How to Replace a Rusted Toilet Flange

2. Unscrew The Flange From The Floor.

Once the bolts are removed and keep in a safe place, cut the flange off the pipe in a way that fits your plumbing specifications. If the flange is connected to a vertical pipe, cut the pipe at an area that lets you to easily glue on a coupling and a certain length of new pipe later on. If it is connected to a closet bend, then you have to remove a certain part of your flooring or go underneath it in order to cut off the bend of the horizontal pipe.

3. Prepare Your New Flange.

When removing an old flange, it is most likely that you will also have to repair the subfloor that has been soaked for a time because of the leak and got rotten.

4. Put it in Place.

After repairing the subfloor, temporarily position the flange in place and see if the top of its ring is leveled with the finished floor, though you can have an allowance of less than .25 inch lower to the floor. If it does not meet these things, then cut back some of the floor covering or add plywood to the subfloor.

5. Move to the Next Step.

Once you are sure that that flange’s level with respect to the finished floor is correct, you can already start the actual installation.

Step by Step

• Install the new closet elbow or length of vertical pipe flush with the subfloor’s top surface.
• Dry-fit and orient the flange, so that a line through its tracks would be parallel to the back wall.
• Drill pilot holes in the subfloor for the screws.
• Spread solvent-weld glue on the inside of the waste pipe and on the outside of the flange pipe, and then push the flange into place, turning it quickly to line up the pilot holes.
• Drive the screws into the holes to secure the flange to the floor, and then install the wax ring and the toilet.