How Does a Toilet Flange Extender Work?

What is a toilet flange?

Underneath each toilet is a metal plate that facilitates a connection between the toilet and the sewer outlet. When installed, the toilet's floor bolts screw into the flange and lock it to the floor. To prevent leaks from a toilet that was not lined up correctly on the flange, a beeswax seal is applied to the porcelain and seated on the floor hole.

Why use a flange extender?

In most bathrooms, the toilet flange sits flush with the floor. There are cases, such as tile floors or any surface laid over an existing floor where the flange sits below the the floor line. If more than an inch or two, the toilet will not sit correctly on the flange. This can lead to water leaks, sewage odors or sewer gas leaks, the latter being toxic.

A flange extender, which is a rubber or plastic sleeve extending from a wax ring, is installed when extra assistance is needed to properly channel toilet waste to the sewer pipe.

How to install a toilet flange extender

First, determine the offset between the floor base and the surface on which the toilet will sit. Flange extenders are attached to beeswax rings, which are 1 inch thick. The wax is malleable and will form to the toilet base when applied. It may be necessary to purchase a flange extender and a toilet ring without an extender.

Apply the wax ring without the extender to the toilet and remove the plastic guard. If the gap is 1 inch, then apply the ring with the extender. For every additional inch, add an additional wax seal. Once the requisite number of rings have been installed, seat the toilet on the flange, with the plastic sleeve extender fitting inside the sewer line.