Toilet flange question

[bradvincent]

I have cast iron pipe in my house, with a flange for the toilet. The top of the flange (part of the cast iron pipe) is about 5/8" below the top of the finished floor.

I was told by a guy at my hardware store (usually he's pretty knowledgeable) that I have to make up the height difference by adding another flange on top of the current one. So I bought a 3/8" plastic flange, and put that between the cast iron flange and the wax ring, held everything in place with the 2 bolts on the side, and hoped it wouldn't leak. It leaked.

So I took the toilet out and went back to the hardware store, and was told the plastic flange would need to be screwed into wood (subfloor, beams, etc). I don't like this idea - if it leaks I won't see it until the wood rots and then I have a bigger problem. Is this commonly done? Can't I just put the wax ring directly on my cast iron pipe?

Obviously I am not a plumber, but if I have some basic information, this will be less time/effort than scheduling a plumber - and I want to know how to do this and know that it is done right. I've already had 2 leaky toilets when I moved in that were installed by "professionals".

[phishfood]

On my phone right now, I will reply lateral when on my computer, much less of a pain that way.

[phishfood]

Alright, back on the computer.

You have a couple of options. You could clean off the top of the cast iron flange really well, and use some epoxy or silicone to seal the spacer flange to the old flange. It is important that the toilet bolts to the old cast iron flange, you don't want the toilet held down by the epoxy or silicone.
You could get an extra tall wax ring to make up the extra space.
You could get a PVC flange that is made to fit down inside of the cast iron pipe and then expands to seal against the walls of the pipe. You would still need to screw this flange down to the subfloor.
Or there is a thread on this forum that details replacing a cast iron flange. I will be back with a link shortly.

Here is the link: http://www.plumbingforums.com/forum/f19/replacing-cast-iron-water-closet-flange-410/

I probably would not choose the first option.

The second option is OK, as long as you get a good squish out of the wax ring to ensure a good seal.

The third option is probably the one I would choose. I have never seen a problem with a proper installation, but in the linked thread, a plumber who has much more experience than I mentions having fixed several of these.

The fourth option is definitely a lot of work, but if done right it should result in a very solid, problem free installation.

[LiQuId]

slip fit flange easy and good fix. ( the pvc insert. )

brass flange extension ring sealed with liquid steel would also work in a similar fashion.


a quick and suprisingly effective option is tto stack wax rings, do not use the ones with the pvc horn unless you use this for the very top one. basically you use 2 or 3 wax rings and stack em. make sure you get a good squish and bobns your uncle.. the problem with this is depending on the space you are making up you maY get leakage down the road as the wax rings deteriorate, that being said I have seen this work problem free for several years.

another option is to see if you can loosen the bolts on the flange and lift the whole works a little to accomodate.

[bradvincent]

I probably would not choose the first option.

The first option is what I did the first time. It leaked.

You would still need to screw this flange down to the subfloor.

This is very hard to do unless the new flange is wider than the old flange - I'd need to put wood between the 2 flanges, and am worried that will rot.

there is a thread on this forum that details replacing a cast iron flange.

Probably less work just to bulldoze my house and build a new one.

I am going to try to find a better flange. If I can't, I will just use 2 wax rings.


Thanks everyone!

[Mr_David]

5/8" is not that much. I double wax toilets often. I have even triple waxed on occasion but it not recommended.

I'm not a fan of adding a flange to the top of the existing flange or the slip in type.

I have pulled some really OLD toilets and on occasion they had been set on plumbers putty.
I don't recommend this either, But I have used plumber's putty packed around the void of the first wax ring.
This just helps to contain the 1st ring when the toilet is compressing the 2nd wax ring .

[bradvincent]

I bought something called a "Fluidmaster waxless gasket" which appears made specifically for this situation. If this doesn't work, I will go with the double wax ring.

[Plumber903]

1.5 Wax rings or putty, somebodys gotta win it right.