Introduction:

The toilet flange is a very important piece in plumbing that connects the toilet bowl and the drainage pipe into the floor. It is also known as the closet flange. It is mounted on the bathroom floor and made from PVC, ABS or even cast iron in some cases. Nowadays it is present in almost every American household. 

In this Blog, we will get to know about various different things related to toilet flanges and what role do they play in modernization? They were not used to exist a century ago. Why would there be a need to make these things and How did we ended up with different ways of maintenance for toilet flanges.



What is the purpose of toilet flanges?

It's main purpose is to tightly secure a connection between the toilet bowl and the drainpipe present in the floor. Due to it's tight connection it can also provide with a stable and watertight joint that ensures the efficient waste disposal directly to the sewage system. It also anchors the toilet in a very secured way to the floor, preventing any leaks or damage that can occur over a long period of time. 

And because of this it doesn't allow any kind of foul smells or odors escape coming from the sewers, thus maintaining a hygienic environment. Lastly the flange also directs the waste accurately towards the waste pipe that can prevent blockages and maintaining smooth work of the whole system. We will also talk you through various steps you can take to ensure that blockages are prevented, and believe us those are a real hassle.


Different types of toilet flanges:

Wax Ring flanges- These are the most common type of flanges used in typical households. It consists of a wax ring that is fitted around a plastic or metal flange. Wax will help create a watertight seal. These are very easy to install and readily available to your nearby stores. But wax can degrade over time that can cause potential leaks. These do require replacements in some years time.

PVC flanges- These are known for their strength and resistant property towards corrosion. They have mainly two styles, standard and offset flanges. It's very suitable for most modern bathrooms.

Rubber Gasket flanges- It consists of rubber gaskets around the flange just like wax to form watertight seal. They are available in various sizes, that's why they are also pretty popular. But the quality of rubber can depend of different companies. We recommend Nitrile (Buna-N).

Stainless Steel flanges- This is a very durable and long lasting flange. Commonly used in commercial and heavy-duty applications. Also very ideal for high-traffic bathrooms, like public toilet. These have a pretty long lifespan, so you don't have to worry about it. But because of all this it becomes very expensive when compared to others. The installation procedure is very difficult, only a professional may handle them due to their rigidity.


How to install a toilet flange?

Before starting anything you should have the following tools: your type of flange, toilet flange kit, adjustable wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hacksaw (if you go for PVC), levels, caulk, caulk guns.

Now if you want to remove an old toilet flange, first turn off the water supply and empty the tank by flushing. Then disconnect the supply line from the bottom of the tank. Now remove the nuts and bolts the secures the toilet to the floor. Carefully lift the toilet off the flange and set it somewhere safe. After that you are set to remove the old flange and clear up any wax or debris.

To fit a new one, check for damages or uneven surfaces. Place the new wax ring or rubber gasket onto the waste pipe. Make sure to align it properly over the flange and bolt or screw back up the way you removed them. Use the level to ensure flatness and set the system up. 



Common toilet flange issues:

Majority of issue are of leaking flanges, which can be caused by old wax which was deteriorated or a damaged gasket. It can be fixed if you replace it or you can tighten the flange bolts to create a proper seal again. Flanges can also be broken, in that case consider using a repair kit that can fix small cracks in the flange or you can use epoxy glue to mend the broken area. But if it is severely damaged, you should give changing the whole flange a thought.

While installing there can also be a problem of uneven flange height. For this, you can use a hacksaw to cut the pipe to your needed height that is if you have PVC flange only. There are things also called flange extenders that you can find easily in any nearby hardware store. Flanges can also get corroded and degrade over time due to exposure to water moisture. To counter this you can opt of stainless steal ones, or avoid using very harsh chemical while cleaning and make to sure to keep check regularly for corrosion on the flange.

 

Smart Flanges and their features:

They have leak detection systems, those are equipped with sensors and alert the homeowners. Also they can have a support for your android or ios app that allows monitoring over water usage and flush setting can also be adjusted from within the app. These are still a bit new so you might not find them that easily.

Self cleaning is the most attractive feature of these still getting popular smart flanges. There is no need for manual cleaning which is a lot better than having to keep doing it often. You can also regulate water pressure but mostly it is managed by itself smartly. It keeps optimizing water usage with any compromise in other things.

You can check more out [HERE]


Lubricating flange bolts:

Don't forget those bolts that are keeping the flange in it's place itself. Maintaining them should also be given priority. You can occasionally check the tightness of the bolts. And can apply a small amount of lubricant while your checking them.

We recommend using such as silicone grease, to prevent the bolts from becoming rusty and getting stuck over time. Cold temperatures can also cause new leak issue so you might want to maintain a bit extra in those winter seasons. By implementing these measures you can almost guarantee a hassle free experience regarding your toilet flange at home.

 


Conclusion:

Now you know what a toilet flange is. And the work you have to put in to take care of it because of how important it is. It is a crucial part of the household that is often ignored on the regular basis. As homeowner it our job and duty to take care of the things that comes inside our homes. By staying alert and trying to learn new information, one can be sure to identify any problems that can otherwise occur instantly. 

So, try to invest your time taking care of that flange because We are sure if you did, you will never regret it.