Repair or replace? Some plumbing help needed...

[Alex Franke]

I noticed a bit of a leak around the toilet downstairs, and it didn't seem to be as secure as it once was. I discovered that the toilet flange is the problem.

I've never tried to replace one of these so I'd probably have to call a plumber to get it done right. I guess I'd *prefer* to repair it with a flange repair kit, but I don't know if this break is too extensive.

So I turn to my favorite woodworking forum. What do you all think? Try to repair it, or call a plumber and have it replaced?

[MikeO]

You can buy a flange closet repair kit at any hardware store. It's usually a metal ring that mounts to the top of your broken plastic flange. It's an easy, cheap fix.

[crokett]

I will say I've never used the repair kit so don't know how long they last.

I have replaced 2 flanges. You can use a dremel or hacksaw and -VERY CAREFULLY- cut around the inside of the flange inside the pipe in several spots. Then cut the top of the flange off, then chip the sections out of the pipe. Then you can glue a new one in.

[Pappy]

If you have access down a bit by removing the subfloor around the flange, cut the pipe low enough to use a coupler and short section of pipe to bring it bake up to the height for the new flange.

Your flange fits over the pipe so you will have to cut away part of the floor and saw from the outside to use David's method. Heat helps break the glue, also.

[Alex Franke]

My goal with this question was to get MikeO to post at least once before the third anniversary of him joining the forum. I was successful.

Seriously, though, I found one of those metal rings at the local Ace -- I'll give that a try and see what happens.

Having literally zero experience working with PVC, I'll have to save that as a last resort.

Thanks for all the tips!

[shoottx]

Having literally zero experience working with PVC, I'll have to save that as a last resort.

Thanks for all the tips!

PVC behaves a lot like brittle wood. You can cut it, saw it, drill, and carefully chisel it. The glues for PVC behave a lot like hold like glues for wood. You will need aclean sdry surface for gluing and you will usually break the pipe before the joint. DAMHIK. But, with a little patience you can fix the pvc.

[Uncle Cracker]

I have seen (though never used) PVC toilet flanges that have a longer neck, which allows you to cut the piping with a Dremel or die grinder just below the point where it glues to the broken flange. Then, assuming there is adequate clearance around the outside of the remaining pipe, you just glue the new one on.

[Alex Franke]

I'm about to take a sledge hammer to this d*mn thing.

The closet flange repair ring seems to have worked but now the tank/bowl gasket still leaks.

I discovered last night that circa 1988 Gerber toilets don't use "universal" gaskets... "fits all 2-piece toilets" -- yeah right. That's why water shoots out the back when it's flushed.

Anyway I went back and picked up a tank/bowl gasket specifically made to fit Gerber toilets. The water doesn't shoot out any more but it sure does drip a lot. Does the flush valve need to be compatible, too?

I much prefer working with sugar maple. Toilets suck. Any they're heavy, too. grrr....

[docrowan]

ALL my plumbing repairs require three trips to the hardware store, no matter how carefully I plan. Sounds like you have one more to go. The encouraging bit is that 90% of my plumbing repairs are successful after the third trip.

I keep all unused extra bits and pieces instead of returning them or throwing them away. It's amazing how handy they can be. My "fee" for repairing relatives and friends plumbing is to keep all their extra bits, too. My goal is to cut my number of trips to two. Hasn't happened yet, but I have to have hope.

Hope that yours takes a turn for the better.

[crokett]

I keep all unused extra bits and pieces instead of returning them or throwing them away. It's amazing how handy they can be.

I wait till I have several, then return them. It's amazing how much they are worth. I got enough money back to replace my broken multimeter by returning plumbing parts.

[Alex Franke]

I think I'm close... The flush valve nut on the "universal" (HA!) kit had a bunch of rigid tabs on it to make it easier to hand tighten. When I tried to put the Gerber gasket over these it deformed it a bit. I noticed that the original installation had about a 1/8 inch plastic nut and the gasket sat on top of that. So the old installation had about 1/8 inch more gasket to squeeze into place.

So I use the plastic nut from the old flush valve (which luckily fit on the new flush valve) and placed the Gerber gasket on top. So far, so good.

I flushed a couple times, filled the tank a bit, and put a bunch of toilet paper on the floor around the toilet. Hopefully when I go back down there in a bit that toilet paper will still be dry. If not, this thing is going to the city dump in pieces. (good excuse to finally buy a sledge hammer )

Wish me luck.

[conwaygolfer]

Toilet Flange

I do quite a bit of ceramic tile installation. In the process of doing a bath floor, I always remove the toilet. I can't tell you the number of toilet flanges I have seen broke similiar to yours. And you will never guess one of the reasons. If the toilet paper is a tad too far away, the person must lean over too far to reach it. That places a lot of stress on the bolts and therefore the flange. End result - toilet rocks and flange either cracks or breaks.

If you ever need to replace the flange, go to a plumbing supply and ask for the small cutting wheel made to fit a drill. Place some rags in the PVC pipe and use the cutting wheel in your drill to cut the pipe from the inside of the pipe. (The rags save the wheel in case it drops from the drill). The wheel looks like a small (about 1 in. diameter) blade similiar to what you have in your tablesaw.

Hope this helps in the future. And don't forget to relocate the paper holder.
Conwaygolfer

[Uncle Cracker]

And don't forget to relocate the paper holder.

That, and put the owner/rider on a diet...

[jabe]

When ever I r & r a toilet, I put a thin coat of automotive RTV blue silicon sealer by Permatex on the tank to bowl gasket. I use it on all drains & P-traps too. You don't have to wait till the silicone skins or cure. This preventive step has saved me a lot of time and peace of mind. NAPA Autoparts carry a similar product under their label and it's cheaper than Permatex.