Toilet flanges form the mechanical connections between the toilet drain and the property’s drainage system. But even high-quality toilet flanges deteriorate and break.
So, if you’re wondering, “how do I know if I need a new toilet flange?” I catch you up about it below.
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How Do I Know if I Need a New Toilet Flange?
If the toilet is rocking back and forth, and you notice sewer odor, leakage from the toilet’s base and in the subflooring, and loose tiles around the toilet base, you need a new toilet flange. Broken toilet flanges cause various issues in the plumbing and cause major water damage.
The leakages caused by broken toilet flanges are sometimes invisible. You won’t notice any water at the base of the toilet, but sewage water will slowly seep into the subflooring. Homeowners fail to notice the damage until the subflooring rots and begins to sag. Such damage costs thousands of dollars to fix.
Is a Leaking Toilet Flange a Severe Problem?
In most cases of broken toilet flanges, some amount of water puddles on the floor around the fixture. While such leakages often seem like small issues, they must be addressed with urgency for many reasons:
Most of the water leaking out of a toilet flange comes out of the gap in the wax ring, or broken toilet seals and seeps into the subfloor. The leakage won’t be visible from the bathroom flooring, but the subfloor gets wet, gradually deteriorating and rotting. No amount of wiping the fluid build-up with toilet paper can fix the overflow, and the deterioration will make the floor spongy and unstable.
Wet wood material promotes the growth of mold under your flooring. Besides eating away at the material, mold also releases spores, affecting the air quality inside the property. Residents may experience allergic reactions or worse – an anaphylactic shock.
If your toilet is leaking water, you can be sure that it’s also leaking sewer gas into your home. Inhaling these gases can make you very sick. Furthermore, sewer gases have methane and hydrogen sulfide, which are combustible. A leaking toilet flange can fill your home up with explosive gases, threatening your family’s safety.
Can Anybody Replace a Toilet Flange?
Toilet flange replacement is a straightforward process, and many DIYers take it up for themselves. But it’s worth noting that mistakes can be very expensive. Furthermore, attempting to replace the toilet flange yourself puts the property at risk of flooding and fire.
Hiring a plumber is considered the best way to replace a toilet flange since it provides peace of mind to residents.
Conclusion
You need a new toilet flange if the toilet is rocking back and forth, you notice leakage from the toilet’s base, and you smell sewer odor. Not replacing a toilet flange when it’s broken leads to excessive damage to the subflooring that often cannot be fixed by simply declogging it with a toilet auger nor would it be cheap.
