The people who built my house put the drain hole for my toilet too close to the wall. It is at a 11 1/2" So it is so close that it molds behind it and I cannot clean behind it..
Should I buy a new toilet to put some space between the wall and toilet or just leave it the way it is?

I suppose I cannot move the drain at all? I am like a total amateur to all this house repair stuff so pardon my not knowing the proper names of things.:confused:

I am not a plumber but it seems to me you have to move the wall if you want to keep the same toilet . Or you can get a toilet for a 10 " rough in . There are plenty available .

10 Rough Elongated Toilet - Home Improvement - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at NexTag - Price - Review (http://www.nextag.com/10-rough-elongated-toilet/search-html)

The people who built my house put the drain hole for my toilet too close to the wall. It is at a 11 1/2" So it is so close that it molds behind it and I cannot clean behind it..
Should I buy a new toilet to put some space between the wall and toilet or just leave it the way it is?

I suppose I cannot move the the drain at all?? I am like a total amateur to all this house repair stuff so pardon my not knowing the proper names of things.:confused:
Yes, you can move the drain. In fact, it's just about the only way to move your toilet out, ( without installing a 10" rough in bowl). you would have to swap the existing closet flange for a 1 or 1 1/2" offset closet flange,(see image). What type of drainage do you have? Copper? Cast iron? Plastic? Let me know. Tom

The people who built my house put the drain hole for my toilet too close to the wall. It is at a 11 1/2" So it is so close that it molds behind it and I cannot clean behind it..
Should I buy a new toilet to put some space between the wall and toilet or just leave it the way it is?

I suppose I cannot move the the drain at all?? I am like a total amateur to all this house repair stuff so pardon my not knowing the proper names of things.:confused:
If we're truly talking about only a 1/2 of an inch, you can 'cheat' the closet bolts forward a bit on the closet flange.

The closet flange has either a 3" or a 4" inlet, while the discharge outlet on the water closet isn't going to be any more than 2" -- So moving the closet bolts forward 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch isn't going to affect how the toilet flushes.

tomder55 agrees: I read that was one possible solution but it also said that an offset flange may violate code
You're changing out a closet flange, not building a house. Who's going to know!
Try growlers advice first. If that fails then a offset flange may be the only answer.
Good luck, Tom

I am not a plumber but it seems to me you have to move the wall if you want to keep the same toilet . Or you can get a toilet for a 10 " rough in . There are plenty available .

10 Rough Elongated Toilet - Home Improvement - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at NexTag - Price - Review (http://www.nextag.com/10-rough-elongated-toilet/search-html)

What does "rough in" mean exactly? Does it just mean 10" Can I just put this 10" toilet right where the old one was? Will it line up with the flange bolts and Just be the correct distance from the wall?

Thanks all of you for your answers! :D

Yes, you can move the drain. In fact, it's just about the only way to move your toilet out, ( without installing a 10" rough in bowl). you would have to swap the existing closet flange for a 1 or 1 1/2" offset closet flange,(see image). What type of drainage do you have? Copper? Cast iron? Plastic? Let me know. Tom


My drainage is that black plastic or pvc. Is this replacement a difficult thing to do?