Need help lowering closet flange. The drain is 3" PVC, and the flange is also PVC and has an 'inner sleeve' when connected to the drain pipe. I have a new 'rubber sealed' inner flange, but I can't get the old one out. I bought a inner pipe cutter but the blade does not seem to be big enough to cut through the pipe. I assume the blade is not big enough because there is a step-off from the sleeve on the current flange to the actual pipe I am cutting. Any advice? I have not been able to find larger inner pipe cutting blades. Also, once I cut through the pipe, this is slightly deeper than the foundation. Will the pipe stick to the cement and be difficult to lift away? Please don't heckle me for not noticing this before I laid my travertine tile under the current flange... ugh!

Try using a Dremel with the large cutting disk. It stinks, and the PVC clogs up the cutting disk often, but all in all it should be able to get under the step and cut the pipe. Concrete usually doesn't stick to plastic very well, so I doubt it will stick much, but if it does you should be able to smack it around a bit to loosen it. Good Luck.

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Originally Posted by bmarigoni

Try using a Dremel with the large cutting disk. It stinks, and the PVC clogs up the cutting disk often, but all in all it should be able to get under the step and cut the pipe. Concrete usually doesn't stick to plastic very well, so I doubt it will stick much, but if it does you should be able to smack it around a bit to loosen it. Good Luck.

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I do have a dremel... but I have never seen a cutting wheel that is any larger than the inner pipe-cutting tool I just purchased...

I was thinking that you could maneuver the Dremel in the pipe and angle it toward where you need cut with the larger wheel.. perhaps you don't have as much clearance as I was thinking..

Hi Lostcreeksooner...

You may have a street closet flange in place there... that could explain the issue with not finishing the cut using the inside pipe cutter you purchased. Here, you would be cutting not only the flange pipe but also the fitting it connects into... may be too wide for the inside PIPE cutter. If this is the case and you have a STREET FLANGE then you only have a couple options left...

How deep have you cut into the flange pipe already?

Can you post a picture of this situation using the GO ADVANCED feature and then MANAGE ATTACHMENTS to post a picture?

Let us know...

MARK

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