How To Repair A Broken Flange

So, your toilet is rocking, and you've tried tightening the toilet to floor bolts, but you still tin't seem to get the toilet secured. Chances are your toilet flange (also called closet flange) is broken or deteriorating because it wasn't installed properly. Although rather common, a damaged toilet flange must be repaired as soon as possible to prevent leaks that could cause serious damage to your flooring or tile.

A broken flange will cause the toilet to movement because it is no longer secured to the flange, which is anchored to the subfloor. The constant rocking will likely break the wax seal (located betwixt the toilet and the flange), allowing water to leak onto the substrate and the ceiling below when the toilet is flushed.

The practiced news? With the proper tools, a lilliputian know-how and a trip to the local hardware store, almost people can effectively repair their own toilet flanges without breaking a sweat (or the banking company!)

Toilet Flange Overview

A toilet flange is a piping fitting that connects a toilet to the habitation's drainage system. It also mounts a toilet securely to the finished floor. There is a diverseness of toilet flanges to choose from on the market today, such as PVC, ABS, cast iron, copper and stainless steel, depending on your detail awarding needs.

Assessing the Trouble

In addition to your toilet rocking, there are other alarm signs that may indicate your flange is broken including:

Visible leaks beneath the toilet
Floor surrounding the toilet feels soft
Water spots appearing on the ceiling located directly below the toilet

If any of these issues are present, it's time to visually inspect the toilet flange for damage. Refer to steps one-ten in the section below.

Broken Toilet Flange

Prepping Toilet for Repair

First, plow off the h2o supply to the toilet past turning the valve in a clockwise direction. The water supply valve should be located behind the toilet simply to the left. If a valve is not present, you will need to observe another valve located in the basement or clamber space expanse of the home.
Remove the hat of the toilet tank and flush the toilet. Hold the toilet handle down so as much h2o as possible drains from the tank and the bowl.
Use a water absorber, like LiquiLock , to temporarily solidify the remaining water, turning information technology into a gel, which volition assist foreclose drips and leaks when removing the toilet fixture. The gel will dissolve when additional h2o is added.
Disconnect the water supply line from the toilet fill valve and the 3/eight" compression nut. This will assistance when resetting the toilet after the wax seal (as well chosen toilet wax ring) is replaced. Y'all should e'er consider replacing the toilet supply when replacing the wax seal.
If your toilet is caulked to the finished floor of the bath, score the caulking all the way around the toilet base with a razor knife.
Identify protective roofing on the bathroom floor or bathtub, depending on where you will be placing the toilet while repairing the flange.
Remove the caps that cover the bolts and washers. This can be washed by inserting a apartment caput screwdriver under the edge of cap and gentle prying upwards. Be careful not to apply to much pressure on the porcelain because it may chip or crack.
Remove nuts and washers from the bolts at the toilet base using an adjustable wrench. If the bolt spins as you turn the nut, you will have to grasp the commodities with a carve up pair of pliers while removing the nuts.
Grab the toilet under the sides of the basin and stone it gently back and along to break the old wax seal and elevator the toilet off the floor. Set it down on the protective covering.
Scrape the quondam wax seal off the base of operations of the toilet and toilet flange using a putty knife. Scrape the caulk off the toilet bowl and finished flooring.

Repairing Toilet Flange

What Yous'll Need:

Middle protection
Gloves
Screw gun
Caulk gun
Rust-proof screws
Flange repair ring

First, inspect the toilet flange for any cracks or decay. If the drain section of the flange is damaged, a licensed plumber volition exist needed to completely replace the old flange. Flange option depends on the blazon and size of piping information technology is being connected to, besides equally other application-specific variables.

Some flanges are specifically designed for cast atomic number 26 connections, and others can be solvent welded for PVC or ABS pipe connections. For new construction or remodels, at that place are flanges with knockout plugs that allow you to examination the system without having to use a test ball or plug, while also keeping sewer gases from escaping.

If just the flange is broken, you can utilise a convenient flange repair ring, similar Oatey'due south Fix-Information technology Flange Repair Band, to securely reinstall the toilet. A production like this makes repairs like shooting fish in a barrel because it can be installed in a higher place the cleaved toilet flange with four screws and silicone sealant. It doesn't require solvent cementing or special tools to install, which is ideal for the average homeowner. For professionals, ease of installation results in a faster service telephone call, saving time and costs.

Flange Repair Ringe

Follow these steps to properly repair your flange using a flange repair ring*:

Remove broken or corroded sections of the flange. If pieces are loose, they tin can exist removed by manus. So, apply a liberal amount of 100% silicone sealant to the top of the existing flange.
Inset new Johni-Bolts into existing band slots if withal in place . Be certain the bolts are centered with the toilet flange opening and parallel with the wall behind toilet tank.
Press the repair ring downwardly into the desired location for right commodities alignment and secure the repair band to the subfloor using appropriate screws and anchors.
Secure Johni-Bolts to repair ring using supplied fasteners.
Wipe off whatever backlog silicone and permit fourth dimension to cure.

*Please read manufacturer instructions and recommendations on products to ensure all-time practices for safety and effective use.

Reinstalling Toilet

Place new wax ring seal on summit of repair ring. Make sure information technology is centered.
Reinstall toilet by using Johni-bolts (the bolts that connect the toilet to the floor) as a guide. Brand sure you lot hold the toilet as level every bit possible when placing information technology onto the new wax seal. The toilet tank should be parallel to the wall behind it.
Exercise not rock the toilet equally it is placed on the new wax seal. Apply a slight side-to-side twisting motion until the toilet bowl is resting on the bathroom flooring.
Install washers and nuts in their original order and location.
Tighten nuts downward while alternating from side to side until toilet basin is seated firmly and evenly on the floor. Be careful not to overtighten the bolts, or yous could crack the toilet bowl.
Connect toilet supply.