaw so that the plastic caps will fit over them. While the tank fills, check for leaks at the connection point between the supply line and the toilet tank. If you’re able to take the old flange with you to the hardware store, this measurement is largely for backup purposes. 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 can’t find a good match or need help in general, ask an employee at the store for help. Keep some newspaper or an old towel nearby so you can wipe off your putty knife as you work. This dampness means it might be time to replace the flange, the circular pipe fitting that connects the toilet to the sewage pipe. It's conveniently compatible with all flange and toilet installations, as well as flooring types (including concrete). 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. However, if you’re adding new flooring, your flange could be too low. 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. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Luckily, swapping in a new toilet flange is a fairly common plumbing repair that many handy homeowners can manage, saving anywhere from $100 to $200 on hiring a pro. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet and flush the toilet to empty the tank. % of people told us that this article helped them. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 When I try to pull it, the pipe moves with it. ", 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. 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. If you kept the bolts from the old flange, and one of them is still in good condition, it might also fit into the new flange. The plan is to tile this bathroom. Pros usually prefer to apply the wax ring this way in order to guarantee a good seal around the toilet. 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. Set it carefully atop of the newspapers. How far above the floor should the new toilet bowl flange be installed? Now put your weight into it and press the toilet down as firmly to engage the wax seal with the flange. {"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":"

flooring around toilet flange

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