How to Replace Toilet Flange

A toilet is arguably the most used appliance in your home or business, so it is very prone to issues such as leaking. While internal leaks are problematic, external leaks can cause bigger problems as they can seep gray and even black water onto your bathroom floors. If your toilet is leaking from the base, you may have a worn or damaged toilet flange, the point of connection between your toilet and the drainpipe on the floor of the bathroom. This article will go over how to replace the toilet flange, but you are always welcome to call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Atlanta to hire qualified plumbers for the job. Our live representatives are on standby now to take your call. We can have a plumber at your location as soon as within the hour.

Preparation

Before you begin, make sure you have the new flange, flange nuts, and parts ready. You also want to prepare the area by laying newspapers or towels next to the toilet. You will place your toilet on these after you remove the toilet. Lay them a couple of feet to the side.

Once the area is ready, you should turn off the water supply to the toilet by turning clockwise the shutoff valve behind the toilet. If this does not turn off the water, then turn off the water at the main shutoff valve, usually by the water meter. Then, flush the toilet completely to empty the toilet tank. The water should not refill the tank as the water is shut off.

Remove the Old

With the water out of the way, you can get started on removing the toilet. Disconnect the water supply hose with some pliers and remove the nuts that attach the toilet to the floor. The nuts may be covered with caps - just pop them off to access the nuts. Carefully lift the toilet and place it on the newspapers or towels. The toilet can weigh over 100 pounds, so have some help on standby if you need it.

Now that the toilet is removed, you will have access to the outflow pipe. Push an old towel or t-shirt into the pipe to prevent unpleasant sewer gas from escaping. Don't shove the towel or shirt too far in as it can be difficult to retrieve. With a putty knife, scrape away the wax ring from the base of the flange and remove the mounting bolts and screws. If the flange is metal or glued rather than a gasket-sealed PVC flange, then you will likely have to call a plumber.

Install the New

Finally, secure the new flange to the subfloor and replace the toilet. Secure the toilet by tightening the bolts and reattaching the water supply line. Test for leaks by slowly turning on the water shutoff valve. If the coast is clear, then let the tank fill with water and give the toilet a test flush. All done!

If you have any issues, then feel free to call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Atlanta to hire a qualified plumber. We are always ready to help.