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