How To Remove A Cast Iron Toilet Flange

Download Article

Co-ordinate to professional person plumber Dave Jones, "A toilet flange holds the vertical bolts in place that connect your toilet to the bathroom floor." When a toilet is leaking from the base, y'all may need to supplant the toilet flange. Once you lift the toilet off the flange, y'all'll usually find that flange replacement is a manageable DIY project; however, you may make up one's mind it'south best to call a plumber in some circumstances.

1
Place newspapers or towels on the floor next to the toilet. You will place the toilet on these afterwards y'all disconnect it from the flange.^[1] Go out enough room to work on the toilet flange, but lay the newspapers or towels close by and so y'all don't accept to move the toilet too far.^[two]
- Y'all could also place the removed toilet in a nearby tub or shower stall, but in that location's a chance the bottom of the toilet volition scratch up the tile and/or the tub's cease.
two
Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Professional plumber Dave Jones suggests "turning the water valve to the right, unless it's an older-state gate valve; so, yous'll demand to turn the valve several times earlier it closes. If information technology's a quarter-turn brawl valve, just turn the valve one-quarter of a 360-caste plow."
- If closing this valve fails to shut off the h2o supply completely, you lot'll have to shut off the water further downwardly the line—potentially at the master shutoff valve near your water meter.
Advertisement
iii
Affluent and siphon the water out of the tank and bowl. Since the h2o supply is shut off, the tank won't refill when you flush once and empty its water into the bowl. Professional plumber Dave Jones suggests "flushing the toilet repeatedly until most of the water is out of the tank."^[3] ^[iv]
- Use a wet vac, turkey baster, or large sponge to remove any remaining water in the tank and the bowl.
4
Disconnect the h2o supply hose. This runs betwixt the shutoff valve and the toilet tank, and is usually made of braided metal. Disconnect it at the coupling that attaches to the underside of the toilet tank. If you tin't loosen it by hand, use adaptable pliers or a crescent wrench to plough the coupling counterclockwise until information technology disconnects.
- A small-scale amount of water will run out of the hose, so keep a towel handy to sop it upward.
5
Remove the ii nuts that attach the toilet to the floor. Professional plumber Dave Jones advises "removing the bolt covers at the base of the toilet pedestal to reveal the bolts and nuts. From there, employ an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts on the vertical bolts that secure the toilet to the toilet flange at the floor."^[five]
- Each nut should have a metal washer beneath it, and possibly a plastic i as well. Remove these also.
- The new toilet flange set up should come up with nuts, bolts, and washers, but proceed these ones handy just in case you need them.
6
Lift the toilet straight up and move it to the newspapers or towels. Toilets weigh between 70–120 lb (32–54 kg), so get assist if you're not sure you tin can elevator it.^[six] To lift it solitary, professional plumber Dave Jones suggests "continuing upwardly and grasping the front of the bowl and the back of the tank while keeping your back directly. Then, brainstorm lifting the toilet upward, using your legs to lift. The toilet should come complimentary of the bolts and the old wax ring that sealed it to the toilet flange at the floor."
- Some residuum h2o may leak out when you do this, and so take a towel handy to wipe information technology upward.
7
Plug up the outflow pipage with an old towel or T-shirt. Push the towel or shirt securely into the pipe, but don't stuff it down so far or in so tightly that yous won't be able to retrieve it after. Blocking the piping volition foreclose unpleasant sewer gases from escaping.^[7]
- Some people wait to block up the pipe until after removing the old flange. However, by blocking it now, you end sewer gases earlier and provide protection confronting accidentally losing things—wax ring bits, screws, bolts, etc.—downward the pipe.
Advertisement

1
Scrape off the erstwhile wax ring with a putty knife. The wax ring sits on top of the toilet flange and seals the connection between the flange and the toilet base of operations. The wax ring will be deformed and discolored, but it should scrape away fairly easily with a sturdy putty knife.^[8] ^[9]
- Go on some paper or an quondam towel nearby and then you tin wipe off your putty knife every bit y'all piece of work. The wax will likely come off in sticky chunks.
2
Accept off the screws that attach the flange to the flooring. The screws run through the lip of the flange and into the floorboards beneath. Yous'll usually detect 4 of them. Plough the heads counterclockwise with a screwdriver to remove them.^[x]
- Keep these every bit an emergency backup for the screws that come up with your new flange kit.
3
Remove the flange if it's made out of PVC and sealed with a gasket. If you have a gasket-sealed PVC flange, which is the well-nigh common type, you'll exist able to lift it straight up from the outflow pipe once the screws accept been removed. After this, rinse it under the sink and wipe it clean with a rag and then yous tin can take a closer look at it.^[11]
- If the flange has no cracks, fries, or deformations, you may choose to just reinstall it with a new wax ring.^[12] However, if it doesn't await to be in ideal status, it's best to merely replace it.
- Even if you lot reuse the flange, ever install a new wax ring.
4
Call a plumber if you have a glued-in or cast atomic number 26 flange. If the flange isn't both made of PVC and held in the outflow piping by a rubber gasket, in that location are ii other likely options. It'southward probably either fabricated of PVC but glued to a PVC outflow pipe, or it'south made of cast iron and integrated into the bandage iron outflow pipe. In either instance, it's all-time to call a plumber and accept them finish the job for you.
- If the flange is PVC just is glued to the within or outside of a PVC outflow pipe, you'll have to advisedly utilise a chisel and/or a drill with a hole-saw flake to work it gratuitous. If you impairment the outflow pipe in the procedure, you lot'll be facing plush repairs.^[xiii]
- If you lot have an erstwhile flange made of cast iron that'southward joined to a bandage atomic number 26 outflow pipage, you'll have to meticulously chip abroad at the flange lip with a chisel and rubber mallet. Again, whatever damage to the outflow pipe itself volition be costly fault.^[14]
Advertisement

1
Measure the interior bore of the exposed outflow pipe. In near cases, the pipe should measure out 4 in (10 cm) in diameter. Jot this measurement downward for reference when you lot go to buy the new flange.^[15]
- If yous're able to accept the old flange with you to the hardware store, this measurement is largely for fill-in purposes. However, if the quondam flange has broken into pieces, you'll definitely need this measurement.
2
Take the old flange to the hardware store and buy a matching i. Find a new flange that replicates the size and shape of the one-time one as closely as possible. This style, y'all'll be sure of a solid fit.^[sixteen]
- If you lot can't observe a skilful match or need aid in general, ask an employee at the shop for help.
- If you don't take the old flange, buy a new flange that matches the outflow pipe measurement you took.
3
Purchase a new wax ring that fits your new flange. Some new flange kits come up with a wax band, while others require y'all to buy the band separately. In any case, make sure you take a new wax ring to go with your new flange.^[17]
- Instead of wax, some newer rings are safety gaskets instead. However, you can install a condom gasket the aforementioned way you'd install a wax ring.
Advertizing

i
Feed the included bolts into the new flange. Remove the nut and washers on each bolt and gear up them aside for final installation. The flange lip will have channels on either side, into which you lot can feed the heads of the 2 bolts. Position the bolts so that they are pointing directly upward and are directly across from each other.^[18]
- If you've lost the new bolts, you tin can likely reuse the bolts from the old flange, provided that they're even so in skillful condition.
ii
Push the new flange on and into the outflow pipage. The lip of the flange should remainder flush on the floor all the way around, while the cervix of the flange should slide snugly into the pipe. Position the flange then that the protruding bolts are at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions (presuming that the back of the toilet will be at 12 o'clock).^[19]
- The neck of the flange should accept a rubber gasket that creates a seal against the inside of the overflow pipe.
- If the lip of the flange won't rest flush to the floor all the way around, the floor is probable warped or damaged due to water. You should practice any needed flooring repairs (or call in a pro to do them) before proceeding.
3
Drive screws through the flange lip and into the floor. Utilize a screwdriver (turning information technology clockwise) to secure the screws that came in the production packet. In that location will be pre-cut holes in the flange lip where you should drive the screws in.^[20]
- Apply a drill to create new airplane pilot holes in the flooring, if needed.
- Existing holes from the previous flange may be in the aforementioned location but be besides large to hold the new screws. If so, utilise a mallet to tap plastic wall anchors into the holes, then drive the screws through the flange lip and into the anchors.
- Most toilet flanges come with 4 screws, but yours may have more or fewer.
four
Remove the towel or T-shirt from the outflow pipe. Option out any pieces of wax ring, loose screws or washers, etc. before removing the towel or shirt. Otherwise they may fall downwards the pipe.^[21]
- Don't plan on using this towel or shirt over again—but toss it!
5
Tilt up the toilet and push button the new wax band into place. Press the rounded side of the wax ring over the pipage stub that surrounds the opening on the bottom of the toilet. Press firmly all the style around the wax ring, only don't deform it.^[22]
- Pros usually adopt to apply the wax ring this mode in order to guarantee a good seal around the toilet. Nevertheless, you lot can also lay the ring (rounded side upwards) on summit of the toilet flange, and then set the toilet on top of it.^[23]
- If you're using the newer type of "wax ring" that is actually a prophylactic gasket, lay information technology rounded side up on the toilet flange and identify the toilet on top of information technology.
Advertisement

ane
Set the toilet straight downward on top of the flange. Line upwardly the holes in the toilet base with the 2 bolts that beetle from the flange. Once the toilet is resting on the flange, press downwardly firmly nearly the back of the bowl rim to deform the wax ring and seal the connection.^[24]
- This process is the same whether you pressed the wax ring to the underside of the toilet or placed it on top of the flange.
2
Place the washers and nuts onto the exposed bolts. Put a plastic washer onto each commodities outset, then follow with a metallic one. After that, manus-tighten the nuts clockwise earlier using a crescent or socket wrench to tightly secure them.^[25]
- If you have plastic caps that comprehend the bolts, just snap them in place. If the bolts are too long, however, you may need to trim them with a hacksaw then that the plastic caps will fit over them.
three
Reconnect the water supply hose. Mitt-tighten the coupling at the end of the braided metal supply hose onto the connection point on the underside of the toilet tank. Apply a crescent wrench or adjustable pliers to finish tightening the coupling, if needed.^[26]
- Plastic couplings are unremarkably simply intended to be manus-tightened, while metal ones tin can be tightened with a wrench or pliers.
4
Plow on the water supply to the toilet. Turn the oval-shaped valve counterclockwise to turn the water dorsum on. You'll hear the toilet tank begin to fill.^[27]
- While the tank fills, check for leaks at the connection indicate between the supply line and the toilet tank.
5

Flush the toilet multiple times to check for leaks. Carefully check the floor around the base of the toilet. If it stays dry, you're all set. If you see any water seeping out, y'all'll need to remove the toilet and try over again—or telephone call a plumber.^[28]

Advert

Add New Question

Question

Tin can you put a new toilet flange over an old one?

Dave Jones
Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. In 1992, Jones joined Roto-Rooter equally a bleed service technician at the age of 18. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Dave served as general director of Roto-Rooter's Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia branches earlier beingness promoted to Contractor Area Director and afterward to Regional Vice President. Dave holds Main Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, N Carolina, and Georgia.

Main Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & H2o Cleanup

Proficient Answer

When removing an old toilet, the flange should remain connected to the bathroom flooring so that the new toilet can exist attached to it. In other words, it is meant to stay in identify unless it was damaged or bent during the removal of the concluding toilet.
Question

How to replace a flange on a cast iron pipage?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated information technology for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Your safest bet is to call a plumber, only it is possible to do the job yourself--very advisedly. You have to slowly chisel away the lip of the old flange, being careful not to impairment the bandage atomic number 26 outflow pipe (or yous'll be in for pricey repairs!). And so, measure the interior diameter of the outflow pipage so you can buy a PVC flange with a rubber gasket that fits snugly inside it.
Question

I am having problem removing the toilet flange fifty-fifty after all the screws have been removed. When I effort to pull information technology, the pipe moves with it. What can I do?

This reply was written past one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If the flange is PVC, information technology is probably glued to a PVC outflow piping. If it's cast iron, it's probably integrated into a cast iron outflow pipage. In either instance, it is best to call a plumber. If you damage the outflow piping while trying to cut out the flange, you lot'll exist facing costly repairs.
Question

The bolt bankrupt halfway! Will replacing the flange work before putting in the new toilet?

This answer was written past one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Reply

Y'all can discover replacement bolts at whatever hardware shop. If yous kept the bolts from the quondam flange, and one of them is nonetheless in good condition, it might besides fit into the new flange.
Question

How much does it price to replace a toilet flange?

This reply was written past one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Answering a question nearly costs is difficult because it depends on where yous live, what local plumbers accuse for call-outs and work time, etc. Assuming you're request for a plumber to come up out, this could toll roughly around US$50 to The states$200, probably leaning mostly to the upper end of costs. It's a good idea to call your local plumber and enquire for a quote first, and so you won't get any nasty surprises.
Question

Can toilet flange exist flush with floor?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Respond

As explained above, the lip of the toilet flange should sit flush on the flooring all the way effectually. The neck of the flange should slide into the pipe snugly. An improperly fitted toilet is ofttimes caused by the flange not sitting on the finished floor just rather, sitting higher up it, or it is not level with the floor. Information technology's also of import to read the industry code for toilet fitting relevant to your location and building materials, as local variations may exist.
Question

How high higher up floor tin toilet flange be?

This answer was written by i of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Respond

It is best that the flange is level with the flooring; the college a flange sits above the floor, the greater the likelihood of poor fitting and bug with the toilet leaking. If the flange is sitting simply almost ¼ inch of the floor, it is possible to use a wax band sealed in place to gear up this small gap.
Question

If I have a new toilet, what tin crusade smells to come out of the wax rings:

If you tilted the toilet while installing information technology, it could have caused the wax to squeeze out more on one side. Afterwards you placed it the rest of the fashion downwards, that at present-flattened side could accept left a gap, allowing smells to escape. This is why information technology's of import to install the toilet every bit perpendicular equally possible.
Question

How do I know if the wax ring needs replacing?

You will smell sewer gas or encounter water on the floor around the base of the toilet.
Question

Do yous accept to replace the flange when yous get a new toilet or can you lot just replace the wax band?

No, simply supplant wax ring or seal (rubber gasket seals are becoming more popular). However if you notice damage to the flooring, or flange, yous may want to supervene upon them depending on the severity of damage.

Bear witness more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertising

Video

If you find a leak beneath your toilet and remove the toilet, yous may discover that the flange is undamaged. In this example, simply replace the wax ring and meet if that corrects the leak.

Do not tighten the nuts that agree the toilet to the flange too tightly. You may cause the porcelain to crack.

Things You'll Need

Newspapers or towels
Wrench
Putty knife
Screwdriver
Record measure
Towel or T-shirt
New flange
New wax ring

About This Article

Article Summary 10

To replace a toilet flange, lay paper downward on the flooring effectually the toilet, and turn off the water to the toilet before flushing and siphoning all of the h2o out of the bowl. Then, remove the toilet by disconnecting the hoses and unscrewing the bolts on the flooring. In one case the toilet has been removed, plug the outflow pipage with a towel, and so scrape off the wax ring. Unscrew the flange from the flooring and lift it up to measure and inspect it. Finally, purchase a new flange and spiral it over the gasket on the outflow pipe. Read on for tips on removing a glued-in flange and reinstalling the toilet!

Did this summary assist you?

Thank you to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 581,156 times.