The flange looks rusted and we aren't sure it will bolt down the toilet and be secure (see pic below). The old toilet flange—the part that connects the toilet to the drain pipe at the floor—had almost disintegrated. Screwdriver: Choose a multi-bit screwdriver to remove the screws on the flushing toilet. A toilet ring, also called a closet flange, is installed over the drain opening in the floor directly beneath your toilet. How to Remove RV Toilet Flange. This could be a sign that you need to remove and replace your old toilet flange. When I took the old toilet out the metal flange underneath was so rusted and corroded a portion of the flange broke off. If the flange collar is severely damaged, you will have to remove and replace it. A wax ring is used as a sealer between the flange and the bottom of the toilet. Those test plates are still fused pretty good to the toilet flange, so you will need a few hard hits with a hammer to bash it free. Thanks Before lifting, rock it back and forth a few times to break the wax seal. They may not be easy to do and you may need an angle grinder to help you . 11. 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. Shopping for a Toilet Flange . Remove the old wax that sealed the toilet to the flange and pipe with a putty knife. Toilet flanges are made of either PVC, copper, and iron. Once you bash a hole into it, you can usually rip the rest off with a pair of pliers to be on the safe side; you have to be careful that you don't accidentally hit the flange portion with the hammer and crack it! Is there a way to fix the flange without having to remove the floor. Bolts were not connected to anything and upon removing the toilet the flange appears so rusted its unrecognizable. Any help is greatly appreciated! When installed, the flange is placed on the floor over the hub that's in the drain pipe. Step 2: Get a paint scraper or a putty knife to remove wax remnants from the flange. Install a toilet flange … Stainless Steel Toilet Flanges Click image for more info. 9. from the wall. In many older homes, the flange was made of cast iron, an extremely brittle metal. After you have done this, locate the screws and remove them. Without the backing board, the blade will often catch on the metal … McHowsh New Member. The cast iron flange seems to rotate freely around the pvc insert, but the insert itself is glued to the waste pipe. That’s normal with old toilets. I see there are so many different kinds and not sure which one I have. There are only a few simple steps to take in order to get the toilet flange off the floor. How to Remove & Replace a PVC Closet Flange. Simply scrape it off and smear it on the newspaper until you can access the top of the flange. We noticed that the flange does not sit on the pipe, it is off centered, due to the idiots who built our house running the pipes too close to the joist. Doing this will help you to reveal the broken parts and also the screws holding the flange down. If the plastic pipe has a 3-inch inside diameter, you'll have to remove the old flange from the outside of the pipe. Hello Friends! This tip is especially important when you‘re cutting thin-walled pieces. The repair kit consists of a metal ring that bolts around an existing flange to create a new anchor point for the closet bolts. Get a wrench and remove the toilet from the flange by lifting it and setting it aside on newspaper or cloth so as not to mess the tiles. This is the toilet flange. It can be a plastic or metal fitting mounted on the drain pipe and is attached to the toilet. 8. Joined: Aug 4, 2016 Location: New York . Any advice on replacing this? Hi all, I am renovating my 1st floor bathroom. We were not having any issues with toilet prior to removing for new flooring. If your flange is attached to a stable floor, you might need to replace the flange collar. To make it easier for you to break the old cast-iron flange, you can use a hammer and chisel. If the flange is badly corroded, use a hammer and cold chisel to chop out the flange. Besides, how far does an offset toilet flange … This can be done by scraping or sanding with a wire brush on a drill. This is one of the easier jobs you can do when repairing parts of your RV. You will also use them to remove the ones around the flange. Replacing a toilet flange in this case will be a little harder. Remove the bolts that secure the toilet to the flange and floor. That means the flange was centered 14 in. Toilet flange repair kit: When a toilet flange with a broken bolt rail is difficult to remove from the drain pipe, consider using a repair kit. Today, the vast majority of toilets are 12-in. In the old days, flanges were made of metal, but nowadays they are more typically made out of PVC or similar plastic. Corrosion and rustproof stainless-steel flanges offer more durability and better sealing than PVC flanges. The toilet is mounted right on top. Use a stiff-blade putty knife to scrape away the wax gasket from the closet flange. A toilet can weigh upwards of 120 pounds. Some PVC toilet flanges are made of 100 percent from polyvinyl chloride while others will come with a metallic top and a PVC base. Toilet flange extender – if the existing flange is glued to the drainpipe; Bolts – buy some new toilet flange bolts so that they can be replaced with old … Trapping the aluminum with a wood backer as shown reduces the danger of flying metal shards and makes it easier to hold the metal in place for cutting. Are we ok to just add spacers to get to the right height and reinstall or does this flange need to be removed and replaced? If this component is no longer able to perform either of these functions, it may need to be replaced. 10. However, you can always try to repair it first, which is a job that is much easier. Next, take out the flange seal. Unscrew and remove any extension rings to expose the cast-iron closet flange. Discussion in 'Toilet Forum discussions' started by McHowsh, Aug 4, 2016. My toilet was wobbling so I thought I would I investigate the problem. It’s always best if you can enlist the aid of a family member, friend or extremely nice neighbor. These flanges are bolted into the floor of your bathroom by means of anchor bolts, and fit snugly inside the sewer pipe inlet. You can select the one which fits your needs. How to Remove Cemented Flange From a PVC Toilet Drain Pipe. If you can’t cure a rocking toilet by tightening the flange bolts, it may be that the PVC plastic closet flange is unable to hold down the toilet. Here is a pic if anyone can give some advice I would appreciate it! Remove all the old build-up in order for the toilet flange to seal properly. Remove your toilet and locate the flange. Can we do it ourselves? This makes the toilet unstable or prone to leakages. The surest way to know you’ve obtained the right toilet flange is to remove your present one and bring it with you to your neighborhood hardware store. When removing the toilet to replace the wax ring, we noticed that the metal flange was all rusted, and the screws holding it down were rusted out, so now we do not know how to take it off without doing too much damage. Before you can set up a new toilet flange, firstly, you must remove the toilet, which is sealed into the existing one. Metal flange [ 4 Answers ] My toilet was wobbling from side to side. In older houses, the toilet flanges are metallic, and might be welded to a cast iron drain pipe. Save yourself some time and frustration with this ingenious, effective pipe fitting removal tool and make short work of a normally challenging process. A toilet or closet flange is the connection between the toilet and the drain pipe. Wax ring: This product holds the flange to the base of the toilet. It's basically a metal pipe fitting that's attached to the toilet floor and connects the toilet to the drainpipe in the floor. If it isn't, then you will have to cut away the old flange. The flange is made out lead. … The old toilet was a “14-in. This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. Over time, a cast-iron flange may crack or break, which can cause the toilet to rock, wobble or leak. My first floor is on a cement slab (no basement). Its center is too large to go over the bolts that are glued to the flange, and I don't really want to break the flange, but this feces-covered carpet has GOT to go. Wrench: If you want to know how to replace a toilet flange, you will need this tool to loosen the current bolts. It is usually made of cast iron in many older homes, so the metal is extremely brittle and can break or crack over time. Removing it is warranted if water is leaking from the bottom of the toilet and flooding the bathroom floor or if you need to replace the toilet bowl with a new one. Okay, so which flange is better in the long run - the one that is entirely plastic or the one that has the metal ring on it? I liked the one with the metal ring because you can spin it and get it in the perfect spot after the plastic has been glued. To remove the flange, first use a putty knife to scrap of the old wax from the top of the flange. It is what connects the toilet to the floor and the waste pipe below it. Two slots on either side of the flange hold bolts which securely fasten the toilet bowl above. Use a little silicone on the gasket when you begin tightening it up. If the seal is rubber, it should be simple to remove. Step 9. The bowl is then bolted onto the flange. In modern plumbing, toilet flanges are made of PVC. Mild detergent can also come in handy to clean wax. Lift the toilet and carry it out of the room. Remove the Toilet Remove the bolts holding down your toilet, and then pull the toilet straight up to take it out. Since this piece of metal is thin, you can just place it on top of the old collar without having to take out the broken one. Though PVC is the most common type of material used to produce toilet flanges, they also come in copper, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. (You can check a toilet’s rough in by measuring from the wall to the toilet bolts.) These are the main screws that hold the flange to the floor/ main drain. How to Remove this Rusty Toilet Flange. I got most of it up, but there is a kindof flimsy metal ring around the toilet flange. The toilet closet flange is all rusted out and not able to hold one of the closet bolts. Step 8. If it's wax, use a putty knife to scrape it up. How easy are these to replace? If it is a 3-inch cast iron pipe: Break off the old toilet flange from the outside. Now comes the somewhat difficult part. Unhook the closet bolts from the main track. My septic backed up, and I'm having to remove the carpet and padding around the toilet. All PVC toilet flanges are manufactured to fit three-inch or four-inch drainpipes. We removed the toilet and found that they flange was not screwed to the floor. 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. (Remember to remove it when the saw goes back into regular service or the motor will overheat.) The toilet flange holds the toilet to the floor and is also the fitting that serves as the inlet for the waste line. rough in”. 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