I was able to read the step-by-step, "I am getting ready to replace an old toilet, and was unaware of the flange and how to replace or even remove it, "The refresh on the toilet flange height and install helped.The whole article was interesting. If the toilet is set in the basement on a raw concrete floor, and the concrete is so uneven that shims won’t do it justice, pour a bed of thinset down where the toilet will sit and set the toilet into the bed and let it set. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. ;-) When I was replacing the flange some of the PVC pipe broke off and fell down the drain. Even if you reuse the flange, always install a new wax ring. Nice fix for a vexing, and hopefully rare problem. 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. Replace the toilet by lining up the holes on the toilet base with the two bolts. You will place the … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Press down to seal the wax ring with the flange. I then used something like "Tapcon" screws to secure it into the concrete floor. I grouted the tile, then . Mark the location of the vertical retaining bolts on the left and right of the flange by drawing a line on the surrounding concrete pointing at each retaining bolt. 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. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 528,726 times. Facebook; Prev Article Next Article . Then I slid the flange into place and screwed in the Tapcons. 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. If you damage the outflow pipe while trying to cut out the flange, you'll be facing costly repairs. OR you can do what I did . When done, you’ll have two bolts protruding up from the flange and floor, where the toilet will be remounted. Best approach for replacing flange in concrete? Fixing down a toilet without drilling and using screws. Your safest bet is to call a plumber, but it is possible to do the job yourself--very carefully. A typical toilet attaches to the floor with a pair of bolts that stick up from the flange, a special fitting at the top of the waste pipe. The bolts are installed in the concrete. I applied ABS cement to the inside of the cemented ABS piece and to the outside of the flange. No, simply replace wax ring or seal (rubber gasket seals are becoming more popular). Set the toilet … Laying tile was incidental to the project, and I am by no means an expert, so I skimmed over that part. Don't forget to wear safety glasses when forcefully chipping out sharp pieces of clay! Do so at the shut … Position the Toilet Flange. Then wiggle around a bit until the toilet reaches the floor. It is best that the flange is level with the floor; the higher a flange sits above the floor, the greater the likelihood of poor fitting and problems with the toilet leaking. However, by blocking it now, you stop sewer gases earlier and provide protection against accidentally losing things—wax ring bits, screws, bolts, etc.—down the pipe. 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. 5. I installed one of my toilets a couple or three years ago, so my memory is a bit foggy. STEP 2: Drain the water lines. Once the flange was in, I let the ABS cement dry for a couple of hours. The neck of the flange should have a rubber gasket that creates a seal against the inside of the overflow pipe. My toilet mounts directly to the floor (which is concrete and tile). Measure from your back wall to the closet bolts that secure the toilet to the floor.Be sure to measure from the wall and not from the baseboard. Once the toilet has been removed, plug the outflow pipe with a towel, and then scrape off the wax ring. Drill holes at the marked points. Actually, this is a very simple process, so now I will help you understand more about it so that you can do it yourself at home. Block the Outflow Pipe with a Rag. First and foremost, it is crucial that the concrete floor has the correct piping before you begin the installation. Lay the toilet on its side and put the new wax ring on the round mouth that sits on top of the flange. The bolt broke halfway! most brass bolts will slide into the closet flange. Skill Floor Interior 2 years ago No Comments. The old toilet flange—the part that connects the toilet to the drain pipe at the floor—had almost disintegrated. What do you do if you remove an old toilet and discover that the closet bolts are rusted out, there is no closet flange, and the waste line is made of terra cotta? Step 1: Place the Flange Place the toilet flange face down on the concrete. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Turn off the water supply. A small amount of water will run out of the hose, so keep a towel handy to sop it up. I used the yardstick to mark floor level. You could tapcon the toilet bowl to the floor with a rope of plumber's putty like they did in the old days. You can see where I cracked the edge of the tile when drilling. However if you notice damage to the floor, or flange, you may want to replace them depending on the severity of damage. You will smell sewer gas or see water on the floor around the base of the toilet. Then proceeded with a normal toilet installation. After pushing the new wax ring in place at the bottom of the toilet, put the toilet back in place. Toilet bolt … Since I would eventually be drilling into the new cement, I let it cure for a week before laying the final cermic tile with thinset. Again, note the grungy towel stuffed into the hole the keep sewer gases from coming into the house. Some people wait to block up the pipe until after removing the old flange. Cement sub flooring repairs pvc toilet broken in concrete toilet on a concrete slab toilet installation on new. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The towel keeps sewer gases from coming into the house. It secures the toilet to the floor and also connects the toilet to the drain pipe. Thoroughly clean the floor before putting on the new flange. Twist-N-Set® Cast Iron Replacement Closet Flange. The mounting plate that holds a toilet to the floor is part of the toilet, or closet, flange. on Introduction. You can select the one which fits your needs. Dec 19, 2020: Toilet Forum discussions: Single toilet into 2 back-to-back toilets (can't cut into concrete) Dec 7, 2020: Toilet Forum discussions: Level toilet on concrete floor: Aug 1, 2020 Remove the flange where the toilet was and replace it with a new one. there should be a larger oval opening on the metal flange that allows the bolts to slip out. Has anyone heard of this Culwell Flange? You need to clean the area around the bottom of the toilet and then place a new wax ring on the repaired flange. Most toilet flanges come with 4 screws, but yours may have more or fewer. Concrete and masonry fasteners consist of a mixture of bolts, sleeves, screws, and other components designed to set permanently in concrete, brick, and other hard materials. The toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is the part of the toilet that secures the unit to the floor and connects to the drain pipe.Usually made of PVC, rubber or metal, this piece is circular in shape and usually secured in place with a few bolts. As a homeowner, you must have heard about a toilet flange. If you discover a leak beneath your toilet and remove the toilet, you may discover that the flange is undamaged. That means the flange was centered 14 in. These components are round and are made from rubber, PVC, or metal. Check the other bolt to make sure it is equally snug, then test the toilet for rocking. 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. I vacuumed out the holes to get rid of the resulting concrete dust. I'm fitting a toilet pan onto a ceramic tiled bathroom floor. on Introduction. You need to lift the toilet straight up to clear the 2 bolts that are sticking up through the base. If the toilet flange sits below the finished floor, the toilet will leak. Finally, purchase a new flange and screw it over the gasket on the outflow pipe. 10 years ago I have done all four steps, but these bolts are too damn tight I chipped it out down to the lower lip (about 1" - 1 3/4" down) using a cold chisel and a hammer. Good luck! Reply Gently rock the toilet bowl side to side to break this seal. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet! Find toilet flanges at Lowe's today. wikiHow's. why all the trouble ? The top section of the clay pipe had to go. How do I know if the wax ring needs replacing? References It has a hub with a rubber sleeve that should be facing up. By using our site, you agree to our. Before you remove the toilet shut-off valve, you’ll need to drain the supply line to prevent the water remaining in the pipe from gushing out onto your bathroom floor. Do not tighten the nuts that hold the toilet to the flange too tightly. This brass ring is slipped directly … most brass bolts will slide into the closet flange. However, if the old flange has broken into pieces, you’ll definitely need this measurement. Also, measure to any nearby water supply lines on the floor. Good videos! I have to do this and I'm not looking forward to it. You could pay someone $$$$$ to jack hammer out half of your basement floor and connect up to the terra cotta. The toilet I bought needs longer bolts. 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. I am not responsible if you injure yourself, cause damage to your property, or violate your local plumbing code. It’s simple, the watertight seal between the toilet bowl and wax ring will eventually fail. Buy and extra set of nuts and washers. But there were four bolts holding the brass toilet flange ring down to the concrete slab. 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. How far above the floor should the new toilet bowl flange be installed? As explained above, the lip of the toilet flange should sit flush on the floor all the way around. To replace the wax ring and reinstall the toilet would usually be about $100 - maybe $150 in large cities and high-cost areas - normally a minimum visit charge plus about $5 for the wax ring. 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The ABS was cut with a mitre saw and dry fit into place. Joined: Oct 2, 2005. I used the kind with the tapered wood screw type head so that once all the way in, they seated nicely in the recessed holes in the flange and held it tight. The holes to mount a typical flange line up with the lip of the clay pipe and it wouldn't hold the flange. The lower section is about 4 5/8" in diameter - perfect for accepting a piece of 4" ABS drain pipe. Recently I had just such an “opportunity” and found two very different issues – one was a ball of toilet paper that was hung up on the exit rim of the toilet (an easy fix) and the second was a broken flange where the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor lock in. Some older toilet installation will have a lag bolt that screws into the floor. on Introduction. What a pain that job was! There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Take your time and chip out a little at a time. Attach the new flange securely to the floor with new screws. The drain pipe for my toilet sort of looks like a horn. Instead, sit on the toilet backward with your weight centered over the wax ring. The flange is a ring that anchors directly into the bathroom's finished floor. 2) drill slowly to minimize heat and vibration How much does it cost to replace a toilet flange? Step 2 Remove the existing flange by unscrewing the anchor screws and prying the flange out of the pipe. When a toilet is leaking from the base, you may need to replace your toilet flange. If the flange is PVC, it is probably glued to a PVC outflow pipe. 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 have plastic caps that cover the bolts, just snap them in place. 5 years ago "I never thought I could install a new flange and wax ring for a toilet. Step 5 - Replace the Floor Flange and Johnny Bolts. A toilet flange connects the bottom of the toilet to the drainpipe in the floor of the bathroom. 14 years ago, To avoid cracking tile: The old toilet was a “14-in. Why? your job looks fine, i just figured my way was a bit easier and also lots quicker. If you can’t find a good match or need help in general, ask an employee at the store for help. Replace a broken toilet how to replace toilet bolt caps danco perfect seal toilet wax ring toilet tank leaking fix how to fix a leaking toilet this old. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. if the bolts where actually driven into the concrete floor, then simply break it off and reattach to the flange. Then I slid the flange into place and screwed in the Tapcons. ", before I saw this video. Did you make this project? The HydroSeat offers an easy, one-piece installation that fixes wobbly or leaking toilets, and broken or damaged flanges. Cement floors present the most difficult medium for replacing floor flanges. (You can check a toilet’s rough in by measuring from the wall to the toilet bolts.) By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Suggest you buy two wax rings as I've had two where the pipe flange was set too far down and the toilet was fully on the floor before the ring sealed all the way around. Once you lift the toilet off the flange, you’ll usually find that flange replacement is a manageable DIY project; however, you may decide it’s best to call a plumber in some circumstances. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. There used to be two bolts that came out of the floor to mount the toilet to, but both are extremely corroded and they just pulled out of the floor while I was replacing the wax ring. Steve used an Oatey 4″ replacement toilet flange for cast iron pipes. Stack Exchange Network Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The wax will likely come off in sticky chunks. Removing the Toilet Place newspapers or towels on the floor next to the toilet. ", https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-toilet-flange/, https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/how-to-replace-toilet-flange.htm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Railroad Rail Lantern / Sign Stand Split With Axe. Step 3 – Insert Bolts. Discussion in 'Toilet Forum discussions' started by mpd1975, Oct 2, 2005. mpd1975 New Member. You can find replacement bolts at any hardware store. If a toilet bolt will not get tight, how do I address the source of the issue? Try not to tip it on its side. 13 Set toilet back into place; press down to compress gasket. Toilet Installation & a Broken Mounting Plate. But if you haven’t, well, this is a component at the toilet drain pipe surface, which helps to hold the toilet firmly to the bathroom floor. Press down, making sure the toilet fits firmly. If you don’t have the old flange, buy a new flange that matches the outflow pipe measurement you took. However, you can install a rubber gasket the same way you'd install a wax ring. Thanks for your comments. Replace the toilet. The flange is secured to the floor through anchor screws driven into the flooring. Those brown spots above and below the drain pipe are the rusted remains of the closet bolts. if the bolts where actually driven into the concrete floor, then simply break it off and reattach to the flange. While this is true, you should know that the bolts don’t go directly to the floor. Plastic couplings are usually only intended to be hand-tightened, while metal ones can be tightened with a wrench or pliers. rough in”. The wax ring sits between the bottom of the toilet and the flange. :-( No matter. When your toilet flange is unlevel or not set to the right height, the toilet may wobble or even leak at the base. there is all so a nohub toilet fitting that goes over the pipe for this kind of thing. But a piece that's about 4 inches is missing. Do I have to replace the whole drain pipe? Remove the flange where the toilet was and replace it with a new one. Thanks for the tips! and then retro-fitting a piece of PVC to use as a flange attachment. (the bit has to be slightly smaller then the bolts) they won't rust for another 40 years. 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. The bolts should just come out of the slot, replace them both with new ones and a new wax ring. 14 Tighten nuts on closet bolts. When a toilet is leaking from the base, you may need to replace your toilet flange. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. On the other hand, if they're not, maybe they should stay that way in this case, thereby saving their marriage and a desperate Sunday afternoon call to Fly by Night Exhorbitant Plumbing Co. Don’t plan on using this towel or shirt again—just toss it! 12 years ago We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Put the toilet back in place, lining up the toilet with the flange bolts. Can you guess how the floor flange is attached to the concrete floor–I don’t recall. Neat work on tile and flange, and the good taste to replace the red tile. Pry off the bolt caps at the base of the toilet using a screwdriver. If you are not undertaking a straight replacement, you will need to start by drilling the holes to accommodate the toilet bolts. The stopper slips on first, then the washer and finally the nut. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 DON’T force the toilet down by tightening the nuts on the toilet bolts—that might crack the porcelain base. In this example the toilet has held firm since 2010, see details below. Do you have to replace the flange when you get a new toilet or can you just replace the wax ring? The added height results in the closet bolts being too short to securely fasten the toilet again. Making sure the ABS was plumb, I cemented it into place with mortar mix. A great solution that is tried and tested and gives a secure, movement free fixing.. Great for fixing down a toilet to a ceramic tiled, porcelain tiled or plastic floor without the use of screws. Sometimes, this secure fit is provided by components that expand as the bolt is drilled or threaded into the concrete. Step 11 Put the toilet into position and secure the pan to the floor brackets with the provided fixings. 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 toilet sits on a seal made of two parts. Use a drill to create new pilot holes in the flooring, if needed. One side of the floor flange was broken so this clamped around the whole flange making a solid mount. no comment on the plumbing, but thanks for showing the right way to tile, can't believe how many times I've seen people lay tile around a toilet and just cut the tile to fit around it, ugh ! Cost To Reseat A Toilet Installed together with a wax ring, the HydroSeat technology ensures a tight, leak-free seal and features a self-centering rubber funnel that fits any Clean up around drain hole. 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. In order for this not to happen the toilet flange must sit above the finished floor by at least 1/4″. 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