Replace a toilet closet flange if necessary.
The closet flange is the portion of your home's plumbing system that connects to the toilet. A wax ring sealed between the toilet and the flange keeps the connection both water and airtight. The closet flange itself is attached to your basement's floor or subfloor with either bolts or glue. Replacing a toilet closet flange involves removing the toilet so you can access the flange, then replacing the flange itself. Once done, the toilet can be reinstalled. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Turn off the water supply for the toilet. In most cases, this is located on the wall behind the toilet. Rotate the knob clockwise to turn off the water. Flush the toilet and hold down the handle to get rid of all the water inside. Wipe up any excess with the towel and sponge.
2. Unscrew the water-supply hose from the bottom of the tank with the pliers. Use the wrench to remove the nuts on the bottom of the tank bolts. Lift the tank up and out of the way.
3. Run a sharp knife along the caulk at the base of the toilet. Lift off the toilet caps on either side of the base. Unscrew the bowl bolts with the wrench. Rock the toilet back and forth gently to release it from the flange and any caulk or putty. Lift the toilet bowl out of the way.
4. Scrape up any old putty around the flange with the knife. Unscrew the flange bolts holding it to the floor, if present. Run the edge of the putty knife underneath the flange. Use the pry bar, if needed, to pry the flange off the floor. Remove and set aside. Lift out the old anchors in the floor with the needle-nose pliers. Replace with new anchors.
5. Turn the new flange over. Insert the caulk tube into the caulk gun and trim it off at the 1/4-inch mark with the scissors. Apply caulk to the underside of the flange. Turn the flange right side up and insert into the flange opening. Align it so that the bolt holes in the flange line up with the anchor holes in the floor. Insert new bolts and tighten. Allow the caulk to cure according to manufacturer's instructions.
6. Press the new wax ring into place around the flange opening. Insert the flange bolts face up into the flange and secure with the plastic washers. Lift the bowl up and place it over the flange so that the flange bolts poke up through the holes in the bottom of the bowl. Sit on the bowl to compress the wax ring. Insert the plastic and metal washers over the flange bolts. Tighten the flange nuts with your fingers. Take the wrench and tighten the nuts, one at a time, until the bowl is secure.
7. Replace the tank on the back of the bowl. Insert the bolts into the bottom of the tank and tighten from underneath with the nuts. Wrap the inlet on the tank bottom with plumber's tape. Connect the water supply hose.
8. Restore the water supply. Let the tank fill, then flush and check for leaks. Tighten any bolts as necessary. Caulk around the base of the toilet with the silicone caulk.
Tags: closet flange, flange bolts, bottom tank, water supply, around flange, base toilet
