Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. This will give a little more protection against movement in the future, and it will make the base area easier to clean because you will not get a layer of dust and detritus under the toilet where you can not reach it. I just had a toilet start leaking around t... [left]I hope the pictures tell the story. Set the new compression flange over toilet's drainpipe, and then trace around it with a marker. I recently removed an old toilet and am preparing to install a new one. View our Privacy Policy here. Get your toilet in place and set your toilet on four rubber shims. Place the wax ring on the closet flange, not on the toilet. Sometimes this amount can be up to an inch and a half. So be sure to scrape off the old wax ring and inspect the flange. If the flange is loose or damaged, the toilet will rock. But replacement raised two problems: The old toilet flange—the part that connects the toilet to the drain pipe at the floor—had almost disintegrated. If your toilet is installed without a flange or it isn't fitted correctly then this can cause your toilet to leak. Before you can install a new toilet flange, you must first remove the toilet, which is sealed into it's existing flange. The bottom of the flange is 1 1/2″ above the joist. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. The two closet bolts that anchor the toilet base to the flange must be properly secured to the flange. Correct Way to Install Tile Around Toilet Flange. Pry free the loosened closet flange with a flat bar. Steps: 1. Make sure you do this all around the toilet. Coat the other end of the soil pipe. It is a good idea to use a nut and washer to hold the closet bolts to the flange. Oatey® Twist-N-Set® Replacement Closet Flanges are designed to replace broken cast iron closet flanges with a gasket that expands to fit inside of service weight, heavy weight and no hub pipe. Toilet Installation when flange is sitting 1/2" above floor. The 4 in. Then, pick up the toilet and set it evenly over the closet flange, making sure the bolts come through the bolt holes in the toilet base. Finding out how to fix this problem quickly will save you a lot of embarrassment. When you are replacing a toilet or resetting an existing toilet after a repair, there are a few key things to check to ensure a good seal and prevent leaks. The wax seal is designed to stop gasses from escaping the waste pipe. The seal should be checked to ensure that it is watertight. Lastly, insert your wax ring, set your toilet back on the flange, and bolt your toilet to the floor. Disconnect the toilet from the water supply in your building. Replace the plastic flange extending the top of the package. Toilets are sealed to the floor flange with a wax ring, but the height of the flange and the tightness of the flange bolts that secure the toilet to the floor can affect the ring's ability to create a watertight seal. To correct this problem, slip toilet shims between the base and the floor to stop the rocking before bolting it down. That’s it- you have successfully set up a new toilet flange on a concrete floor. Place the wax ring on the closet flange, not on the toilet. How to Replace a PVC Toilet Flange Part ... How to Replace a PVC Toilet Flange Part 2. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Use a small sledgehammer and cold chisel to separate the old cast-iron closet flange from the toilet's drainpipe, known as the closet bend. If you are installing a new toilet, then you will need to install a toilet flange. When replacing a round toilet with an elongated toilet, you can purchase offset toilet flanges providing diagonal set openings that offer additional space to accommodate the bottom shape of an elongated toilet. Fine-tune the toilet position, so it's right where you want it, then push it straight down so it smashes the wax evenly. Be very careful when tightening these nuts; they should be snug but not overly tight, which can crack the toilet. Had an old 4 bolt toilet. After confirming the existing flange is in good condition, install the new extra-long toilet bolts into the flange. I am in the process of installing porcelain tile on a bathroom floor. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent As long as the right tools and materials are on hand, completing this project should only take a couple of hours. Use the adjustable wrench … Place the toilet bowl atop the new flange, aligning the bolt holes in the base of the bowl with the bolts in the flange. It may help to get a better grip by holding the bowl by the inside rim instead of the outer. Both PVC flanges and cast iron flanges are installed in pretty much the same way. PVC Twist-N-Set Toilet Bowl Flange features durable PVC plastic construction and a tapered design for an easy, tool-free installation. How to Install an Offset Toilet Flange. The old toilet was set with what appears to be dried up plumbers puddy and there was a lot under the flang also. PVC and cast iron piping. Leaking toilets can also be very smelly and shameful. Once you're finished fitting the toilet back, use an vacuum cleaner or mop to clean any water that's leaked onto your bathroom floor and spray the floor with disinfectant. You also want to make sure the toilet sits level and does not rock on the floor, as this can compromise the seal. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 10 Tips for Installing a Kohler Highline Toilet, How to Install a New Toilet Flange on a Concrete Slab, How to Fix a Toilet That Leaks Around the Base, How to Repair a Leaking Pressure-Assisted Toilet, Common Toilet Problems You Can Fix Yourself, How to Install a Dalskar Bathroom Faucet From Ikea. Do not be tempted to stack up two wax rings because this setup tends to leak. First coat the inside of the closet flange with PVC primer and … Remember to use a wax ring between the toilet flange and toilet bowl. Installs easily without tools. Oatey products have earned the trust of plumbing professionals for over 100 years. Going to be starting a bathroom remodel soon getting prepared. Take your mixed grout and pack it into the gap. As a result set the correct toilet flange height; Insert a flexible gasket from the flange extension kit over the hold-down bolts. When designing or renovating a bathroom, you'll need to know the toilet rough-in placement and measurement. Lastly, place the wax ring on the flange so that you can later install the toilet on the flange. These are great options for DIYers because you can reuse them if you need to remove or reposition the toilet. However different models exist to address flanges that are too low as well. Although this step isn't essential, it will make it much easier to fit new flooring later. As you can see, the offset toilet flange is primarily PVC, with a metal or PVC flange ring that circles the top that can be rotated to center the bolts as needed underneath the toilet. Copyright© With the toilet removed, you can see the toilet flange and measure its height above the floor. If it does not sit perfectly flat, it will rock and is more likely to leak over time. Optimum flange height to aim for is 1/4 inch above the finished floor. With wax rings, once the ring is compressed by the toilet it cannot be used again. When preparing to install the toilet, the first thing to confirm is the proper flange height. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Remove the four screws that hold the flange in place against the drain. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be The wax ring is a gasket that serves to seal the flange and the toilet which helps in … The flange is simply the piece of pipe which connects your toilet to the waste pipe. It might take a bit of rocking before the toilet will come away from the wall. Scrape Off the Old Wax Ring. The location and the number of shims needed depend on the toilet and the floor; every situation is different. This will not only be unpleasant, but it will also cause damage to your home if left untreated for a long period of time. This is how far the floor trap or toilet flange is required to be from the wall. First seat the flange where it should go and confirm that the toilet flange height will not be more than a ¼ inch above the finished floor. suggestions. 4. Get your new flange ready to go If it is a screw in model turn it clockwise until;it is tight. The floor needs to be scraped to get rid of anything which could pose a problem. It's essential that the top of the toilet flange is smooth and level so that a good seal can be made. To know about toilet flange … Aside from being rust-stained and chipped, it was a water hog, using about three times as much water as a modern toilet. Traditional flanges used if the toilet flange height is already correct. The flange needs to be put down the drain pipe and it will then be fixed in place. First, set the new bowl in place without any wax ring to make sure that the high side of the flange does not contact the bowl. When the toilet is set on top of the flange, it should settle down until it rests on the floor, compressing the wax as it goes. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. home improvement and repair website. Push until the base of the toilet rests on the floor. You may freely link Once the toilet stops rocking, you can bolt it down with a nut and washer on each closet bolt. These rubber shims will keep your toilet from moving while you’re working on the flange. We'll follow up in the next section with some pros and cons for these pics, followed by general tips that will help to ensure that your new flange is installed snug, tight, and functionally best. All information is provided "AS IS." … Be careful not to move or tilt the toilet after setting the wax seal on the flange. An extender (or possibly two) will bring the height of the flange back to where it should be. You can use the gaskets which come with the kit to seal between multiple PVC spacers, but 100% silicone is recommended between top of the existing flange and the bottom of the first spacer. I wil... Hey all, Working through this bathroom remodel. If the toilet's floor flange height is slightly less than 1/4 inch above the flooring, you can use an extra-thick wax ring to make up the difference. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". The Distance To Set The Toilet Flange From The Back Wall. The type with a polyethylene plastic sleeve, or flange, provides a great seal and fits most standard drains. Without further ado, the flanges: Founded in 1916, Oatey has been providing residential and commercial plumbing products for over a century. Its rubber compression gasket fits inside cast iron piping. If you have to glue it, use a waterproof marine glue to handle the job Put the screws holding the flange back in and tighten everything to the floor Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. Cut off any portion of the toilet shims that stick out, using a utility knife, and caulk around the base of the toilet with silicone caulk. The offset toilet flange can also be used to move the location of a toilet back towards the wall if it is out too far, or to the left or right for better clearance around other bathroom fixtures. The flange is the only thing anchoring the toilet to the floor. And a rocking toilet will distort the wax ring and cause leaks. After you remove the obstructions, the old wax ring will still be in place … The closet flange should rotate around the drainpipe with … If you recently tiled or changed the bathroom flooring, the flange height is likely less than optimal. Toilet Flange Repair: Troubleshooting 5 Common Problems. Constructed from durable plastic, this flange is meant to fit inside 4 in. However, installing the flange on a tile floor is different. As an option, it's a good idea to leave the back end of the base (out of view) without caulk so that if the toilet leaks at the floor, the water can flow out and alert you to the leak. Getting the toilet shimmed before bolting it down will help ensure it does not come loose in the future. All rights reserved. Make sure the flange you purchase is the same size and shape. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Place the closet flange onto the drainpipe. This typically allows for almost any type of wax ring to be used and still ensure a good seal. With the stainless steal, self-drilling screws, screw the extender into your bathroom floor. Now it's just time to fit the toilet, the screws will be tightened so that the toilet is sturdy and doesn't rock. If you are using a toilet flange extender, you must bolt the extender to the original flange. Do this by closing the knob at the back of your unit.… 3. Make any needed adjustments and purchase the best new flange. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Step 5: Installing the new flange. When you are buying a toilet or replacement wax ring, check to make sure that it comes with extra nuts and washers, or buy an extra pack while you are at the store (they are sold in inexpensive sets). In this section we will discuss our picks and tell you a little about each. Undo the 2 bolts holding the toilet down to the floor using your adjustable wrench and then move the toilet out of the way. Removing the Toilet Place newspapers or towels on the floor next to the toilet. Fine-tune the toilet position, so it's right where you want it, then push it straight down so it smashes the wax evenly. 2. 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Link to this site, and bolt your toilet is installed without a flange or it is tight from... Keep your toilet to the flange is in good condition, install the new toilet successfully ( or possibly ). Loosened closet flange with a flat bar use a wax ring will work much better in the run! To the drain pipe at the floor—had almost disintegrated must be properly to... Much better in the future when preparing to install a toilet flange, not on toilet... Seal should be submitted to our terms of use ] i hope the pictures tell the story pretty the... Must be properly secured to the flange other end of the closet flange with great... Pry free the loosened closet flange, place the wax ring on it setting. The original flange in 1916, Oatey has been providing residential and commercial plumbing products for over century... Toilets can also be very careful when tightening these nuts ; they should checked!