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What to Do If Your Toilet Flange Starts to Leak

May 17, 2022

What to Do If Your Toilet Flange Starts to LeakMost home toilets see a lot of use. Over the years, this constant use begins to wear on the parts of a toilet. This wear can cause damage that affects the operation of the entire toilet. One of the most common wear-related problems homeowners experience is failing toilet flanges.

What is a Toilet Flange?

The toilet flange (also known as a closet flange) is a circular pipe fitting connecting the toilet to your home’s drainage system. It also helps secure the toilet to the floor.

Toilet flanges can be made from a number of materials, including PVC, ABS, copper, cast iron, and stainless steel. The bottom part of the toilet flange is situated just inside the drain pipe under the floor, while the top part sirs at about the same height as the bathroom floor. Bolts are used to connect the toilet to the flange. A water-tight wax seal is applied between the toilet base and flange to prevent leaks.

Signs You May Have a Defective Toilet Flange

Here are some signs that your toilet flange may need to be replaced:

  • Leaks around the base of your toilet
  • The toilet is loose, rocking back and forth when you sit on it
  • Unpleasant sewage odors coming from the toilet
  • Loose tiles around the base of your toilet
  • The flooring around the toilet feels soft
  • Leaks in the subflooring
  • Water spots on the ceiling located directly below the toilet

What to Do When Your Toilet Flange Starts to Leak

There are many ways a toilet flange can become damaged. It can get cracked, broken, corrode, rust, or deteriorate. Ignoring issues with a toilet flange can cause big problems down the line. Toilet flange leaks can result in major water damage, including mold damage and structural damage to the subflooring beneath the toilet.

In many circumstances, the problem may lie with the wax seal rather than the flange. Like the flange, it can become cracked and broken, allowing water to seep out.

Repairing a damaged toilet flange or wax seal is a job best left to a plumbing professional. In a lot of cases, the entire toilet will have to be removed in order to perform repairs. What’s left of the wax seal will have to be removed as well. It’s important that the new flange must be properly fitted and secured to avoid leaking and rocking. After that, a new wax seal must be reapplied.

Your First Choice for Toilet Repairs in Oceanside CA

If you’re experiencing issues with your toilet or other plumbing emergency call the Oceanside, CA plumbing experts at 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration without delay. 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration has been providing expert emergency plumbing services to homes and businesses in Oceanside, CA, and surrounding communities since 2012. We’re here 24/7 to fix whatever plumbing problem you may be encountering – in most cases, we can be on-site in an hour or less.

Water leaks from toilet flanges and other plumbing fixtures can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home and property. Contact 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration through our website or call us at 866-437-0205 at the first sign of a water leak in your home or business.