How to Replace a Toilet Drain Flange
Replacing a toilet drain flange isn't difficult, but it does require a bit of work before you can get started. That's because in order to replace the flange, you have to remove the toilet above it. These flanges were commonly made out of iron or some other metal, but are now mostly manufactured out of PVC. The flanges are held to the floor in the flange opening by two bolts screwed into subfloor. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Towels
- Sponge
- Pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Putty knife
- Pry bar
- Block of wood
- Needle-nose pliers
- Anchors
- Silicone caulk
- Caulk gun
- New flange and hardware
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Instructions
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Remove the Toilet
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1
Shut off the water to the toilet. The water supply for the toilet is located on the wall behind the toilet and beneath the toilet tank. Turn the water supply valve clockwise to shut off the water.
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2
Flush the toilet, holding down the handle as you do so in order to allow all of the water to flow out of the tank. Wipe up any remaining water with a sponge and towel.
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3
Remove the tank. Unscrew the coupling from the bottom of the tank. Remove the tank bolts by unscrewing the nuts on the underside of the tank. Lift the tank up and off the toilet.
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4
Remove the toilet bowl. Lift off the plastic caps from the base of the toilet to expose the flange nuts. Unscrew these with the wrench. Gently rock the toilet back and forth to loosen it from any caulk holding it to the floor. Pull the toilet off the flange and set aside.
Replace the Toilet Drain Flange
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5
Unscrew the flange bolts holding the flange to the floor. These are usually hex bolts.
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6
Slip the edge of the pry bar underneath one side of the flange. Place a block of wood underneath the bar to protect the floor and gently begin prying the flange up and off the floor. Continue to work your way around the flange in this manner until it comes out of the flange opening.
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7
Clean the flange opening. Use the putty knife to scrape up any old putty or caulk that may be sticking to the floor. Pull out any old anchors from the floor with the needle-nose pliers.
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8
Insert new anchors into the bolt holes in the floor.
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9
Turn the new flange upside down. Insert the silicone caulk into the caulk gun. Trim off the end to the 1/4-inch mark. Squeeze out a line of caulk around the perimeter of the flange.
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10
Turn the flange right-side-up. Insert it into the flange opening. Align it so that the holes in the flange line up with the anchors in the floor. Insert the flange bolts and tighten to manufacturer's specifications.
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Tips & Warnings
If the old flange is stuck in the hole and refuses to come out, you can cut it out with a rotary tool and metal cutting blade.
Stuff an old towel in the flange opening and open all the windows in the bathroom while you are working. This prevents the buildup of harmful sewer gases.
References
- Photo Credit Toilet bowl and bidet in a toilet image by terex from Fotolia.com
