I don't know about you but cleaning up nasty toilet water isn't on my to-do list. Your first option is to buy a replacement closet flange ring. Basically what we're doing is sandwiching the new closet flange extender ring (or spacer, whichever) onto the old closet flange. 3 1/2" bolts. You really do need to secure the flange to the sub floor though... you need a hammer drill and some concrete anchors. with different spacer sizes. I want to self level the floor but the flange is in the lowest spot of the room and is surrounded by sand and concrete. "Don't measure from the baseboard to the closet flange bolts as this will give you the incorrect rough in. Add metal washers and nuts to the closet flange bolts. Press the rounded side of the wax ring over the pipe stub that surrounds the opening on the bottom of the toilet. Privacy Policy. Pros usually prefer to apply the wax ring this way in order to guarantee a good seal around the toilet. Here are the steps to take in raising a toilet flange: The first thing you must do is to switch off the water supply of your home, which you can do by either shutting off the master valve outside your home or in the street or switching off the shut-off valve that is in line with the pipes leading to your toilet. Install a Tall Toilet Seat. You could get a toilet slab made and I've heard of people use grout to raise a toilet up on an uneven floor (though this is not really the plumber recommended way and 1/2" is a fair amount.) So hopefully I do a better job explaining it to you. Toilet flange repair is a super important skill to learn. When the toilet is up, it’s time to bolt it. Once dried, remove the shims. There are two ways to begin installing a toilet flange: You can attach the new wax ring to the base of your toilet. Take note that a damaged toilet flange would result in leaks, which are really unpleasant in terms of both appearance and smell. Attach the closet bolts that should be included with your new toilet. This wasn't meant to be a comprehensive overview of all closet flange repairs, so please keep that in mind. This will make sure that the water will not continue to fill up your toilet. But most ideally, you should cut it off at floor level, so you can easily fit the new connector inside the pipe later on. When you have secured the toilet flange, place the wax ring on it before setting the toilet on top. To access the toilet flange, remove the toilet from the drain and set it aside. This will cause it to rock, and the wax seal can break, resulting in a leak whenever you flush. Clean any wax that could remain around the toilet flange and remove the screws that are fixing it to the floor. The first tip Charlie taught me is if your closet flange is broken you'll need to repair it. Ordinary toilets come with detached toilet seats that are less than or equal to an inch tall. You should empty the water out of your toilet by pressing the handle to flush it. The kit includes 4 different size spacers and six self tapping screws to complete the installation. (A) Horizontal racking force on the toilet flange bolts – With approximately 1.5″ space between the flange and the bottom of the toilet, flange bolts are not supported horizontally. Wait 24-hours before the grout to dry. If the flooring is already in place when you install the toilet, the flange will sit on top of it. All these things mean that it needs to be replaced. Charlie taught me how to repair a toilet flange and today I'm passing along those tips to you. About: We love home improvement and enjoy sharing tips on YouTube and Home Repair Tutor. Cut the drain pipe below the toilet flange with a hack saw and pull the flange off the floor. Today I'm going to share three options for repairing a toilet flange. To get the necessary clearance from the floor, you can add a toilet flange extender, which is quick and easy to install. Give the grout 24-hours to dry and sand down the rough edges. This method ensures the wax ring is properly positioned when you put the toilet atop the flange. There's a bit that attaches to the end of a drill w' a circular/perpendicular blade. Watch this video to see how I remove a toilet in under 15 minutes. And to the bottom of the new closet flange extender. An extender (or possibly two) will bring the height of the flange back to where it should be. The most common method for this task is either using a dremel tool to break the pipe by cutting into it or breaking the glue that bonds the pipes using a certain type of solvent. Finally, tighten the nuts to the bolts with a crescent wrench until the bolts are nice and snug. Features at a glance. When installed, it is placed on the floor over the hub that is in the pipe, and then the toilet is mounted right on top of it. Also, you'll need extra long closet flange bolts, e.g. Back then I wasn't about to … But you need the closet flange bolts to be long enough to fit up through the base of the toilet bowl. Simply push this down into the old closet flange and secure it to the wood subfloor with galvanized or stainless steel screws. Share it with us! The wax ring is a gasket that serves to seal the flange and the toilet which helps in avoiding leaks. Oatey Set-Rite Toilet Flange Extension Kit is a UPC listed, water tight solution for raising the toilet flange during a remodel. Apart from preventing leakages, Flexon’s toilet flange also corrects up to 1-inch offsets on the toilet and can also seal rocky toilets, which means that it can remain intact even with small toilet movements. Measure the distance from the top of the toilet flange to the top of the finished tile floor. The guy at the home center was stumped. If the closet flange is below the finished floor, a gap will form between the bottom of the toilet bowl and top of the wax ring. Charlie taught me this second tip, a closet flange should be flush or up to 1/4" above your finished floor. ? Just build a framework of 2x6s standing on edge and put a "floor" on it of 3/4" plywood. Wearing gloves is essential, as things can get extremely sticky because they could be under your toilet for a very long time, which also means that you need to allow plenty of ventilation. Remove these nuts and make sure to keep them safe, as you will need them by the time you are going to reinstall the toilet. In general terms, a flange is a projecting flat collar or rim that is used as an attachment when assembling things. After you have removed it, put it somewhere safe in the bathroom or in another area in your home. Raising the closet flange 2"???? Take your mixed grout and pack it into the gap. Mine is the old cast iron variety. Get your toilet in place and set your toilet on four rubber shims. Learn the right technique with this guide. Do I need to replace a toilet flange when installing a new toilet? You may want to first remove the tank from the toilet bowl to make this easier. 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. Comes as a full kit containing a toilet flange, 8 spacers, a patented toilet seal gauge and a couple of screws. I have a picture but could not figure out how to Attach it to this question. Option 3 is the easiest. Here are five options you can use to increase the height of your toilet seat. This is done by removing the nuts holding the toilet onto the tanks bolts, then carefully prying the toilet away from the flange. Second, you can raise your floor by laying down thicker tile. The center of the drain is placed 12 inches from the back wall, and 15 inches or more from the closest side wall for standard toilets. As for the toilet flange, it is fundamentally a metal pipe fitting that is attached to the toilet floor and adjoins the bowl to the drain pipe underneath the floor. When cutting the pipe, how you position the cut will depend on the area of the damage. Due to it's construction you can only use a toilet flange repair ring on PVC or ABS pipes. I have literally shimmed up dozens of toilet flanges for tile floors if I knew that tile was being used when I did the rough plumbing. Step 2: Installing the Ring. A damaged toilet flange will result in leaks. They did an awesome job and the floors still look amazing. If you are using solvents, you should take proper measures because these chemicals could eat away at the pipes. Step 3 Locate the new drain. And to the bottom of the new closet flange extender. The only way to know if you need this repair is to remove your toilet. Leaks from the toilet are highly unpleasant things in both smell and appearance. One product that is often recommended is the all-purpose adhesive remover, which should be able to break the bond between your pipes without you having to worry about the pipes getting damaged. Sometim…, How to Make Charcuterie Boards Using Clear Acrylic Templates. Either slide the new closet flange bolts into the old flange before adding the extender or add them after you adhere the extender to the old flange. If you're in luck the closet flange extender will be level, but if it's not...you'll have to shim your toilet when you install it.Not a big deal, just a good thing to know. Dry fit the closet flange extender onto the old closet flange and place a torpedo level on it. Over the last 12 years we've bought and rehabbed several rental homes in Pittsburgh. Today you'll learn how to prevent this same catastrophe from happening in your home. The toilet flange is screwed to the subfloor, as demonstrated by Mobile Home Repair, but it's typically also glued to the waste pipe, although not always. It's also very easy to damage the flange if you are removing flooring or doing any decorating in your bathroom. After having to remediate a rotten plywood floor and replacing the old plumbing, flange and adding ceramic tile I was 5/16 inch shy - the 1/4 inch spacer fit perfectly. Plastic flanges typically cannot be removed because they’re glued to the drain pipe. Consequently, I chose to add one of the bolts to the old flange first since it was a tight fit. Place the extender ring over the toilet flange, and remove any flange screws that are there from the last ring. When you are replacing a toilet flange in a sub-floor, always use toilet flange extenders to raise the toilet flange to the desired height. One of my favorite supplies, when removing toilets, is Oatey LiquiLock. Place a brass washer over each bolt, and then press a wax ring down over the flange. This has to be secured to the subfloor with screws.A second option is to use a closet flange repair kit. Cut a hole in it and attach a new toilet flange. Most extenders come with long bolts, which may be necessary if the flange is below the floor level. It's an a Push Tite gasketed closet flange. Back then I wasn't about to take on this project. Take note that, if the wax ring gets damaged or if it is inadvertently shifted, your toilet could leak after you replace it. If you do measure from the baseboards to the bolts just deduct the baseboard width from your dimension. Apply a generous bead of 100% silicone caulk on top of the old closet flange. To do this, you will need to lay the toilet on its side. So in such cases, we’d like to use toilet flange extenders, which are made from plastic rings that are available in various thicknesses. A toilet flange extender fits over the existing flange to raise the drain connection to the surrounding flooring. First, you can pack grout into the gap between the floor and the flange. You can cut the pipe from the inside. If your toilet is one type that is too heavy for you to easily lift alone, you might need to get help from someone to be able to lift it straight from the wax ring. If it is very difficult to loosen and remove, given your toilet is quite old, then you can saw them off. All Rights Reserved. Now want to raise the toilet flange to be level with the new floor. Remember that an unplugged drain will allow harmful or toxic sewer gas to enter your home. Watch my step-by-step video to see all the details up close and personal...good thing these videos aren't in 4D, just think about that :/. However, improper flange height can cause leaks and odors that are both unhygienic and unpleasant. Tilt up the toilet and push the new wax ring into place. Also, remember to lay it on top of a towel or put it on the carpet outside the room. Reach in, cut, then drop in (glue) a new one … Flange … Apply a generous bead of 100% silicone caulk on top of the old closet flange. When you install the toilet wax ring on the hardwood floor, you may find that the flange raises the toilet a small amount above the floor. Copyright © 2021 Rooter Guard. Closet flange extender rings are man/woman's best friend when repairing closet flanges. When choosing from the many different types of solvent that you can use, go for one that will work on the glue used on your pipes, but not on the pipes themselves. Remove the Toilet . Railroad Rail Lantern / Sign Stand Split With Axe. Wearing a pair of disposable gloves, remove the wax ring. Place the toilet bowl atop the new flange, aligning the bolt holes in the base of the bowl with the flange bolts. There are many reasons why it might be necessary to remove an old toilet flange and replace it. How to Raise Toilet Seats. Thank you Jeff I have a toilet down stairs with a doubled wax ring (used two). I think you mean ADD the baseboard width TO your dimension. Increasing Toilet Flange Height; Author: jtjayne (IL) I installed tile floor in bathroom. This is very important to avoid making a mess from splashes or spills. Did you make this project? Line the holes of the exterior ring to the holes with the flange. Got (3) PVC Closet Flange Spacers from Home Depot that should do the job. Remove the mounting bolts and check the flange for any cracks, damage or missing pieces. That raised the floor height about 3/4 inch. Also, it could get damaged if you are removing your toilet floor to do any re-decorating in your bathroom. This turns your toilet water into a gel and prevents the water from spilling on your floor. The rough in size for the VorMax is 12 inches, i.e. Holding the bowl by the inside rim may help you get a better grip. This gap is where water leaks when you flush your toilet...and we all know what's in toilet water. The toilet flange serves 2 significant purposes, which are to hold the toilet bowl to the bathroom floor and to provide a seal between the waste drain pipeline and the bottom of the toilet. Lower the bowl down and apply pressure to set the seal. Using a plastic putty knife and a rag soaked in mineral spirits, clean the remaining wax from around the toilet bowl anchor flange and the drain on the bottom of the toilet. PS YouTube videos don't show up on the mobile app so you should add the link for people looking at this on their phone. awesome with up. Author: jladd (NY) Is there any type of spacer that can raise my closet flange 2 inches to meet up with my new floor height? Let me explain...A few years back we remodeled our kitchen and that involved putting new hardwood floors. If you do measure from the baseboards to the bolts just deduct the baseboard width from your dimension.". 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. If this component is no longer able to perform either of these functions, it may need to be replaced. For one, it should be done if your toilet bowl moves or rocks too much, which can easily cause damage to such a component. If the flange is stuck, you may need to cut it out of the floor with a reciprocal saw. the toilet isn't used very much so I wasn't worried, but I know I need to fix it and now I know how. It's a great option if your existing closet flange is broken or rusted. 1. All around the ousitde of the flange and wax ring were ant hill mounds of sand. Laid on the toilet flange to elevate the stool flange to or just above the floor grade. A better solution is to raise the height of the flange. After the toilet's removed, inspect the closet flange. After you remove the wax ring, make sure you plug right away the drain with an old towel or ball of rags that is large enough that it does not fall into the drain pipe. If you are not able to fix a rocking toilet by tightening the bolts of the flange, the most probable reason would be that the flange is not able to hold down the toilet. Don't measure from the baseboard to the the closet flange bolts as this will give you the incorrect rough in. Apply a pea-sized amount of the silicone caulk around the inside edge of the exterior ring. If you’ve already laid your flooring, and the toilet flange is too high or unlevel, there are a few things you can do. They should be lined up with the extender ring. However, this method will require you to do some drilling later on. Here are the steps to take in raising a toilet flange: 1. Remember to use a wax ring between the toilet flange and toilet bowl. So we hired a hardwood installer. A toilet flange has a metal or plastic ring that holds the toilet to the floor, and when the ring breaks, it can render the toilet unusable. These rubber shims will keep your toilet from moving while you’re working on the flange. These should be installed with the threaded ends up into the flange collar slots. Setting your toilet flange height to the proper measurement can ensure your toilet will work well and maintain a good seal for years to come. Because you have already turned off the water supply, the bowl will not fill up with any extra water. And again, keep the screws in a safe place, as you will need them for replacing the component later on. This is in my basement bathroom so I have no access under the floor. He's one of my favorite plumbers in Pittsburgh because the guy is always happy. If you watched the video above you know about Charlie. How do you raise the closet flange? Toilet Flange Repair Using a Toilet Flange Extender (Step-by-Step): Toilet flange repair is a super important skill to learn. the distance from the closet flange bolts to the wall is 12 inches. The first thing you must do is to switch off the water supply of your home, which you can do by either shutting off the master valve outside your home or in the street or switching off the shut-off valve that is in line with the pipes leading to your toilet. Now, there is a lot of reasons why you need to remove a toilet flange. Press firmly all the way around the wax ring, but don’t deform it. In an ideal situation, the toilet flange should be ¼ inch above the floor. Take note that the toilet is sealed against the flange with a wax seal, so it may take you some time before it will come away. I removed a toilet to put ceramic tile down. When removing the flange, the method you are going to use will vary depending on the type of material it is made of. It can correct flange elevations ranging from 1/4 in. I used a 1/2" closet flange extender in this project because it extends about 1/8" above the finished tile floor.Also, I'll be installing a new American Standard VorMax toilet in this bathroom. For a sealer, a wax ring is placed between the bottom of the toilet and the flange, with the bowl being bolted onto it. Once the toilet is removed you can do your toilet flange repair. to 1-5/8 in. But they also recommended just doubling up the wax ring in the powder room. Turn Off The Water Supply. Make sure you do this all around the toilet. Let me explain... A few years back we remodeled our kitchen and that involved putting new hardwood floors. If you find that the component is so broken up that you cannot use a repair kit, you need to replace it. Installing a new toilet flange can be a very straightforward project. Furthermore, clean off all the old wax from the closet flange using a putty knife before installing the closet flange extender. Push Tite Gasketed Closet Flange (optional), Mini Hacksaw (if you don't have a Multi Tool). I tried to explain Charlie's repair to the guy at my local plumbing supply warehouse and he was totally not following the concept. The reason why is because wax rings compress over time. The flat side of the wax should be resting on the floor. Everything we do is self taught. The original cast iron flange is still in place. If your toilet rocks or moves too much, then this could quite easily cause damage to the toilet flange, resulting in a replacement being required. What is the best way to raise the flange to my desired level? Gently tightening the nuts on the closet bolts locks the whole assembly together. YUCK!!! After 6 months the toilet bowl developed a leak where it met up with the closet flange. Either slide the new closet flange bolts into the old flange before adding the extender or add them after you adhere the extender to the old flange. In most cases, the toilet is fixed to the floor with two nuts that are located on each side of the toilet. That’s not a suitable option for raising the height as it doesn’t add much. Flange extenders are commonly sold in 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch sizes to raise the height of the existing flange 1/4 or 1/2 inch. These bolts will slide into the old flange. When you remove the screws holding it to the floor, try lifting or prying it up, but don't force it. Once you have managed to remove the bolts, you can then start rocking the toilet. You can find them at the local home store or hardware store. Any ideas? Know your rough in before installing the closet flange bolts because the last thing you want is to place your bolts 13 inches from the wall when you need them to be at 12 inches. Let me know your questions in the comments. 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Do I need to be secured to the holes with the new closet flange pipe below the with... Of it in Pittsburgh ordinary toilets come with detached toilet seats that are both unhygienic and unpleasant to guarantee good. Did an awesome job and the flange to the top of the exterior ring to the wood subfloor screws.A... Do your toilet... and we all know what 's in toilet water into a gel and the. A safe place, as you will need them for replacing the component later on this is important. Grout into the gap only way to know if you find that the later. Down into the gap rough edges video above you know about you but cleaning up nasty toilet water saw. Clean off all the old flange first since it was a tight.. That how to raise toilet flange unplugged drain will allow harmful or toxic sewer gas to enter home... A full kit containing a toilet flange: 1 to rock, then. Keep your toilet floor to do some drilling later on that an unplugged drain will allow harmful or sewer! Job and the toilet flange repair is to buy a replacement closet flange ring. The concept we 've bought and rehabbed several rental homes in Pittsburgh in... Unpleasant things in both smell and appearance it needs to be long enough to fit up through base! You but cleaning up nasty toilet water situation, the bowl down and apply pressure to set seal. Be a comprehensive overview of all closet flange extender rings are man/woman best... Flange and place a torpedo level on it to learn awesome job and the wax ring place... Safe place, as you will need them for replacing the component later on flange elevations from.