Low toilet flange fix help

[Edward Caldwell]

I have a new Toto toilet I need to install. When I removed the old toilet I discovered the flange is low and unlevel. It varies from about 1 - 1/4" to 1 - 1/2 " below the concrete floor. The old toilet had 3 wax rings stacked which did seem to work. I tried an extra thick ring with the cone and a regular non-cone ring but that was not high enough. I'd prefer not having to stack more than two rings so looking at the best way/product to extend the flange. I was looking at the Oatey Sit-Rite Kit (1/4" to 1 5/8) or separate extenders to bring flange up to a point that a single wax ring can be used. Since the flange is also not level will that be much of an issue? Any advice on the best corse of action (and product) for this situation would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wwhitney]

How about a picture of what you are dealing with? Best fix would be to raise the flange by extending the pipe, if that's not too difficult.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Edward Caldwell]

I have a new Toto toilet I need to install. When I removed the old toilet I discovered the flange is low and unlevel. It varies from about 1 - 1/4" to 1 - 1/2 " below the concrete floor. The old toilet had 3 wax rings stacked which did seem to work. I tried an extra thick ring with the cone and a regular non-cone ring but that was not high enough. I'd prefer not having to stack more than two rings so looking at the best way/product to extend the flange. I was looking at the Oatey Sit-Rite Kit (1/4" to 1 5/8) or separate extenders to bring flange up to a point that a single wax ring can be used. Since the flange is also not level will that be much of an issue? Any advice on the best corse of action (and product) for this situation would be greatly appreciated.

How about a picture of what you are dealing with? Best fix would be to raise the flange by extending the pipe, if that's not too difficult.

Cheers, Wayne

How about a picture of what you are dealing with? Best fix would be to raise the flange by extending the pipe, if that's not too difficult.

Cheers, Wayne

If by using something like the Sit-Rite kit yes but raising flange is not possible as it is set in the concrete floor.

 

[Terry]

You might use something like this, it fits inside the waste pipe, and and use spaces under the flange to rise it up.

 

[Edward Caldwell]

If by using something like the Sit-Rite kit yes but raising flange is not possible as it is set in the concrete floor.

How important is it for the flange to be level? I see some extender products that can be leveled with a belt sander. And what’s the minimum the flange should be above floor for proper sealing with the wax ring?

 

[LLigetfa]

If by using something like the Sit-Rite kit yes

Perhaps you mean Set-Rite?

If the existing flange is badly out of level, you can use a belt sander to adjust the shim or shims.

 

[Terry]

A flange doesn't need to be perfectly level when using a wax seal, or even a foam rubber seal.
Any spacers being used go under the flange, not on top.

 

[Edward Caldwell]

A flange doesn't need to be perfectly level when using a wax seal, or even a foam rubber seal.
Any spacers being used go under the flange, not on top.

I added some spacers now I am slightly above flush on the low end and just under 1/2" above the floor level on the high side. Is the high side OK and I can just add a normal wax seal? The toilet itself sits fine on the floor, no rocking what so ever.

 

[Reach4]

Why stop 1/2 inch below the floor? Maybe go 1/8 to 1/4 above the floor if you have the rings. Then a single wax ring would top it off.

You should worry about gasses going between the spacer rings. If you are going to have spacer rings above the flange, slather the flange and the rings with wax.

A bead of silicone adhesive between the spacers might be even better, but I would go wax under the bottom spacer so that you can pull this if you need to. I am not a pro.

 

[wwhitney]

Why stop 1/2 inch below the floor?

I think you misread his comment--the high side is above the floor by an amount that is just under 1/2".

1/2" sounds too much to me, as does the ~3/8" delta between the sides, but I don't have the experience to say it wouldn't work.

Cheers, Wayne