Oh Crap! I think my toilet flange is cracked!
As a general contractor in the Sacramento area, I have seen my share of toilet related problems in apartments and homes. A toilet is an important fixture in the home, getting it to function correctly is a high priority for many. This past week, I have had three toilet flange problems that could have led to serious water damage in the future.
What is a toilet flange?
There are two bolts at the base of the toilet that secures the fixture to the floor. If you were to remove the nuts from these bolts, you can remove the toilet from the drain. Once removed, you will see the drain line that goes down through the floor. There is a ring around the top of this drain; the two bolts are fastened to this flange. New construction in Sacramento will have ABS drain pipes and flange, older construction is likely to be cast iron.
How do I know if the toilet flange is cracked?
When the flange cracks, the bolts can no longer hold the toilet in place. The problem will usually manifest as a leak around the base of the fixture. The
water in the tank of the toilet makes for a “top-heavy” unit that can easily be rocked from side to side. This movement (any movement) in the toilet will lead to the loss of the water tight seal between the toilet and drain flange. In time there will be signs of water on the floor.
The natural reaction to finding the water around the fixture would be to tighten the floor bolts. If the flange is damaged, the bolt will wiggle and spin without tightening down. The only way to know for certain is to remove the toilet and inspect the flange.
How do I fix a damaged toilet flange?
The flange can be corrected in many ways; it will depend on the nature and extent of the damage. There are repair part that can be purchased that allow the bolts to be fastened again be incorporating the remaining flange with the repair parts.
The best repair is to remove the original toilet flange and install a new piece. We recently removed a flange by cutting just below the flange, clearing away the concrete high points, and adhering a new flange to the drain line.
This can be done by the homeowner or property maintenance staff if they have the right tools for the job and a bit of experience in the plumbing trade. For many, it may make more sense to hire a qualified professional to do the work. When checking for contractors in your local area, by sure to ask if they have had experience in the repair of toilet flanges.
If you are looking for someone to repair a broken toilet flange in Sacramento, Tromler Construction would be more than happy to take a look at your situation.
Tromler Construction
916-765-5366
Sacramento County
El Dorado County
Placer County
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