Remove the old wax that sealed the toilet to the flange and pipe with a putty knife. Make sure you’ve got it affixed tightly so there’ll be no dribbles or leaks later. The bottom face of the flange should rest on (or be supported with spacer rings to be even with) the finished floor, so that the entirety of the flange is above the finished floor. A toilet can last for more than 30 years with minimal care. While the tank fills, check for leaks at the connection point between the supply line and the toilet tank. Learn more... A toilet flange connects the bottom of a toilet to the drainpipe in the floor of the bathroom. Double-check that the new flange is flush against the floor and fitting correctly with no gaps below. 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. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 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. The drain pipe for my toilet sort of looks like a horn. Each nut should have a metal washer beneath it, and possibly a plastic one as well. Affix the new wax seal around the mouth by pressing firmly into place without over-handling or misshaping it. Set it aside on the newspaper. You have to slowly chisel away the lip of the old flange, being careful not to damage the cast iron outflow pipe (or you'll be in for pricey repairs!). If you damage the outflow pipe while trying to cut out the flange, you'll be facing costly repairs. The new toilet flange set should come with nuts, bolts, and washers, but keep these ones handy just in case you need them. 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. Prepare to remove the toilet, keeping in mind that the average commode weighs between 70 and 120 pounds. 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. Use a wet vac, turkey baster, or large sponge to remove any remaining water in the tank and the bowl. You should do any needed floor repairs (or call in a pro to do them) before proceeding. 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. Pull the loosened flange out of the cast-iron drainpipe with a pair of pliers. Cut off the drain pipe flush with the level of the finish floor, using a reciprocating saw. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The plan is to tile this bathroom. You should be able to twist it off by hand, but if it’s too tight, use an adjustable wrench. 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. How far above the floor should the new toilet bowl flange be installed? Fit the new flange into place over the outflow pipe. Then, remove the toilet by disconnecting the hoses and unscrewing the bolts on the floor. Finally, purchase a new flange and screw it over the gasket on the outflow pipe. Once again, any damage to the outflow pipe itself will be costly mistake. 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). References installation guide and successfully did it myself. Whilst there are a range of shower tray sizes available, shower trays also come in varying heights. 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. Install taller wax rings just as you would a typical wax ring. Thank you, I didn't have to call a plumber! What can I do? Now screw the flange into place on the mount, using the new bolts and screws. Mop up any leftover water in the tank and bowl with an old towel. Products, such as taller wax rings and flange spacers, are available to create the proper seal when the toilet is in place. Great! Step 8 – Close the toilet lid and sit down. Now put your weight into it and press the toilet down as firmly to engage the wax seal with the flange. Don’t plan on using this towel or shirt again—just toss it! 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 wax will likely come off in sticky chunks. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. To avoid injury doing it yourself, straddle the unit, crouch down, and grab from under the bowl. % of people told us that this article helped them. Use your body weight to compress the wax seal and settle the toilet into place. 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. You need to lift the toilet straight up to clear the 2 bolts that are sticking up through the base. Dry-fit the soil pipe into the closet bend. 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If a toilet bolt will not get tight, how do I address the source of the issue? For proper installation, must have 3/8 In. Now you’ll see the outflow or sewage pipe with the flange. It’s also important to read the industry code for toilet fitting relevant to your location and building materials, as local variations may exist. 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. By using our site, you agree to our. 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. Keep some newspaper or an old towel nearby so you can wipe off your putty knife as you work. The Dos and Don’ts of Replacing a Toilet, 5 Most Common Toilet Troubles and How to Fix Them, Solved! After you placed it the rest of the way down, that now-flattened side could have left a gap, allowing smells to escape. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Reattach the water supply hose to the inflow valve on the toilet. Keep these as an emergency backup for the screws that come with your new flange kit. Double-check your measurements and make note of them. This will prevent water from refilling the tank after each flush, but won’t stop water from leaving the system. 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. This article has been viewed 534,258 times. However, you can install a rubber gasket the same way you'd install a wax ring. Do not tighten the nuts that hold the toilet to the flange too tightly. Steffani Cameron, Bob Vila. Hate Cooking and Cleaning? Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! Unscrew the tee bolts, remove the toilet from the floor, and move it aside. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 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. Instead of wax, some newer rings are rubber gaskets instead. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. 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. 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. No, simply replace wax ring or seal (rubber gasket seals are becoming more popular). "I never thought I could install a new flange and wax ring for a toilet. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet and flush the toilet to empty the tank. How do I know if the wax ring needs replacing? Some residual water may leak out when you do this, so have a towel handy to wipe it up. {"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":"