Toilet flange is an integral part of the bathroom’s overall drainage system. It connects all the water-flowing pipes from the toilet bowl to the underground pipes so that the dirty water reaches the wastewater treatment facility smoothly.
Therefore, mounting the toilet flange properly with the floor is very important. That is why we are here with our article in order to assist you whether the toilet flange is flush with the floor or not.
Should the toilet flange be flush with the floor?
The toilet flange cannot be mounted flushed with the floor. Rather it needs to be set up directly on the top part of the floor and ensure that the lower part is placed evenly with the floor. Because the toilet bowl needs to be directly connected with the top part of the toilet flange.
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The toilet flange plays a very important role in the total drainage system of your bathroom. Its main task is to connect the pipes that come from the toilet to the drainage pipes under the floor.
The dirty water that comes from the toilet bowl goes through the toilet flange to the underground pipes that are connected to the sewer. Therefore, the flange needs to be mounted on top of the floor rather than being flush with the floor.
The lower part of the toilet flange needs to be mounted even with the floor so that there is scope for water leakage. You will need to fill up the gaps in the toilet flange with wax rings.
Also, you have to make sure that there is no leakage on the lower part of the flange that is connected to the underground water pipes.
Mounting a toilet flange in the correct way is very important, which is why it will be better if you leave it to the experts rather than doing it by yourself.
Should the toilet flange be level with or sit above the floor?
First of all, the toilet flange needs to sit above the floor rather than being flush with the floor. The second thing is that the lower part of the toilet flange needs to be mounted even with the floor.
Therefore, you will need to have the correct measurements about the mounting height of the toilet flange from the floor.
Toilet flange for the tile floor:
The toilet flange needs to be placed on top of the floor despite the type of tiles. It means that whatever the type of the tiles is, be it ceramic, porcelain, or vinyl tiles, the toilet flange needs to be placed on top of the tiles.
Also, the lower part of the flange needs to be placed even with the ceramic, porcelain, or vinyl tiles. Usually, the correct measurement about how high should your flange be above your tile depends on the placing of your toilet bowl.
It will be better if you take the measurement of your toilet bowl before installing the toilet flange. However, the average mounting height of the toilet flange from the tiles remains between one and three inches to one and four inches.
The measurement is also the same whether it comes to mounting the flange on top of ceramic, porcelain, or vinyl tiles.
Toilet flange for the finished floor:
Installing a toilet flange on the finished floor depends on the placing of the toilet bowl. If your toilet bowl is mounted on top of the finished tile then the toilet flange also needs to be placed on top of the finished tile.
Also, the lower part of the toilet flange needs to be set uniformly with the finished floor. Otherwise, there will be chances of water leakage as there will be air gaps on the connecting point of the pipes and the flange.
The measurement of the toilet bowl is also very important as the toilet bowl is directly connected with the top part of the toilet flange. Therefore, if you set up the top part of the toilet flange flush with the floor then there will be chances of water leakage.
Toilet flange for the concrete floor:
In the case of the concrete floor, the toilet flange needs to be placed on top of the floor. However, it depends on the measurement of the toilet bowl as well as how high the toilet flange should be on top of the concrete floor.
But usually, the mounting height of the flange from the concrete floor can be ½ inches ⅕ inches. Also, the dimension of the toilet bowl will trigger the mounting height of the toilet flange. You have to make sure that the lower part of the flange needs to be flush with the concrete floor.
Otherwise, there will be drainage problems as well as your floor will be flooded from the dirty water coming out of the air gaps of the flange. Therefore, make sure that you have sealed up those air gaps with wax rings or glue.
Why not should the toilet flange be flush with the floor?
Pros and cons of the aspect are given below –
Pros:
Proper water flowing system:
The main reason why you will need to place your toilet flange on top of the tile is because of the proper water flowing system.
If you place your toilet flange on top of the floor then the toilet bowl will get directly connected to the top part of the flange.
Thus, if you properly seal all the air gaps on the connecting point between the bowl and the flange then there will be no water leakage and there will be smooth water flow through the pipes.
No drainage complications under the floor:
If you set up the lower part of the flange flush to the floor then the underground water flowing pipes can be directly mounted with the flange.
Therefore, there will be drainage complications under the floor if you properly seal all the air gaps with wax rings.
Cons:
Better to leave it to the experts:
One of the main cons of mounting toilet flanges is that you can’t do it by yourself. There is much measurement work that needs to be done when it comes to mounting toilet flanges on top of the floor.
Therefore, it will be better if you leave it to the experts rather than mounting the flange by yourself.
Water leakage:
Water leakage from the air gaps is one of the main problems of not mounting the toilet flange flush with the floor. Air gaps can be formed in huge numbers if you mount your toilet flange on top of the floor.
If you don’t properly seal all the air gaps with wax rings there is a high chance that your floor will be flooded with water leaked from those air gaps.
Therefore, make sure you have properly sealed all the air gaps on the top and bottom part of the flange with wax rings.
What should be the maximum height of the toilet flange above the floor?
Well, the maximum height of the toilet flange above the floor depends on the height of the toilet bowl. If your toilet bowl sits on top of the tile then the toilet flange needs to be placed at a decent height from the floor.
The descent height that the toilet flanges above the floor can be between one and two inches to one and five inches.
In addition, sometimes the toilet bowl sits more than ten inches from the floor, therefore, you should increase the mounting height of your toilet flange from the floor accordingly.
Can the toilet flange be lower than the floor?
No, by any means the toilet flange cannot be lower than the floor. In fact, the bottom part of the toilet flange needs to be evenly placed on the same plane as the floor. If you place your toilet flange lower than the floor then there will be huge drainage complications.
There will be a higher risk of water leakage through the air gaps of the flange. As well as, neither the underground water flowing pipes nor the toilet can be directly connected with the bottom and top part of the toilet flange.
Should the toilet flange be screwed to the floor and glued to the pipe?
Yes, the toilet flange needs to be screwed to the floor and glued to the pipe or else the sealings may get damaged due to the constant motion from the flange.
If the toilet flange is not screwed tightly with the floor then there is a high chance that the pipes will come off from the flange which will create drainage complications.
Final thoughts
Well, the importance of mounting up the toilet flange above the floor is immense. It doesn’t only prevent unnecessary water leakages but also ensures that there is no water flowage. Mounting your toilet flange on top of the floor can save you from unnecessary bathroom drainage complications.