- Use a measuring tape or a small rule to measure the inside diameter of the flush valve opening.
- If you get a reading of between 1.8 and 2.3 inches then you have a 2-inch flush valve. ...
- A reading of plus or minus 3 inches indicates you have a 3-inch flush valve and therefore need a 3-inch toilet flapper.
What size toilet flange do I Need?
Typically, the drain pipe comes with three inc mouth fitting. So far, that will be the last thing you need to find out. Now you get both the measurement of the drain pipe and toilet end pipe. The perfect size of your toilet flange would be around 4*3 inches for the regular fitting pipe.
How do I know what size toilet pipe I Need?
Thickness – Check the toilet flange. Lucky for you, there are only two thickness options to choose from: regular and double-thick. To determine which one is right for you, you’ll need to check the “toilet flange” – a metal or plastic piece that can be found over the pipe in the floor under your toilet.
What size pipe do I need to flush a toilet?
The 3-inch bottom is the correct size for fitting the schedule 40 pipe most frequently used in home drains. The 4 inches at the top of the flange give you a little extra wiggle room, reducing the chances that water will seep through the wax ring when flushing the toilet. This is also the size of the closet bend pipe in most cases.
How do you fix a rocking toilet flange?
The solution is to install a flange extender, which is a plastic ring that bolts on top of the existing flange and raises the height by as much as 3/4 inches. If the flange is within 1/4 inch of floor level, do not use an extra-thick wax ring. You won't be able to compress it sufficiently to prevent the toilet from rocking.
What size flange do I need for a toilet?
The most common and readily available toilet flange is the 4 x 3-inch size. This pipe is 4 inches wide at the top but only 3 inches wide at the bottom. The 3-inch bottom is the correct size for fitting the schedule 40 pipe most frequently used in home drains.
How do I know what type of toilet flange I need?
The choice of toilet flange depends on the material of the DWV pipe it is being connected to. That means, if you have a PVC pipe connection, you should install a PVC closet flange. A cast iron connection will require a cast iron toilet flange, and so forth.
Do all toilets fit the same flange?
As far as the overall size of toilet itself, getting the proper rough will allow the toilet to fit the space. Toilet sizes vary beyond the rough though. Round bowls don't project out as much as elongated, and then there are variations within the round and elongated categories as well.
Can you put a 3 inch flange in a 4 inch pipe?
Bought a standard 3inch and 4inch flange, both do not fit. 3 inch fits in loose, 4 inch sits right on top of the opening.
Can you put a new toilet flange over an old one?
Apply a generous bead of 100% silicone caulk on top of the old closet flange. And to the bottom of the new closet flange extender. Either slide the new closet flange bolts into the old flange before adding the extender or add them after you adhere the extender to the old flange.
Does a toilet flange go inside or outside the drain pipe?
This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. Leave the old toilet flange right in place and glue on the new one at the right elevation for the floor, if it's plastic. The flange should be sitting with the bottom edge flush with the top of the floor.
How do I know if my toilet is a 10 or 12 rough?
If your toilet has four bolts rather than the standard two, you'll measure to the center of the rear bolts. The standard rough-in measurements are 10, 12 and 14 inches. If your measurement is in between these intervals, round your number down to the nearest standard measurement.
Can you replace a 10 inch rough-in toilet with a 12 inch rough-in toilet?
Ideally, the toilet's rough-in should match the rough-in for your bathroom plumbing. However, even if a toilet is designed for a 10-inch rough-in, you can still install it into a space that has a 12-inch rough-in.
Should toilet flange be flush with floor?
In a typical toilet installation, the floor flange that sits inside the drain opening below the toilet should be positioned so that its bottom surface rests flush against the finished floor or no more than 1/4 inch above or below the floor.
Is toilet drain 3 or 4-inch?
In new construction, 4-inch drains can be installed from every toilet, or you can run a 3-inch drain line from a toilet to the home's main 4-inch drain pipe -- the line running from the house to the sewer or septic system. Older homes may have only 3-inch drains, so that's what you have to work with.
Does toilet flange sit on top of finished floor?
The toilet flange needs to be on top of the finished floor. Meaning the bottom edge of the flange needs to be on the same plane as the toilet. So if your toilet sits on the tile, the flange needs to be on top of the tile too. The spacing of the toilet exit "horn" and sealing surface is designed for this height.
Should toilet flange be flush with tile?
Installing A Toilet Flange. To be flush with the floor means to be even with the tile. There has been a lot of debate about the proper installation of a toilet flange, but it comes down to this - toilet flanges need to be above tile to prevent leaking and rocking of the toilet.
What is the best type of toilet flange?
Best Durable: Universal Drain Toilet Flange The Universal drain flange is designed for PVC, cast iron, or plastic pipes measuring four inches in diameter. The durable toilet flange is extremely easy to install and weighs 8oz.
Should toilet flange be flush with floor?
In a typical toilet installation, the floor flange that sits inside the drain opening below the toilet should be positioned so that its bottom surface rests flush against the finished floor or no more than 1/4 inch above or below the floor.
How do you replace a toilet floor flange?
2:043:40How to Replace a Toilet Flange | Toilet Repair | The Home DepotYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt on the flange with a rubber lip inside the drain next seal position the bowl so that the holes inMoreIt on the flange with a rubber lip inside the drain next seal position the bowl so that the holes in the base align with the flange bolts.
How do you replace a PVC toilet flange?
1:319:59Replacing Broken PVC Toilet Flange Part One.flv - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou may find when you pull your toilet that your flange is glued on the outside of the pipe. It'sMoreYou may find when you pull your toilet that your flange is glued on the outside of the pipe. It's glued on to the outside now. If that's the case and it's broken.
How Does a Toilet Flange Work?
A toilet flange is placed just under the floor level in the bathroom and connects to the pipe, which carries water away to the property’s drainage system. The flange is screwed in place, and then the toilet itself can then be screwed onto the flange.
Types of Toilet Flange
Plastic flanges are a popular choice because they are inexpensive, lightweight, strong, and won’t rust or corrode. They are the most popular choice of material for toilet flanges and are suitable for both residential and commercial use.
Toilet Flange Diameter Sizes
The most common size of toilet flange you will find is the 4×3. This is the type you are most likely to encounter in a hardware store, as they tend to dominate the market in toilet flanges. The ‘4×3’ name is a reference to the diameter measurements of the upper and lower parts of the flange.
Toilet Flange Shapes and Sizes
Regular toilet flanges are typically around 5 inches in length. They are designed to fit inside and around the opening of the pipe, which is situated under the floor. This is the type of toilet flange most homeowners will need for their toilet.
What Is a Toilet Flange?
A toilet flange, also known as a closet flange, is a pipe fitting that mounts the toilet to the floor. It also connects the closet bend to the drainpipe to let water and waste flow out. The toilet flange allows you to secure the basin without mounting directly onto the floor.
Regular Toilet Flange
The 3-inch toilet flange is the most precise of the flanges on the market. As its name suggests, it has a 3-inch diameter at both the top and bottom. You must match the 3-inch toilet flange precisely to avoid gaps and leaks after installation.
Deep Seat Toilet Flange
A deep seat toilet flange has the same diameter measurements as any regular flange type. The difference lies in the pipe connector at the bottom that fits into the closet seat. The pipe on a deep seat toilet flange can extend as long as 6 inches.
Offset Toilet Flange
An offset flange allows for easier installation in older homes, where the drain may be too close to the wall. It maintains the traditional diameters in the pipe and barrel, but the barrel sits at a 45-degree bend. This bend shifts the toilet basin at the proper distance from the wall without adjusting the pipes.
Odd-Sized Toilet Flange
Occasionally, you may need an extension to connect the basin to ABS pipe or install an elongated toilet basin. Odd-sized toilet flanges have larger openings at the flange ring to accommodate any space concerns. The pipe diameter is still 3 inches, but the flange diameter can go as high as 7 inches in diameter.
RV Toilet Flange
Bathroom installation in recreational vehicles isn’t much different from residential setups. They use the same 3-inch or 4-inch piping and have standard 3-inch and 4-inch bottom diameters. The difference is that the top diameter is larger, measuring 7 inches in diameter.
All-In-One Installation Kit with Flange
Innovations in flange design and features have created simpler do-it-yourself options for flange replacement and repair. Danco’s All-In-One Installation Kit with Flange combines the flange and seal into one unit and includes no-cut bolts and spacers. Its outer diameter measures 4 ¾ inches, and its inner diameter measures 2 ¼ inches.
In This Article
A toilet flange is a mounting base for your toilet that's installed on top of a soil pipe that connects to the closet bend, the angled pipe leading to your drain. The flange has a flat surface with bolt-mounting slots on to which the toilet mounts, and it lies flat and flush with your floor.
Standard 4 x 3-Inch Toilet Flanges
The most common and readily available toilet flange is the 4 x 3-inch size. This pipe is 4 inches wide at the top but only 3 inches wide at the bottom. The 3-inch bottom is the correct size for fitting the schedule 40 pipe most frequently used in home drains.
The 3-Inch Flange
A 3-inch flange measures the same size as the schedule 40 pipe most likely used in your toilet drain. This flange doesn't give you the wiggle room of a 4-inch flange, which results in a bit more pressure on the flange when you flush the toilet. This is a known issue, however, so 3-inch flanges can handle the extra load.
The 4-Inch Flange
The 4-inch flange installs on both 4- and 3-inch drainpipes. This flange is manufactured so it fits over the top of a 3-inch pipe (in other words, the pipe slides into the flange), or the flange fits inside a 4-inch pipe (the flange slides into the 4-inch pipe).
Odd-Size Flanges
Other odd-size flanges exist. Typically, the flanges are similar in size to the 4 x 3-inch flange, however. An ABS plastic flange with a 3 1/2-inch bottom diameter and a 7-inch top diameter is available. This flange is often used to connect an ABS drainpipe to the toilet.
Offset Flanges and Their Uses
Offset flanges help those with older homes or elongated toilets connect their toilet to the drain. Offset flanges are the same diameter as standard flanges, but the barrel of the flange sits at a 45-degree angle. This helps move the toilet away from the wall if the plumbing is too close for modern toilet sizes.
Types of Flange Material
Size is the most important factor when replacing a toilet flange, but flanges are made of several different materials that you should be aware of. PVC is generally the most popular flange material. It's cheap, durable, easy to work with, and readily available.
Do you have a 2 or 3-inch Toilet Flapper?
To know if you have a 2 or 3-inch toilet flapper, compare the size of the flush valve opening to that of a baseball and softball. If it is the size of a baseball or orange fruit, you need a 2-inch toilet flapper while if it is the size of a softball or grapefruit you need a 3-inch toilet flapper.
How to Measure the Size of Toilet Flapper
In order to know what size of toilet flapper you need, you will first need to remove it from the tank and measure it, or measure the flush valve opening.
Where is the toilet flange?
To determine which one is right for you, you’ll need to check the “toilet flange” – a metal or plastic piece that can be found over the pipe in the floor under your toilet. If the flange is level with your floor, a regular-thickness wax ring will be fine.
How to measure the width of a toilet?
To determine the correct width for your wax ring, simply turn your toilet bowl on its side, and measure the opening on the bottom of your toilet, called the “elbow neck.”. Whatever width this measurement is, use that width wax ring. E.g. if the elbow neck measures 3 inches, use a 3-inch wax ring.
What happens if you set a toilet and it isn't square?
Another thing to keep in mind…if you set your toilet and it isn’t square, when you readjust it a wax ring may not seal properly, resulting in leaks that can do serious damage to your flooring. It really all comes down to personal preference as to which choice will work better for your situation.
Can you replace a wax free toilet ring?
A point that can be made in favor of wax free seals is that they are reusable. If you ever need or want to replace your old toilet with a new one, you will have to replace the wax ring as well. You can avoid this with a wax free seal as long as it is still in good condition.
How to determine the diameter of a toilet wax ring?
Determining the Wax Ring Diameter. You determine the wax ring diameter by turning over your toilet and measuring the diameter of the waste opening. If the toilet has been leaking from the bottom, which is a good sign the existing wax ring has failed, you'll have to pull the toilet. This means unbolting it from the floor and lifting it off ...
Why is my bathroom flange recessed?
In some cases, the flange is recessed too deeply for even an extra-thick wax ring to make a seal. This often happens when you install new flooring in the bathroom that is thicker than the existing flooring.
How thick is a toilet wax ring?
If it's at the same level, or no more than 1/4 inch below it, a regular wax ring, which is between 3/4 and 1 inch thick , is all you need.
What size wax rings are used for toilets?
Wax rings come in two diameters, 3 inches and 4 inches, because — as you might expect — those are the two standard sizes for toilet waste openings. Besides diameter, thickness is also an important parameter when it comes to wax rings. Again, there are two possibilities: regular and extra thick. The wax ring forms the seal between the toilet and ...
