How to Repair the Floor Toilet Flange With Galvanized Pipe

Turn off the water supply to the toilet by turning the handle on the water supply clockwise until it stops. Drain most of the water from the toilet’s tank by flushing the toilet once. Remove the lid and suck out the remaining water with a shop vacuum.

Place a bucket under the water supply line to catch any water left inside, and then turn the nut connecting the water supply line to the supply valve using an adjustable wrench. Pry off the domed plastic caps from the toilet’s base and remove the nuts from the bolts with the adjustable wrench.

Pull up on the toilet bowl to unseat the toilet from the flange. Scrape off the remnants of the wax ring using a putty knife’s blade. Position a repair strap over the broken flange, threading the closet bolts through the repair strap. Mark the position of the repair strap’s anchor holes on the floor using a marker, and then remove the repair strap.

Drill pilot holes where you marked on the bathroom floor, stopping once you feel the drill bit penetrate into the sub floor. Spread an even layer of bathroom caulk onto the top of the closet flange. Replace the repair strap, lining its anchor holes up with the pilot holes in the bathroom floor.

Drive screws through the anchor holes and the pilot holes, stopping once the screw heads snug up against the repair strap. Unwrap a new wax ring, and then place it rounded-side-up on the flange. Lower the toilet back over the flange, inserting the bolts through the openings in the toilet’s base.

Tighten the nuts on the closet bolts while you press down on the bowl, compressing the wax ring until the toilet sits against the bathroom floor. Thread the water supply line back onto the water supply valve, tightening the connection with the adjustable wrench.