Toilet Flange Is Now Below Floor Level

Here you can see the results of a toilet having been installed on a toilet flange that is below the floor level.

Toilet flange is now below floor level.

Ideal height of toilet flange. To make the long story short my thicker mortar bed mesh backer liner thinset and new floor tiles all added up to raising the overall height of the floor by approximately 1 25. If the toilet flange is at the incorrect height it will cause problems with the toilet connecting onto the plumbing. A sign that the wax ring was not sealing the toilet from sewer gases or preventing water escaping from under the base of the toilet.

This is very important. When the toilet was removed the toilet wax ring was still in its original shape. Flange extenders are commonly sold in 1 4 inch and 1 2 inch sizes to raise the height of the existing flange 1 4 or 1 2 inch. It has to sit evenly on top of the finished floor.

The perfect height for the toilet flange is to be the same level as the finished floor. That meant my toilet flange was now 1 25 below my new floor. Large bolts thread up through. If your flange sits even or below the floor then it s wrong.

Most extenders come with long bolts which may be necessary if the flange is below the floor level. A toilet drain flange can sit above or below the finished floor level. Even 1 4 inch thick tile over a layer of thin set adhesive can leave the toilet flange far enough below finished floor level to make it difficult to get a good seal. When installing the toilet flange you need to check that it s the correct height and is also perfectly level.

In a typical toilet installation the floor flange that sits inside the drain opening below the toilet should be positioned so that its bottom surface rests flush against the finished floor or no more than 1 4 inch above or below the floor this ensures that the flange makes a watertight seal against the wax ring that fits between the drain opening and drain outlet horn on the underside of.