How To Remove Abs Toilet Flange That Is Glued
There are times when a toilet flange may feel more like an enemy than a friend. For example, what are you supposed to do if the plumbers who installed your toilet also glued the flange to the floor? The same thing happens when they put silicone gasket on it or fastened it with screws. In such cases, removing a toilet flange may seem impossible. However, that is not necessarily true. Here is how you can remove a toilet flange that is glued with silicone or something similar.
How To Remove Abs Toilet Flange That Is Glued
Grab your tools
The first thing you need to do when removing a toilet flange that is glued is to grab your tools and get started. These include a claw hammer, a pry bar, a drill, a screwdriver, and safety goggles. You will also need a few screwdrivers of different sizes, a measuring tape, and a pencil. Make sure your tools are clean and ready to go before you start the job.
Measure the flange
Next, you need to measure the flange and the part of the floor that it is glued to. If you don’t do this and use the wrong tools, you can end up damaging the floor or the flange. By measuring all parts, you avoid such mistakes and take one step further towards the goal. You will also be able to find the right tools for the job.
Find the screws and silicone and mark them
To remove a toilet flange that is glued with silicone, you need to find the screws and silicone. Mark them so you know where they are. You will also need to find the path where the water travels under the flange. Look for a hole in the silicone, and follow the path from there. By doing this, you will be able to find the holes in the silicone where the screws are holding the flange to the floor.
Pry up and break off the toilet flange using a hammer
Now that you know where the screws are and their path, you can start prying up the toilet flange. Start with the edge of the flange, where the silicone is. Pry up the silicone as well. You may need to go back and forth a few times to get the edge up. Make sure you are wearing safety goggles while you are doing this to avoid being cut by the broken silicone. If you are using a screwdriver, you may want to put it in a vise so you can use both hands to pry up the flange.
Pull out the remaining pieces of glue and any other materials
After you have lifted up the toilet flange a bit, you can use your fingers to pull out the remaining pieces of glue and any other materials that were used to glue the flange. You can also use a screwdriver for this purpose.
Lay your new flange and anchor it with bolts
Now that you have removed the old flange, you can put your new flange down. Put the bolts through the flange and into the floor. It is a good idea to put a layer of silicone on top of the bolts before putting the toilet down. You can also put a layer of silicone on the bottom of the bolts before putting them through the flange. If you don’t put a layer of silicone on the bolts, they may rust. That will create a bigger problem later on.
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading this article, you are more ready to remove a toilet flange that is glued. It is a tough job, and one you should only do if you have the skills for it. Toilet flanges are heavy, and removing one that is glued can be difficult. However, with the tips and advice from this article, you can do it. At the end of the day, a flange is just a piece of metal with a few screws holding it in place. With the right tools and a bit of elbow grease, anyone can remove a flange.