Toilet Flange Below Floor

Wax ring this secures the flange to the base of the toilet.

Toilet flange below floor. Out with the old. A sign that the wax ring was not sealing the toilet from sewer gases or preventing water escaping from under the base of the toilet. Here s a video on how to install a toilet flange on tile floor. It has to sit evenly on top of the finished floor.

If your flange sits even or below the floor then it s wrong. Toilet flange extenders are constructed with either soft or hard pvc providing solid pathway from the bowl horn to the toilet flange on the floor. To get the necessary clearance from the floor you can add a toilet flange extender which is quick and easy to install. Toilet flange before you purchase the new part identify the specific type you have.

Most extenders come with long bolts which may be necessary if the flange is below the floor level. If the height of your flange needs to be adjusted remove the bolts and flange so that repairs can be made and the flange height adjusted. The higher a flange sits above the floor the greater the likelihood of poor fitting and problems with the toilet leaking. In a typical toilet installation the floor flange that sits inside the drain opening below the toilet should be positioned so that its bottom surface rests flush against the finished floor or no more than 1 4 inch above or below the floor this ensures that the flange makes a watertight seal against the wax ring that fits between the drain opening and drain outlet horn on the underside of.

When the toilet was removed the toilet wax ring was still in its original shape. The reason being is because the toilet recesses into the flange when fully installed but when the flange sits even or below the floor the toilet can t properly recess into the flange. This is very important. Use a ratchet wrench to tighten the four stainless steel screws that secure the flange to the floor.

If the flange is sitting only about inch of the floor it is possible to use a wax ring sealed in place to fix this small gap. Set the toilet on top of the flange making sure the two closet bolts pass through the holes in the toilet s base. Press a new wax ring tight to the flange. Below the toilet you ll see the flange which should also be secured with bolts or similar hardware.

Bring it to a local home depot store for help determining if you need a pvc copper iron or aluminum replacement toilet flange. Toilet flange bolts have new bolts on hand in case your existing parts are stripped or rusty. Here you can see the results of a toilet having been installed on a toilet flange that is below the floor level. Flange extenders are commonly sold in 1 4 inch and 1 2 inch sizes to raise the height of the existing flange 1 4 or 1 2 inch.