How to repair and replace a toilet flange (Step By Step)

In this review, you will learn about how to repair or replace a toilet flange. The toilet flange is an important part of the toilet drainage system that connects the toilet to the outflow. It is located between the outflow and down of the toilet. Flange lasting for a long time if fit properly.

Usually, toilet flange is two types PVC and cast iron. Prolonged use results in a breakdown and needs to replace. Generally, replacing a toilet flange is expensive. When you hire a plumber, it will be two or three times more.

If you want to DIY then you have to know how to repair or replace a toilet flange and also know how to install a toilet or how to replace a toilet. Flange size is also another important part of toilet flange because some fit outside and some are fit inside of the outflow pipe. Generally, a 3″ toilet flange fits inside the outflow pipe. You need a toilet flange repair kit and tools.

Tools what you need to repair the toilet flange

There are several tools and kits. When you want to DIY then you have to know which tool use for which purposes and how to use them. Here is a description of these tools which are essential for replacing a toilet flange.

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Screwdriver There are several types of screwdrivers like a flat-head screwdriver, 4 in 1 screwdriver. These screwdrivers have also different kinds of sizes. Don’t worry generally, standard size screw uses everywhere. So, buy a standard size flat-head or 4 in 1 screwdriver. A flat blade is also another kind of screwdriver.

Paint Scraper If you don’t have a paint scraper then you can use a putty knife. A paint scraper or putty knife is one kind of thin flattened metal sheet with a handle. Its front part isn’t sharp but the two corners are smooth. So always be careful when you use it.

Hand Gloves For hand protection you can use hand gloves. When you replace toilet flange incisive metal part or somethings like an insert in your hand. There are several types of hand gloves. Thick gloves are more preparable. Gloves also prevent dirt stick to the hand.

Wax Ring Seal One of the most important elements when you repair the flange. It helps to prevent leaks. It creates airtight between the toilet base and flange. There is another type of seal it is wax-free and reusable.

Adjustable Allen wrench This tool use for the open closet bolt. Its jaws are moveable. You can use adjustable pliers. So, you can easily adjust its jaw to the closet bolt head. In short, the closet bolt is also known as the bolt.

Piler You can use it instead of an adjustable Allen wrench. It has two jaws which are controlling by corresponding two handles.

Flange attached to the sub-floor and holds the toilet. It is located between the outflow pipe and toilet base. When you go store for a flange then you need to know your previous flange measurement.

Bolt You need new bolts because your old bolts can be worn out for this, they aren’t reusable. It looks like a screw but bigger than the screw and made of metal. The toilet anchor on these bolts.

Rubber Gasket One kind of flexible tool which helps to toilet anchor with flange tightly. It looks like a flattened ring. There are several pilot holes on it as like a flange so that the bolts and screws can easily pass into it.

Drop Cloth When you pull out the toilet from the bolt then you need to lay down it somewhere. But it can get scratch or rub as a result it lost its glazing. To prevent it you need a drop cloth. You can also use it for wiping purposes.

Knife A thin knife will be needed If your toilet glues to the floor.

Toilet Plunger To drain the rest water into the toilet bowl and siphon.

Sponge To seeps the water which is easier than wipe and it is also faster.

How to Remove a Toilet

Removing a toilet needs to follow some guidelines. Otherwise, it will be difficult and your bathroom floor becomes messy.

Step 1: Turn off the water supply

When you are going to remove a toilet your first task is to shut down the water supply. Usually, the main source of water for the toilet is the tank. You see the there is a water supply hose in which one edge connects to the tank and the other edge connects to a knob. To turn off the water supply you have to spin this knob counterclockwise. If the knob doesn’t stop the water supply completely then you have to close another knob that supplies the water to this knob or you don’t want any trouble then you close the main water supply line.

Step 2: Empty the tank and remove it

Now put off the hose pipe from the tank. Toilet tank always full of water. It will have water though you stop the water supply. Before you remove the tank your first job is to empty the tank. For this, you can flush the toilet to remove water from the tank. Do it several times. After flush several times, now open the lid of the tank and you see there is a little water remaining in the tank. Now use the sponge to remove the rest of the water.

After removing all water now remove the toilet flapper’s chain, flush the handle. Now you get more space into the tank to move your and other tools. You see there are two bolts which are anchor the tank to the toilet bowl. Now take the flat blade screwdriver and rotate it counterclockwise. If the bolt rotates with a hex nut then take the adjustable wrench and hold the hex nut. Pull out the toilet tank and put down it on a drop cloth.

Step 3: Lay down the drop cloth

It is not necessary to lay the drop cloth. But it will prevent the surface from getting scratch. Toilet tank and toilet made with ceramic that weighted and shiny. when you carry, it can be hit or drop down. And also when you keep it on the floor then it can get scratch. You can also use this cloth as a rag to wipe. If you don’t have a drop cloth then you can use newspaper.

Step 4: Clear the bowl and siphon water

After removing the toilet tank now take the toilet plunger and heavily stroke it down and up. It will remove the all most bowl water. You can also use a sponge to remove the bowl water.

Step 5: Unscrew the bolt and pull up the toilet

These bolts anchor the toilet to the floor. Most of the time they are invisible because of the plastic cap on them which color is also like to toilet color. Take the flat blade screwdriver and pull up the cap. Now take the adjustable wrench and adjust it to the hex nut. Now rotate the wrench counterclockwise. Do it gently, otherwise, your toilet can get scratched.

Step 6: Lift the toilet

After open the hex nuts now cut the caulk around the toilet with a thin knife. Gently rock the toilet a little against the floor. Now you can lift the toilet. You can ask another helping hand to lift the toilet. Because the toilet is heavier than the tank. After lifting now lay down the toilet on cloth.

Toilet seat can disturb you when you lift toilet. So, remove the toilet seat if you want you can replace toilet seat with the best heated toilet seat. But it is difficult to remove it when seat bolts are corroded and rusted. As a result, the toilet seat bolts tight with the nut don’t worry here are 4 ways to remove the rusted toilet seat bolts

Step 7: Blocking the toilet drain temporally

Close the sewer pipe with a rag immediately. Otherwise, the unpleasant odors smell come from the septic tank and spread into the whole house. It smells like rotten egg or sulfuric and this odor smell contains various types of germs which can affect you and your family members. It also helps to prevent drop anything into the pipe. If anything drop into sewer drain there is a possibility to clog the sewer pipe(10 Easy Ways You Can Unclog A Clogged Toilet when nothing works (The Proven Guide 2021)). When you clean up the wax or unscrew the flange that time screw or wax can get into the drain pipe. Now take off the toilet flange bolts and keep these bolts for emergency backup.

How to repair the flange

Step 1: Clean up the flange and toilet base

Wax seal the flange and toilets beneath. It is one time use when you remove the toilet then the wax will be deformed and damaged wax stick to the toilet base and flange. Scrape the wax which is stick to the flange and toilet with a putty knife or paint scraper. Use rag or newspaper to wipe up the putty knife and put the rag or paper into the bin.

Step 2: Take off the flange

A flange is attached to the subfloor with the screw. There are 3 or 4 screws used to anchor the flange to the floor. Gasket could be installed along with flange. So don’t worry when you unscrew the flange, the gasket also unscrews at the same time. Just take a flat blade screwdriver and turn the screw head counterclockwise. If it hasn’t stuck with glue then you can easily lift it.

Now raise the flange and the floor where the was placed. Try to clean the area where the flange was sited and wipe with a clean and dry rag. There are several chemical cleaners.

Step 3: Observe it

Observe this flange in a lighted area. If there is no fracture or it doesn’t deform then you can reuse this. You just need a new wax. If the flange cracks or is deformed then you need to buy a new one.

There are two types of flanges one is metal another is PVC. When your outflow drain pipe is metal then buy a metal flange or if your outflow is PVC then use PVC flange.

The stainless steel toilet flange, cast iron toilet flange, copper toilet flange, brass toilet flange, aluminum toilet flange, etc. are metal flanges and PVC flange is plastic. Toilet flange is also known as the closet flange.

Every type of flange has a lip that is adjusted to the drainpipe inside or outside. When you will go to buy a flange from the store measure your old flange dimension with scale. Generally, most of the flange is 4 inches. It is better to belong it with you when you go to the store to buy a flange. If you can’t identify the right one then you can ask for help from the storekeeper.

Sometimes same types of flanges aren’t available because your flange is old enough that time you need to discuss with an experienced person like a plumber.

Step 4: Set the flange

If your previous flange is okay then you can install it otherwise buy a new one. Unpack the flange carefully because there are also screws. Then push it into the outflow pipe. Confirm that the flange lip holes are parallel to the pilot holes.

Step 5: Secure the flange

If you want you can use a gasket. Just place the gasket on the flange and parallel to the flange. Then place the screw to the hole and turn the head clockwise with a flat blade screwdriver.

Step 6: Attached wax ring

A Wax ring is very sensitive if one is deformed then you can’t use it. Carefully set the wax on the flange. there are different types of toilets but all types of toilets don’t need wax rings.

Step 7: Feed the toilet flange bolts with a washer

There are two toilet flange bolts and also bolt washers. Firstly, feed the bolt where the hole has enough space then draw the bolt opposite edge so the bolt head clogs with flange. Do it for another bolt then put the bolt washer on each flange bolt.

Step 8: Set the toilet

Lift the toilet and place the toilet bolt holes on the bolts. After that put the plastic ring on each bolt then the plastic washer. Now take the hex nuts then rotate them clockwise then you can use a socket wrench or adjustable Allen wrench.

Step 9: Test the flange

Now test the check toilet leaks. For this take 4 to 5 gallons of water in a bucket. Then pour the toilet bowl and observe the floor near the toilet is seeping or not. If it doesn’t seep then everything is okay. Now you can adjust the toilet tank, hose pipe, etc.

How do you know when a flange is bad?

There are several symptoms to understand the flange problem.

Rocking toilet

If the toilet rocks against the floor that means, there is something that happened to the flange. For a long time, use flange can be formed or crack.

Sewerage odor

If your bathroom has an odor smell like the rotten egg that means there is a leakage. For this, unpleasant odors can get a scope to come out.

Seeping floor

If the bathroom floor near the toilet gets wet that means, there is a leakage. This leakage occurs when the flange damages.

Sometimes bathroom floor seeping or sewerage smells come out when the wax damages.

Most people asks

Is clockwise open or close?

Clockwise means rotate somethings like a clock’s hand direction. When you rotate the screw clockwise that means you tight it.

What does it mean to go counterclockwise?

https://youtu.be/y0ToFT6O06Y?t=25

Counterclockwise means rotation somethings opposite direction of the clock hand. Clock hand rotate right and counterclockwise rotate left.

The main difference between counterclockwise and clockwise is rotation direction. When you rotate something’s clock hand direction that is called clockwise and the opposite of the clock hand is called counterclockwise.

What is a hose?

It is a flexible and hollow pipe that is used to transfer liquid from one place to another place.

How heavy is an empty toilet?

There are two types of toilet one-piece toilet and two-piece toilet. Toilet and tank are attached in the one-piece toilet where toilet and tank are separate in the two-piece toilet. The one-piece toilet weighs around 88 pounds and the two-piece toilet is 55 pounds.

Do I need a flange extender?

When the toilet flange doesn’t level to the floor then you can use a flange extender. Flange extenders can be metal or plastic. To install the extender just slide it on the flange.

Can sewer smell affect your health?

Sewer gas contains many toxic gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, ammonia, etc. When someone inhales it they can die.

Here concludes this review on how to repair or replace a toilet flange. Please subscribe below to get Weekly newsletters of our newest articles.

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