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Can I do this myself? (plumbing issue)

5 years ago

Our toilet was leaking around the sides so we took it off to replace the wax seal (house is 7 years old, shouldn't have to replace this yet, hint 1). Hint 2 was when we realized they grouted the toilet to the floor... We got the little remains of old wax seal off the floor when we realized the flange was cracked. Got a plumber out today and told us because it's an off-set flange they are going to have to break the tile all around it so they can get it off to replace it. 5 hour job, 1k (plus get a tile guy out to re-tile?). Does this fix/cost seem right? I've seen people replace regular flanges for much less and much less invasive techniques. Going out of town tomorrow so we sent the plumber away for now. Pretty mad we are dealing with this kind of issue with a newer house that we haven't lived in for a full year. Any advice/experience with this would be much appreciated!

Featured Answer
  • 5 years ago

    Hi, I know I'll get a lot of blow back on this idea, but here goes. Make sure the red ring is secure to the floor. Clean the pvc well . Take a small diamond file (three sides) and with the tail gouge out the crack. Then fill the crack probably with marine type epoxy. Don't over do it, you want to sand it smooth. The worst that happens is your back where you started

    Good Luck Woodbutcher.

    Comments (11)

    • 5 years ago

      The cracked flange

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    • 5 years ago

      No blow back from me.

      Have not used them but JB Weld makes a couple of different products for plastic. Plastic Weld & Water Weld. Both epoxies for plastic.

      I would probably use Lexel. Takes longer to set up; sticks to wet surfaces. The reason I would default to Lexel is because I always have a tube of it around the house.

      Do like Woodbutcher says--clean it up really good. You don't want any wax residue to interfere with the bond.

    • PRO
      5 years ago

      I'd clean that up with acetone, epoxy it, and set a tough flexible plastic piece into the epoxy bed that spanned the crack. Your buyer's home inspector is never gonna find that. It'll be fine.

    • 5 years ago

      If you do the crack repair as described above, make sure you don't overtighten the nuts when you reinstall the toilet as it could open up that crack again.

    • 5 years ago

      Whats the reason for the offset flange? I have seen those often on a remodel, where the toilet has been moved slightly, but, never seen that in a 7 yr old house.

    • 5 years ago

      Looks like they put the sewer line too close to the wall so that the toilet wouldn’t fit with a normal one. There isn’t any concrete under the front of the flange so when they put the toilet on and someone sat on it that’s what cracked it. Not sure if the previous owner had any issues with it before. We bought the house with a green/blue water stain on the floor on the side of the toilet where the crack is. Really wishing we had the inspection look into that.

    • 5 years ago

      Did the home come with 1 year of the Home Shield policy? Often it’s part of the sale.

    • 5 years ago

      Maybe for the original owner from the builder, but not for us. We did not pay extra for a home warranty nor was it offered to us in the sale.

    • PRO
      5 years ago

      Yes it can be done the above recommendation of using epoxy is practicle. The estimate by the plumber is horrendous though.

    • 5 years ago

      We had a family friend who is a plumber come out and replace it for us $250 is a much better price. Thanks everyone for their advice and comments!

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