Can you put a new toilet flange over an old one? A standard toilet flange should fit snugly into the outflow pipe and sit level with the subfloor. Installing a new one without first removing the old one will make it impossible to form a seal and keep the toilet bowl bolted securely in place.
If you've got a pool of water around the base of your toilet, you may need to do a toilet flange replacement of a loose or broken toilet flange (also often called a closet flange). This circular pipe fitting connects the toilet to the sewage pipe and secures the toilet to the floor.
Flanges last for about 5-20 years. Worn-out flanges will no longer create a tight seal between the toilet and outflow pipe. As a result, when you flush, the toilet will leak at the base. By replacing the closet flange you will be able to stop the base from leaking.
In a typical toilet installation, the floor flange that sits inside the drain opening below the toilet should be positioned so that its bottom surface rests flush against the finished floor or no more than 1/4 inch above or below the floor.
Some signs you may need toilet flange repair include: Toilet rocking back and forth. Sewer odors. Leaks from the base of the toilet.
International building codes require that a fixture shall be made watertight where it comes in contact with the wall or floor. One way of making sure this code is adhered to is by caulking around the toilet.
Four by Three. This is the market's most common size of flanges and fits most toilets. The top part has a diameter of four inches, and the bottom part has a diameter of three inches. The top opening connects to the toilet, and the bottom part attaches to the drain that leads to the sewer line.
The flange is also anchored to the subfloor with a rust-proof screw keeping it stable and free from movement. A wax ring mounted on the closet flange creates a watertight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the closet flange, preventing any leaks, odors or sewer gases from escaping the fixture.
Any loose flange bolts or saturated bolt holes may cause a water leak, but not as many as your wax rings would. The wax ring affects all surrounding components. If the wax ring is worn out, it may allow water to flow into the flange's outer layers, including toilet bolts.
Toilet manufacturers have weighed in on this discussion to recommend that you place tiles beneath the toilet flange. What they recommend is to put the flange on top of the tile, ensuring that the bottom of the flange touches the surface of the tile.
Replacing a toilet flange costs $145 to $165 on average.
PVC: PVC is the most common and least expensive material for toilet flanges. It's lightweight, strong, long-lasting, and cannot rust. ABS: Another plastic toilet flange option is ABS. It shares many of the same advantages as PVC, but offers higher durability in exchange for a higher price.
This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. Leave the old toilet flange right in place and glue on the new one at the right elevation for the floor, if it's plastic. The flange should be sitting with the bottom edge flush with the top of the floor.
The optimum flange height to aim for is 1/4 inch above the finished floor. This typically allows for almost any type of wax ring to be used and still ensure a good seal.
If your toilet doesn't sit flush against the floor, it will start moving as you use it. Most often, toilets rock back and forth because of a loose bolt, an uneven floor, or problems with the wax seal that connects your toilet to its drainage system.
The toilet flange needs to be on top of the finished floor. Meaning the bottom edge of the flange needs to be on the same plane as the toilet. So if your toilet sits on the tile, the flange needs to be on top of the tile too.
For those that don't already know, the proper toilet flange height is when it's flush with the top of the finished floor. The optimum height is about ¼ inch. It's easier to get your flange flush with the floor if you lay your flooring before you install the flange.
Traditional flange leak testing
Traditional leak testing of newly erected or modified pipelines are typically carried out by filling the pipeline with pressurised water or gas. This method is used to monitor any changes in pressure in order to identify a defective joint.
Any loose flange bolts or saturated bolt holes may cause a water leak, but not as many as your wax rings would. The wax ring affects all surrounding components. If the wax ring is worn out, it may allow water to flow into the flange's outer layers, including toilet bolts.
Dirty or Damaged Flange Faces. Dirt, scale, scratches, protrusions, weld spatter on gasket seating surfaces, and warped seating surfaces provide leakage paths or can cause uneven gasket compression that can result in flange leakage.