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How To Properly Set Your Toilet Flange Height?

In order for the toilet to function well, without leaks, it is necessary to know how to set the toilet flange to the appropriate height. A flange at an adequate height can prevent errors with the installing and preservation of the toilet and allow free choice of materials. If you are not familiar with how the toilet flange works and how it needs to be set up, we will explain everything in detail in this article. So, let’s start.

How to Properly Set Your Toilet Flange Height?

So, How to Properly Set Your Toilet Flange Height? The proper toilet flange height is around ¼ inch above the finished floor. That way you can use almost any type of wax ring and still ensure a good seal. For this, it is necessary to remove a toilet with the old flange and set a new appropriate toilet flange.

For those who want to know more, feel free to read Toilet Rough In Guide: Plumber Explain.

What Is a Toilet Flange?

What attaches your toilet to the sewer water is a sleeve in a plastic round disc called a toilet flange. They can be found in a large number of hardware stores and stores for home supplies. They are mostly made of PVC and are therefore affordable. They will be sent to you with already drilled holes, in which the bolts for attaching that flange are inserted. The process of installation of a new toilet flange is not complicated and can be done with relative ease at home by only investing a few hours into it.

Toilet Flange Creates Seal

Without a flange, unpleasant odors and leaks can occur, leading to unhygienic conditions in your toilet. For this reason, toilet flanges are an extremely important part that creates a seal between the sewer drain and your toilet. The occurrence of flange leaks can trigger rotting of the materials of which your floor is made and such an event should be unquestionably avoided.

What you should measure before installing the flange is the floor height and just flooring installation before this process. Flange height is the most important factor. They can be fixed in place with several other necessary materials. In the next section, we’ll explain how you can do this.

Installing a Toilet Flange

In order to connect a new toilet flange, it is essential to remove the toilet to get to it. The bolts that hold the toilet along the flange and wax seal must first be slackened. If you wish to use the hardware later, it is recommended that you save it.

What You’ll Need

Equipment:

Materials:

Here’s a video on How to Install a Toilet Flange on Tile Floor:

1) Remove the Old Flange

The flange is located below the toilet and is fastened with bolts that need to be removed, together with the flange, if its height needs to be adjusted or repairs are needed.

It is also possible to come across metal flanges in older toilets, but they do not need to be replaced with the same type. There are more modern flanges, made of PVC, which are at the same time cheaper and come with the same quality, and are a worthy replacement for metal ones. Different flange styles are also available, depending on what height they must reach, although the most optimal height is ¼ inch above the floor. This height attains the best fit and sealing.

2) Purchase a New Flange

The flange should sit on the finished floor and if the previous one was not high enough, it is necessary to choose the one that can ensure the optimal height. Such models sometimes contain a plastic or metal ring that must be placed directly on a polished floor. After installation, your toilet will hide it.

If the flange is too high, plumbing problems can occur. As such, it can also prevent the toilet from hiding the hardware and sitting on the floor properly. This can be solved by shortening the PVC pipe underneath in which extreme care must be taken. If cut too much, the pipe is hard to repair. It is best to remove it little by little and repeatedly check that the flange fits well and creates a proper seal.

3) Installing the New Flange

The process of installation of the new flange is reversed from taking the old one out. What is the most important in this one, is that you need to be sure that the height of toilet flange is not above ¼ inch from the finished floor. In order to check that, place the flange in position and adjust it for the best results. Do not purchase it without going through these steps.

There are various models of flanges on the market that address flanges that are not high enough. The adequate flange is installed to the plumbing line beneath with closet bolts that secure the flange.

4) Bolts Snugly Secure

The bolts need to be tightened as tightly as possible because they prevent the moving of the toilet and plumbing. Sturdy bolts work, but nuts and washers are best nonetheless. Washers make it easier to remove hardware if you decide to do so later. When you tighten the cabinet bolts, also install the toilet washers and nuts that need to be firmly fastened.

After attaching the flange, a wax seal follows. A long-lasting seal will be provided by those types of wax seals that consist of a polypropylene ring. They are not expensive and can be found in the same stores where flanges are also bought.

5) Put a Wax Seal

Place the wax seal on the flange to surround the center openings, taking care not to cover any part of it. Over this, place the toilet in its place. When making finer adjustments, make sure that the bolts do not bend. If your flange is not the correct height, you can buy thicker versions of wax seals, but do not use more wax rings to compensate for the height. This move can cause various problems as well as leaks.

6) Placing the Toilet

When you place the toilet on a wax ring and flange, you need to make sure it is flat before fixing it with bolts. A toilet that is set up correctly will not swing in any direction and will sit evenly on the floor. To be sure, take a swing test. If it swings, it is necessary to place shims to level the toilet. Use as many shims as needed to stop the toilet from swinging.

7) Bolt Down the Toilet

After leveling the toilet, you can trim the shims. Check for leaks and air escapes while tightening the bolts and press the toilet evenly against the wax seal. Tighten the bolts carefully and not too tightly due to possible cracking of the toilet.

The next step is to seal the bottom of the toilet. Prevent water from entering by closing the toilet on the floor. This will also hide the shims and prevent them from working. To additionally prevent the moving, you can caulk the base of the toilet which will also make it easier for cleaning. It seals out the dirt and dust that can be hard to clean if the caulk is not there.

Tips For Toilet Flange Height

To make sure that the process of installing a new toilet flange goes smoothly, even on the first try, you should consider memorizing these tips:

  • Follow the order of steps
  • Make measurements carefully
  • Be thorough

Patience

What matters in plumbing jobs is patience and solving problems thoroughly and slowly. For example, flanges that are old are difficult to remove but can be hit with a rubber mallet, before you get out of the lever, which can make it easier to remove them and is unlikely to damage the floor and plumbing.

Try to ensure patience and not skip steps as this can result in consequences you probably don’t want. Patience is as important as checking what has been done before moving on to the next step of the process. This way you will be sure that your toilet does not leak and does not emit unpleasant odors.

Measure Carefully

If your flange sits a little high or a little low, it doesn’t create any problem, but it’s important that you know how to measure it before you go shopping. There are several ways to deal with flanges that are too low, while those that are too high need to be treated differently.

The only thing that can ensure you buy the right flange and the wax seal that follows it, is a careful measurement. The use of a thicker wax seal is not always the right and desirable option, as good-height flanges are better sealed with a plain wax seal.

Keep Attention to Detail and Finish Work

By checking that the toilet is horizontal, you can avoid reinstallation if it starts to leak or emit unpleasant odors. If you pay attention to details and do everything correctly, plumbing projects will be greatly facilitated. Proper installation of the toilet as well as sealing and the use of the correct parts will ensure a good installation of the toilet that can work for years. All it takes is regular maintenance and nothing much more than that.

If you need to work on your bathroom, you will surely be interested in What Is The Right Shower Drain Pipe Size.

FAQ: People Also Ask

Can the toilet flange height be lower than the floor?

The toilet flange should not rest more than 1/4 inch above or below the floor. In an ideal and typical installation, the flange is positioned inside the drain opening.

Can a toilet flange be too high?

If the toilet flange is too high it can cause leakage of water and swinging of the toilet that leads to floor breakage. The leaks can cause the floor rotting, mildew, and mold.

What if the toilet flange is not level?

You should think about replacement if your toilet flange is not level. Firstly, before removing the flange, you should empty the toilet and remove the toilet bowl and tank. After installing the flange, position a wax ring around for keeping it level.

How do you reset a toilet after tiling?

Following these steps, it will help you reset a toilet after floor tiling.

Step 1 – Before Starting the Work, Seal the Drain Hole

Step 2 – Alter the Height of the Toilet Flange to the Floor

Step 3 – Old Toilet Flange Bolts Removal

Step 4 – Attaching the Toilet Ring to the Toilet Bowl Base

Final Thoughts

As you can see, it is very important to properly set your toilet flange at the proper height. In this article, we have described in detail the procedure and sequence that you must follow in order to do this correctly. to avoid leaks and unpleasant odors in the bathroom, it is important to measure everything properly and use the correct material. I hope we helped you, and if you have any additional questions feel free to contact us.

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