However, if it doesn’t look to be in ideal condition, it’s best to just replace it. 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. 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. Whilst there are a range of shower tray sizes available, shower trays also come in varying heights. I think this will be around for the long haul. The neck of the flange should have a rubber gasket that creates a seal against the inside of the overflow pipe. Having the old flange with you allows for a head-to-head comparison. Once back in the bathroom, remove the rag from the outflow pipe and place it in a plastic bag for disposal. Thanks!". The drain pipe for my toilet sort of looks like a horn. Mop up any leftover water in the tank and bowl with an old towel. If the flange is PVC, it is probably glued to a PVC outflow pipe. 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. Turn off the water main for the toilet by locating the knob on the wall behind it and turning clockwise. 11. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 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. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Clean away the deteriorated wax ring from the toilet base, remove the flange, and install the new parts. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 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. If the flange has no cracks, chips, or deformations, you may choose to just reinstall it with a new wax ring. 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. Then, remove the toilet by disconnecting the hoses and unscrewing the bolts on the floor. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. 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 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. You may cause the porcelain to crack. Shower tray riser kits. 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. Pull the loosened flange out of the cast-iron drainpipe with a pair of pliers. Turn the water valve back on and wait for the toilet reservoir tank to fill. 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? Most toilet flanges come with 4 screws, but yours may have more or fewer. 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. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Will replacing the flange work before putting in the new toilet? How to replace a flange on a cast iron pipe? 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. Some people wait to block up the pipe until after removing the old flange. installation guide and successfully did it myself. Thank you, I didn't have to call a plumber! Watch for the bolts to meet up with the bolt holes on the toilet base. However, if the seal beneath the toilet fails for some reason, water will start leaking out and spilling on the floor. Fix Broken Toilet Flange. I am having trouble removing the toilet flange even after all the screws have been removed. Lift the flange off and clean it under a faucet or with disinfecting wipes. When done, you’ll have two bolts protruding up from the flange and floor, where the toilet will be remounted. While the tank fills, check for leaks at the connection point between the supply line and the toilet tank. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. But a piece that's about 4 inches is missing. It’s a good idea to call your local plumber and ask for a quote first, then you won’t get any nasty surprises. If you’re not confident in your ability to lift it on your own, enlist a helper. Disconnect the water supply from the toilet. Now put your weight into it and press the toilet down as firmly to engage the wax seal with the flange. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Use your multi-head screwdriver fitted with the corresponding screw bit to remove the screws. Fit the new flange into place over the outflow pipe. 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. Install taller wax rings just as you would a typical wax ring. The old toilet flange was rusting, and the subfloor was rotting, so I pulled up the subfloor around the toilet, and replaced the drain pipe with ABS, and an elbow. A small amount of water will run out of the hose, so keep a towel handy to sop it up. Plastic couplings are usually only intended to be hand-tightened, while metal ones can be tightened with a wrench or pliers. How far above the floor should the new toilet bowl flange be installed? However, if the old flange has broken into pieces, you’ll definitely need this measurement. When a toilet is leaking from the base, you may need to replace the toilet flange. 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. If you can’t find a good match or need help in general, ask an employee at the store for help. This is a braided pipe or metal hose that runs out from the wall to the toilet, next to the valve. 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. Thanks, I believe I can do this! You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. If you damage the outflow pipe in the process, you’ll be facing costly repairs. % of people told us that this article helped them. While the toilet’s draining, spread newspaper over the bathroom floor. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! {"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":"