Best new toilet for high flange?

[Seth]

Hi - I pulled a leaking toilet and found that the flange is 1/2” above the tile. Rather than get into one of the several fixes (ranging from proper and permanent to band-aid to ugly to ill-advised), I’d love to be able to simply install a new toilet that has a little more clearance underneath, allowing me to use a wax ring without over-compressing it and thinning it out. Is there such an animal? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[RetiredInGueydan]

If the closet flange is resting on the tile and is 1/2" thick, any toilet with a standard wax ring will provide a proper seal.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Seth]

Thanks for the input. I’m a DIY’er, not a plumber. Not sure of the meaning of “closet flange,” but the toilet flange I have is brass. It is thinner than 1/2”. It sits up off the tile. The distance from the tile surface to the top of the high side of the flange (the flange is a little tilted) is 1/2”. When I removed the toilet, I noticed that the wax ring was very thin on the high side of the flange, making me think that when the toilet was set in place on top of the wax ring, and then bolted to the flange, the wax was compressed such that it thinned out. I’m thinking that the same thing will happen if I just put a new wax ring in place. I see my good options as being to either install a toilet that has more room under it (if such a toilet exists), or have my plumber cut out the cast iron waste pipe and replace with PVC, with a new flange set at the proper height. The toilet is in a first floor powder room, with basement below. Access is pretty good. But if I’m being unduly pessimistic, I’m all ears.

 

[Seth]

Thanks for the input. I’m a DIY’er, not a plumber. Not sure of the meaning of “closet flange,” but the toilet flange I have is brass. It is thinner than 1/2”. It sits up off the tile. The distance from the tile surface to the top of the high side of the flange (the flange is a little tilted) is 1/2”. When I removed the toilet, I noticed that the wax ring was very thin on the high side of the flange, making me think that when the toilet was set in place on top of the wax ring, and then bolted to the flange, the wax was compressed such that it thinned out. I’m thinking that the same thing will happen if I just put a new wax ring in place. I see my good options as being to either install a toilet that has more room under it (if such a toilet exists), or have my plumber cut out the cast iron waste pipe and replace with PVC, with a new flange set at the proper height. The toilet is in a first floor powder room, with basement below. Access is pretty good. But if I’m being unduly pessimistic, I’m all ears.

 

[RetiredInGueydan]

There should be no gap under the flange, this provides a stable base for the toilet. If this is the case, a new flange needs to be installed tight to the tile..

 

[Eman85]

Flange should sit down on the tile and be screwed to the floor solidly.

 

[Seth]

Thanks. New waste pipe and flange it is.

 

[Reach4]

Thanks for the input. I’m a DIY’er, not a plumber. Not sure of the meaning of “closet flange,” but the toilet flange I have is brass. It is thinner than 1/2”. It sits up off the tile. The distance from the tile surface to the top of the high side of the flange (the flange is a little tilted) is 1/2”. When I removed the toilet, I noticed that the wax ring was very thin on the high side of the flange, making me think that when the toilet was set in place on top of the wax ring, and then bolted to the flange, the wax was compressed such that it thinned out. I’m thinking that the same thing will happen if I just put a new wax ring in place. I see my good options as being to either install a toilet that has more room under it (if such a toilet exists), or have my plumber cut out the cast iron waste pipe and replace with PVC, with a new flange set at the proper height. The toilet is in a first floor powder room, with basement below. Access is pretty good. But if I’m being unduly pessimistic, I’m all ears.

Test the toilet with no wax. If it rocks, put shims into place. Lift the toilet, leaving the shims in place. Place the wax. Drop the toilet onto the wax with shims.

Thin wax is no problem, if there is no rocking. Use a wax-only ring -- no plastic horn.

Toilets usually clear about 5/8 inch.