replacing closet flange

blabla

How do I completely replace the closet flange on a toilet?

Marlin

Take the old one out and put a new one in. That's about the best answer anyone can give you without more information. You need to be very specific especially if you don't have pictures.


It the flange PVC? Brass on a lead bend? Cast iron?
What kind of pipes lead up to it?
Do you have access below or are you on a slab?

blabla

It has access from the basement and its a white PVC pipe with a rusted metal flange.

Marlin

First is it a street flange or a normal flange? A street flange will be glued inside your pipe. A normal flange will be glued to the outside. A normal flange is the better of the two.
Their is no way to un-glue that flange. If it's a street flange their is a special bit to drill out the flange from the pipe. It's probably not worth doing though.
You're basically going to cut the pipe from the bottom being sure to get a good straight cut. As for where to cut it, just use your head. You're going to want to cut it after any Ys if possible so you don't have to start cutting out a big part of the system. You want to cut it somewhere that you have enough room for a coupling, and are cutting out as little as possible without making it difficult for you to work (PVC is cheap if replacing an extra couple feet makes your life easier do it) preferable with enough room to cut that cutting out later and put a new one on should the need ever arise.
Then you're going to re-pipe exactly was it was with new pipe, new fittings, and a new flange.

Mike Swearingen

I would simply cut off the old flange and whatever pipe was necessary to connect new PVC fittings, new PVC pipe and new PVC flange to the existing PVC pipe in the basement.
Make sure that the flange is on top of and bolted to the finished level of the bathroom flooring with only the thickness of the flange above finished floor level. That is the level that wax rings are made to seal.
Level the toilet using a level across the bowl and beveled plastic shims pmade for the purpose if necessary, and bolt the toilet base to the flange. Just snug it down carefully where the toilet won't move at all, but not so over-tight that you crack the porcelain toilet.
Good Luck!
Mike