How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Toilet Flange?
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A toilet flange, also referred to as a close flange, is the pipe fitting that mounts to the toilet and the floor, connecting the toilet to the drain and essentially the drain pipe. You will know if the toilet flange needs replacing if you see water around the base of the toilet.
How much does it cost to replace a toilet flange?
If you are looking to perform a basic do-it-yourself job, most toilet flange parts will cost anywhere from $5 to as much as $40. For example, on Amazon.com, most of the highest rated toilet flange parts retail for $10 to $20.
With a professional job, however, be prepared to spend around $175 to as much as $550 for the entire job. The cost will depend on the plumber being hired, the type of subfloor, the type of pipe, the condition of the current pipe and your geographical location. For example, if the flange was corroded so bad that the plumber had to access the basement to break it free from there or break the concrete around the flange, then the costs could be more due to the labor rates; however, if he or she was able to simply turn it right off, then the costs could be much lower.
If you want to get an exact quote in your area, based on your situation, consider using HomeAdvisor.com to get free quotes from local, licensed contractors.
On Angie’s List, a visitor asked if $535 was a fair charge to replace the flange, and according to the responses, that price tends to be high and should be in the $250 to $300 range, but it could be close to $500 if the flange was so corroded and the plumber had to chip away the concrete around the base.
Replacing a toilet flange overview
The typical toilet flange is going to be made from a ABS or PVC hub that will have a round steel mounting flange that can be connected to the top. Other styles may come in brass, stainless steel, plastic or copper. During a typical installation job, the toilet flange will be mounted on the top of the floor with the hub fused around the drain pipe in the floor. Once fused, a wax ring will be used to seal the gap between the flange and the toilet. The toilet will then be installed and bolted to the flange, not the floor.
A typical job, depending on the complexity, location and where the joint is, can take one to six hours.
What are the extra costs?
If the toilet flange is broken or the original piping needs to be replaced, the costs can increase. The same can be said if the toilet has to be replaced as well.
Inept plumbers could have installed the flange improperly in the first place. If this were the case, the flange could have let the concrete settle around this. If this were to happen, a good portion of the floor may have to be taken out in order to repair it. This, of course, could turn into a costly job.
If there is significant water damage done to the floor, you may need to replace the tile or laminate on the floor. This will be a much more expensive repair than the toilet flange.
In some cases, a hole in the basement’s ceiling may have to be cut out if the flange was corroded and it had to be removed, or if no basement is accessible, then the concrete around the flange may have to be removed. This is often the case if the flange was corroded and wasn’t able to be simply twisted off at the base. To replace the drywall and repaint or the tile around, this could be an additional $50 to $150 charge.
Tips to know:
When replacing a flange, pay close attention to the kind of pipe you have so that you can buy the right part to match it up.
Replacing the toilet flange process
Before starting the job, turn off the water supply to the toilet and disconnect the water supply hose.
Once the water has been turned off, flush the toilet. This will empty the bowl and the tank of water since the water supply will not refill it.
When you loosen and remove the two bolts on the bottom of the toilet, make sure you put them in a safe place since you will need them when you are finished.
After you remove the toilet, clean off the wax from and remove the old flange.
Thoroughly clean the floor before putting on the new flange.
Mount the new flange on the floor with new bolts. These bolts will fit into the toilet floor.
After pushing the new wax ring in place at the bottom of the toilet, put the toilet back in place. Make sure that you line up the bolt holes carefully.
Press the toilet down to ensure that it fits snugly with the wax against the flange.
Reconnect the toilet to the floor using the bolts, and then turn on the water supply once again. Make sure that you do not over-tighten the bolts since this can cause the toilet to crack.
How can I save money?
If the flange needs to be replaced due to age, then there is a good chance that the other toilets in the home will have the same problem. If possible, ask the plumber about any discounts that you can take advantage of if you have all of your toilets fixed at once.
Many plumbers are more than happy to offer first-time customers a deal. Never be afraid to haggle with them on pricing.
With any contractor hiring, try your best to get at least three to five quotes before committing.
If you have any plumbing experience, consider replacing the flange yourself. As stated above, the average DIY job should not cost any more than $40.
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Average Reported Cost: $325
How much did you spend?
- QPS (Fort Worth, Texas) paid $325 and said:
Flange was broken and had to be chipped out of concrete before new one could be installed. Price was fair for this market
Was it worth it? Yes
