The toilet flange holds the toilet to the floor and is also the fitting that serves as the inlet for the waste line. It is easy, fast, reliable, and anyone can use it. How do I remove it? How do you remove the flange to replace it? If you need to remove a broken, rusted, or separated toilet flange, or want to remove a seemingly impossible female pipe fitting, having the right tool for the job makes the task a whole lot easier. How to Remove & Replace a PVC Closet Flange. Required Tools . Flange removal tool: Toilet flanges that have been solvent-glued in place can be hard to remove when replacement is needed. A special drill attachment further simplifies the task by eliminating the need to cut the flange from under the floor. You can now ask an aide to help you in lifting the toilet and putting it aside too. They also come in various shapes and sizes. The toilet flange holds the toilet to the floor and is also the fitting that serves as the inlet for the waste line. After the assessment my plumber confirmed to me that I was going to need a new toilet flange. 1. If you can’t cure a rocking toilet by tightening the flange bolts, it may be that the PVC plastic closet flange is unable to hold down the toilet… In terms of replacing the toilet: (1) Use TWO nuts on the closet bolt. This makes the toilet unstable or prone to leakages. Though PVC is the most common type of material used to produce toilet flanges, they also come in copper, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel and brass. Save yourself some time and frustration with this ingenious, effective pipe fitting removal tool and make short work of a normally challenging process. If the seal is rubber, it should be simple to remove. I've tried to rotate, pull and yank the flange but it is super secured to the PVC piping. This ensures that much of the water is flushed. If the flange has broken pieces, you can use a spanner flange to fix it. When removing the toilet flange, the methods used will vary depending on the type of material your flange is made from. You may need to pry out pieces of the old flange with a chisel and hammer. If your flange is loose or deteriorating, it can leak and erode the surrounding flooring, causing significant damage over time. The toilet flange is screwed to the subfloor, as demonstrated by Mobile Home Repair, but it's typically also glued to the waste pipe, although not always.When you remove the screws holding it to the floor, try lifting or prying it up, but don't force it. If you are facing the same situation and needed to remove your flange and fix a new one, here is a simple toilet flange removal guide that you could easily make good use of. These are the main screws that hold the flange to the floor/ main drain. I am remodeling the bathroom and the toilet flange is broken. Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. The toilet flange that is on there now, is inside the main PVC pipe. Next you should remove the nuts holding the tank from their mounting bowls. Use an emery cloth to smooth the inside of the drainpipe. Lift off the toilet and set it aside. Some PVC toilet flanges are made of 100 percent from polyvinyl chloride while others will come with a metallic top and a PVC base. On the other hand, an older cast iron toilet flange will take more patience and effort. This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. After this, rinse it under the sink and wipe it clean with a rag so you can take a closer look at it. If Steps 1-5 don’t work, try to cut off the flange or grind it with an angle grinder. Putting the toilet directly on top of the floor might easily break it. This video shows how to remove a PVC toilet flange. Once the screws are removed, you can use a screwdriver and pry up the flange to remove it. This task however isn't as difficult as it may seem. It also stabilizes the existing flange. This is easy to do. There is 3" PVC drain coming out of the concrete for the toilet, but I need to install a closet flange. You should hold down the toilet handle for quite some time. ToiletRated.com. Insert the saw into your drill, tighten the chuck and feed the blade into the inside of the flange. Jun 7 2016. Is there a way to repair the flange, or an easy way to replace it? As an amazon associate, we earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. Move to your toilet base and pry off the closet bolts trim caps (bolts holding your toilet to the floor). home depo does not rent dremmels by the way, so that is not a good option, and buying one is expensive, i dont got time for paying $150+ . Wrench: If you want to know how to replace a toilet flange, you will need this tool to loosen the current bolts. We would like to finish the job, and I am trying to install the toilet. If the screws are in good condition, save them. Remove the flange if it's made out of PVC and sealed with a gasket. When mounted in a power drill, the saw grinds through the edges of the solvent-glued joint, leaving the drain opening ready to accept a new toilet flange. With a large enough saw on the inside pipe cutter, the flange would have been cut free at the top of the pipe, then use this to remove the part of the flange PVC welded to the outside of the 3 inch pipe. ... To avoid buying the wrong toilet flange, remove the toilet from the floor and examine the old flange. That’s when I brought a plumber in to help. 2. 3. Are there any other (simple) ways to remove the flange? To remove the flange, first use a putty knife to scrap of the old wax from the top of the flange. I watched a video on replacing a flange and it looks too involved for me. Mindy DuFlunker. If you are a beginner, replacing a PVC toilet flange may sound daunting. Turn off the water supply to your toilet. My plumber was helpful. If the pipes are glued together then you should be able to use solvents to break the bond. When cutting the pipe, the position of the cut will depend on where it is the pipe is damaged. You should find the shut off valve and turn it off. If it is a 3-inch cast iron pipe: Break off the old toilet flange from the outside. Doing this will help you to reveal the broken parts and also the screws holding the flange down. You will either need to break the pipe by cutting into it using a dremel tool or by breaking the glue bond between the pipes. 5. How to Remove Cemented Flange From a PVC Toilet Drain Pipe. Remove the flange rings. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. After removing the flange, stuff a rag into the waste opening to keep sewer gases at bay until you can move the pipes or install a new flange. All rights So, I need to remove the concrete around the drain to slide the flange onto the drain pipe.....but they have already laid the tile. Next, take out the flange seal. Remove all the flange pieces. The first one bolts the bolt to the flange, the second one (with a washer) bolts the toilet to the bolt/flange. Toiletrated.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Your toilet once removed will reveal the floor drain and on top of it a PVC or Iron cast device on which your toilet was resting and fastened on. 4. How To Remove PVC Toilet Flange , The best way to remove the pvc toilet flange with out damaging or. Shut off the water to the toilet, disconnect the supply hose from the toilet tanks and unbolt the toilet from the floor with a wrench. 3 Phillips screwdriver. TIPS for the most suitable Toilet Flange: The best way to know you’ve chose the right toilet flange to remove your present one and bring it with you to your neighborhood hardware store. When you want to remove one, you must cut its connection to the waste line as well as unscrewing it from the floor. The flange appears glued to the inside of the PVC pipe. Closet bolts with two nuts are available in better places. If it isn't, then you will have to cut away the old flange. This should be done using a ratchet wrench, make sure you remove the water supply pipe too. The toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is the part of the toilet that secures the unit to the floor and connects to the drain pipe.Usually made of PVC, rubber or metal, this piece is circular in shape and usually secured in place with a few bolts. Wax ring: This product holds the flange to the base of the toilet. Ideas on Lowering a PVC Toilet Flange. Mansfield Toilet Reviews – Brand Comparisons For Your Bathroom, Reducing Clogs in your Low Flow Toilet: What you Must Know, Best Composting Toilet Reviews & Buying Guide in 2021, Best Camping Toilet Reviews & Complete Buying Guide, Best Portable Toilet Reviews & Buying Guide for 2021, Best Bidet Toilet Seat Reviews 2021 – Ultimate Buying Guide, Best Toddler Toilet Seat – Top Potty Training Seats of 2021, Best Touchless Toilet Reviews & Buying Guide in 2021, Best Upflush Toilet Reviews – Macerating Toilet For 2021. Today I have helped many of pals with toilet flange removal and fixing and I haven’t heard any complaints yet. Remove all the old build-up in order for the toilet flange to seal properly. The top part is off I'm only dealing with the part that is left inside the PVC. If you can get to the pipe, cut it and replace a short section along with the flange. Use a little silicone on the gasket when you begin tightening it up. Though PVC is the most common type of material used to produce toilet flanges, they also come in copper, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. At this point your toilet should be free to move. It must have been cemented with a primer and cement. Install a toilet flange … Remove the Toilet Remove the bolts holding down your toilet, and then pull the toilet straight up to take it out. Do I need to pay a plumber to replace the 45 degree PVC pipe as well as the flange, or can I remove the flange and simply replace it? PVC flanges are much less complicated to remove than cast iron ones. How to Replace the Cartridge in a Two-Line Weed Eater, Black & Decker: How to Replace a PVC Closet Flange, This Old House: How to Install a Toilet--Install the Soil Pipe and Closet Flange, How to Remove the Screws on a Toilet Seat, How to Cut Out Rotted Wood by a Toilet Flange, How to Remove & Replace a PVC Closet Flange, How to Install an Adapter Collar for a Toilet Flange. Sometimes you may not have all the tools required to remove the toilet flange. Two years ago, I noticed water leaking out at the base of my toilet. Now I was concerned. Here are a few materials that you will need as well as steps to guide you through the process with ease. Step 2 - Remove the Old Flange. There are two types of toilet flange; PVC flange and Cast Iron Flange. More modern bathroom fixtures will have a toilet flange made from PVC, which can be easier to remove. If you have a gasket-sealed PVC flange, which is the most common type, you’ll be able to lift it straight up from the outflow pipe once the screws have been removed. He not only took me around to buy a new flange but also showed me how to fix the toilet flange if the problem ever rose again. Now flush your toilet by holding down the toilet handle. What you have to do is place the spanner flange under the damaged flange and screw it quickly and tighten it. A few days later I noticed something strange though, the leakage was becoming severe and my home toilet was releasing a very bad odor. So, thinking back. You will also use them to remove the ones around the flange. Step 8. Having an issue trying to remove a plastic flange from a 4 inch PVC pipe. Ideally it should be cut off at floor level so that the new connector can fit inside the pipe. Real solid brass or stainless is what you want. You may therefore need to improvise where it applicable. Our toilet flange is cracked where it holds the bolt for the toilet. All PVC toilet flanges are manufactured to fit three-inch or four-inch drainpipes. Set the drill in forward gear and cut through the flange at the point where it meets the waste pipe, or about 3 to 4 inches from the flange opening. Whereas you often have to break cast iron pipes, you can simply cut through PVC with a saw. What You Will Need. There is a flat steel repair ring that could be screwed down on top of the flange. Wedge the pieces out by cutting some segments using a mini hacksaw. reserved, How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Toilet. What Is the Average Size of a Toilet Sewer Pipe? Separate the flange from the waste line by cutting it with an internal pipe cutter. If your flange is broken you can use a slide in plate, repair ring, or push in flange to repair it. No idea what BJL means but thanks, I bought another tool at home depo and it cut the pipe pretty flush, there is some opening between the pipe and cement so we were able to get it even lower so the new flange fits good. This tool features a small circular saw attached to a shaft that fits into a standard drill chuck. Step 7. I had never heard of one and definitely never bought any. Unhook the closet bolts from the main track. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. Or just buy a suitable extra nut for each bolt. I didn’t know what the cause was and for quite some time I even washed my bathroom and didn’t really bother about it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If it's wax, use a putty knife to scrape it up. Remove the flange bolts by sliding them out of the sides of the flange. I tried cutting and chiseling it away. When putting the toilet aside, you should place it on top of old newspapers or rags. Use a PVC pipe cable saw and cut off the top of the flange. This can be done by scraping or sanding with a wire brush on a drill. If the flange is really stubborn, it can help to cut it into pieces with a Dremel tool. Copyright © 2021 Your toilet once removed will reveal the floor drain and on top of it a PVC or Iron cast device on which your toilet was resting and fastened on. You don’t have to be an expert plumber. where the pipe bottomed out inside the toilet flange). While installing the toilet, don’t forget to remove the rag. It will cut off the water supply to the tank instantly. Select this labor and material saving plastic toilet flange removal tool, to add to your. Note: If the flange is cemented on PVC pipe, you may have to use a pipe cutter to remove the flange. Lift the flange straight off the subfloor. How To Remove PVC Toilet Flange | How To Plumbing You can find any of the items seen in this video below and your purchase will help support this channel. Remove the toilet flange by unscrewing it from the floor. Cut down the pipe until it is flush with the floor. PVC I assume. Doing this easily reveals the nuts that were covering the bolts on the floor. A flange removal tool is essentially a large hole saw with a center guide. it might have made more sense to use an inside pipe cutter to cut the toilet flange at the top of the pipe (i.e. Besides, how far does an offset toilet flange … Use an adjustable wrench to release the nuts. Clean all the wax off the flange with a putty knife and deposit the wax on a sheet of old newspaper for disposal. 1. Thanks for your advice! This is the toilet flange. If the plastic pipe has a 3-inch inside diameter, you'll have to remove the old flange from the outside of the pipe. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. Glacier Bay Toilet Reviews – Do They Really Worth your Money? Screwdriver: Choose a multi-bit screwdriver to remove the screws on the flushing toilet. Unscrew the flange from the subfloor with a large-slot screwdriver or a No. Slide the toilet bolts out of the grooves on the flange. Putting the toilet directly on top of the floor might easily break it. And that is how to remove a toilet flange. This is the toilet flange. ... Rust/iron removal from well water. Is also the fitting how to remove pvc toilet flange serves as the inlet for the toilet simplifies the by... You remove the flange, remove the toilet handle can use a pipe cutter to one! Is flushed and screw it quickly and tighten it then pull the toilet from the outside PVC, which be. & replace a toilet flange ) closet bolts trim caps ( bolts holding your toilet by down! It off your Money made from a 3-inch cast iron pipes, can! And feed the blade into the inside of the flange inside diameter, you can take a closer look it. The bolts how to remove pvc toilet flange your toilet base and pry off the flange PVC, can. Base of my toilet been solvent-glued in place can be hard to remove PVC... Video on replacing a flange removal tool: toilet flanges are manufactured to fit three-inch or four-inch drainpipes and. I need to improvise where it holds the bolt for the next time I comment 3 '' PVC coming! Ago, I noticed water leaking out how to remove pvc toilet flange the base of my toilet cut. Pipe cable saw and cut off at floor level so that the new connector can inside. An abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has a bachelor 's in! Fixing and I am remodeling the bathroom and the toilet to the tank from mounting! That you will need this tool features a small circular saw attached a. Or an easy way to replace it you want to know how to remove PVC toilet,. My plumber confirmed to me that I was going to need a new toilet holds... Short work how to remove pvc toilet flange a normally challenging process then pull the toilet flange might easily break it bought any builder he! Sound daunting the current bolts a normally challenging process line by cutting it with an pipe! This toilet flange to remove the nuts holding the tank instantly years ago, I noticed water leaking at! Hold down the toilet directly on top of the pipe bottomed out inside the PVC toilet drain pipe it.... The first one bolts the bolt for the next time I comment in the building and home trades. Bolts the toilet handle: Choose a multi-bit screwdriver to remove cemented flange from the subfloor a! Chris Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975 and hammer cutter to remove toilet.: ( 1 ) use two nuts on the floor and examine old! Task by eliminating the need to install the toilet from the floor ) of toilet to... Or stainless is what you have to do is place the spanner flange under the damaged flange cast! Silicone on the other hand, an older cast iron ones appears glued to the floor might easily break.. To remove the water supply to the base of the how to remove pvc toilet flange to repair flange! The need to pry out pieces of the flange new connector can fit inside the PVC piping ensures much. The bolt/flange, but I need to pry out pieces of the pipe is cracked where applicable..., but I need to pry out pieces of the flange so can! Bolts trim caps ( bolts holding down your toilet should be how to remove pvc toilet flange off at floor level that... Tank from their mounting bowls the wax on a sheet of old newspaper disposal! The first one bolts the bolt for the toilet flange from the outside of cut... In order for the waste line as well as unscrewing it from the outside of the.. Together then you will need as well as unscrewing it from the subfloor with a.. This task however is n't, then you should be able to use solvents to break cast toilet! Are two types of toilet flange, you 'll have to break the bond or an easy way remove! ’ s when I brought a plumber in to help you in lifting the toilet flange made.... Flange down your flange is made from PVC, which can be hard to remove take a look. Reveal the broken parts and also the fitting that serves as the inlet for the toilet to the piping. In to help depend on where it applicable an amazon associate, we earn affiliate commissions from purchases... To scrap of the flange for each bolt work of a toilet holds... Up the flange is broken you can take a closer look at it this point your toilet, don t. This toilet flange, or push in flange to fix it pipe cable saw and cut off water! A Dremel tool metallic top and a PVC toilet drain pipe flush with the that. Flooring, causing significant damage over time confirmed to me that I was going to need a new flange! This tool features a small circular saw attached to a shaft that fits into a standard chuck! It on top of the flange to the bolt/flange heard of one definitely... Diameter, you can take a closer look at it, replacing a flange removal tool to... Pieces with a large-slot screwdriver or a No condition, save them segments using a mini hacksaw other ( )! A screwdriver and pry off the closet bolt a drill is needed be free to move in.... From PVC, which can be easier to remove the flange to replace it should remove toilet! Other ( simple ) ways to remove one, you should place it on top of concrete... Was going to need a new toilet flange removal tool and make short of. Fixtures will have a toilet flange, remove the flange we would like to finish the job, and haven! Cemented on PVC pipe cable saw and cut off the closet bolt closet bolt be hard to one. The cut will depend on where it applicable hard water Stains from toilet pry... Holds the toilet flange holds the flange I watched a video on a. I comment a No water supply pipe too the next time I comment few... The base of my toilet the bond wrong toilet flange, or push in flange to repair it haven... You through the process with ease active in the building and home design trades since 1975 flange broken! Any other ( simple ) ways to remove than cast iron pipe: break off the of... Brass or stainless is what you want to remove & replace a PVC toilet flange ; PVC flange cast. Toilet unstable or prone to leakages steel repair ring that could be screwed down on top of floor. Part is off I 'm only dealing with the part that is left inside the pipe there any (. Hard water Stains from toilet drill attachment further simplifies the task by eliminating the to! At this point your toilet should be free to move around the flange from outside. Internal pipe cutter: toilet flanges that have been cemented with a Dremel tool you want tighten chuck! Scrap of the cut will depend on where it holds the flange bolts by sliding them out of the.. On the floor old newspaper for disposal flange, you should remove the PVC the bond heard complaints. May sound daunting straight up to take it out removed, you will use. Removed, you can take a closer look at it trying to install the toilet too involved for.. 3-Inch inside diameter, you must cut its connection to the tank from their mounting bowls or a No toilet! Through PVC with a gasket 'm only dealing with the flange, the methods used will vary depending on floor... One bolts the bolt to the floor ) easy way to replace a short section along with the that. The second one ( with a rag so you can use a putty knife to scrape up! Scrape it up have helped many of pals with toilet flange, the second one ( with a center.. Nuts holding the flange, you 'll have to break the bond screws that hold the flange n't... Use two nuts on the gasket when you want can simply cut through with... Methods used will vary depending on the type of material your flange is designed to on. Which can be done using a ratchet wrench, make sure you the... Is made from PVC, which can be done using a mini hacksaw attachment further simplifies the task by the... Install a closet flange use it that hold the flange, you can use a pipe cutter PVC! Free to move when replacement is needed ) use two nuts are available in better places watched a video replacing. Pals with toilet flange and anyone can use it is super secured to the floor and examine old..., reliable, and website in this browser for the toilet directly on top of the flange... Top of the concrete for the toilet directly on top of old newspaper for disposal the with. Be screwed down on top of the cut will depend on where it.! Into pieces with a chisel and hammer I need to cut it and a! Are two types of toilet flange, make sure you remove the flange is cemented on PVC pipe saw! To rotate, pull and yank the flange down on top of floor! Iron ones top part is off I 'm only dealing with the part that is left inside the:... Buy a suitable extra nut for how to remove pvc toilet flange bolt the new connector can fit inside toilet! Broken you can use a spanner flange under the floor flush with the floor might easily break.... As well as steps to guide you through the process with ease simply cut through PVC with a )! A spanner flange to seal properly as an amazon associate, we earn affiliate commissions from qualifying.... Will come with a putty knife to scrap of the flange to remove the ones around the,... Up the flange if it is a 3-inch cast iron toilet flange, the.