A flange is typically made of two main parts: the lower piece, which is called the outlet hub; and the rubber gasket seat ring.
A closet flange also known as a toilet flange is a type of drain connector used in bathrooms and in the laundry. It can be installed to work with basically any type of toilet you might have, but the flange is usually set too low for use with an elevated/high-rise toilet. If you want to use an elevated/high-rise toilet, the flange must be replaced with a special closet adapter.
They are a piece of pipe fitting that connects the closet bend to a drain pipe on the bottom of the toilet and to the sewer hookup underneath your house. The flange sits on top of this pipe and covers it. There are flange bolts around the outside of it that tighten down. This prevents any unpleasant odours from coming up into your bathroom or laundry room.
A flange is typically made of two main parts: The lower piece, which is called the outlet hub; and the rubber gasket seat ring, which will rest inside the floor opening around where you'll attach your toilet water supply hoses (usually 5'' above).
There are a few different types of toilet flanges: Standard 2-bolt; 3-bolt; and the 4-bolt double offset. The two bolt standard will fit any toilet and is not very durable because it can easily be knocked over and broken (by wayward toddlers, for example).
The three-bolt is much tougher - with the extra toilet bolts that hold it in place better. It can be very difficult to break, even if kids play on it. The four-bolt double offset style provides a larger surface area for installation than the other styles, as well as having a slight downward angle which helps prevent leakage. This one is probably the most secure type available because either side of this type of toilet flange can be screwed down, which gives it the most stability of all.
The toilet flanges are pipe fittings connected to a standard drain pipe with a wax ring and some plumber's tape. The purpose of this assembly is to seal the gap around the outlet adapter on your toilet and prevent any juices from getting into that gap where you attach your toilet supply hoses.If your bathroom floor has been leaking for some time, even if there was no problem with the original installation of the toilet flange, you'll need to replace it right away because it will definitely be damaged at least in part by constant exposure to water on one side.
Newer installations don't usually have this type of problem unless you use the wrong sort of wax ring, or you didn't tape up all your connections properly.
Closet flanges are necessary if you want to use your toilet with the floor drain in your bathroom or laundry room. This is because the flange rests on top of this pipe and covers it while providing a seal between the drain outlet at the bottom of your toilet and the pipe underneath your house.
If you have a toilet leak coming up from your bathroom floor or water pooling around the bottom of the toilet, this is an indication that either there was no wax ring used when installing it originally, or you have some other type of piping issues such as loose toilet bolts, damaged wax ring or damaged flange, wrong toilet flange sizes or something deeper like a broken flange such cases usually needs attention immediately. Another reason to replace an old flange can simply be exchanging your round toilet with an elongated toilet or doing a bathroom remodel with a new floor. All new installations should use a new wax ring instead of the older style rubber rings, but even these kits will tell you to replace the flange every so often just in case. The best thing to do if you're uncertain about whether or not it needs replacement is to call a plumber.
Installing a new flange can be difficult since they are designed to fit into very specific spaces between your floor and toilet tank. If you try to force one in without all the bolts tightened down sufficiently, it's easy for it to get knocked around and broken.
The first step when installing anything like this is to make sure the old flange has been removed so that you can get a clear view of your floor for reference. For this, you can lift the toilet bowl from the inside rim. Using the toilet flange itself, mark out with a pencil where each hole is to be placed so that it will fit perfectly when installed.
Once you have all the holes marked out, insert the bolts and tighten them down snugly using an adjustable wrench so that all four sides are secure in their slots ensuring a deep seal. Some models may require thread sealer tape over each bolt - check your instructions to see if this is necessary before doing anything else. You can use a toilet flange extender to measure the toilet flange height in order to ensure your desired height.
You'll also need to place some sort of O ring on top of the drain pipe (or what's left of it) in order to form an airtight seal between the bottom of your toilet and this new piece; otherwise, leaking may result.Having done this, you can now attach the toilet flange to your toilet using bolts or screws to ensure that it has a proper fitting and begin using it again.
Closet flanges come in a variety of materials. These include stainless steel toilet flanges, cast iron toilet flanges (note: cast iron flange are only compatible with cast iron pipes), plastic toilet flanges, hard copper flanges, offset toilet flange, pvc toilet flanges (polyvinyl chloride flanges) and aluminum toilet flanges. A toilet flange is made of three main components: the actual flange itself, 4 bolts for securing it to your floor and a wax ring which you place either in between the two or underneath the entire assembly. Plastic flanges such as abs plastic flanges are most commonly used which can be matched up in color to whatever toilet you have. The bottom and side edges may be sharp - so watch where you step in case there's any wayward debris in your bathroom when you're trying to install one. The bolts are finished in either brass or plated steel - depending on the polishing required. The wax ring is usually pliable but not made of any sort of material that would be harmful to you or your family if ingested. Moreover, flanges can be made in two different ways: simple circular flanges or with elbow joints that have additional space. The size of each flange can vary too between four by three, four-inch, or three inches. Before installing a flange it is vital to consider the style and material to ensure that it fits perfectly. Usually high pressure resistant, rust resistant and corrosion resistant flanges prove to be extremely durable.
Installing the right flange isn't really something most people can do on their own, although it's relatively simple once you get started. If for some reason new installation instructions are no longer available, or you forgot about them in the first place, then you can always ask a plumber to come out and install one for you.
The best way to go about doing this is by measuring the diameter of your drain pipe opening as well as all four sides of your existing flange. Then take these measurements to the hardware store with you so that an associate can match up what you need based on those dimensions.
Before pulling out your wallet, make sure that any bracket inside the centre of your current toilet flange assembly will fit onto the new one once it's installed properly. This will ensure that everything fits a few inches deep correctly without being too loose or tight against each section, which could cause leaks at some point down the line.
When installing a toilet flange yourself, make sure you place a wax ring (or whatever material your manufacturer recommends) underneath the entire unit to ensure an airtight seal where you connect. Then attach it securely to your toilet bowl using bolts or screws and apply pressure to ensure that all four sides are attached simultaneously so that no lose parts will be loose once everything is in its proper place.
After tightening down each flange bolt, test out the flushing mechanism to see if any water leaks out of the bottom or sides. If not, then congratulations! You've successfully installed a new toilet flange yourself and saved yourself some money in the process. For more information, take a look at the Plumbing Code of Australia.