[kokobean]

Is there any way to break loose two pieces of cemented PVC pipe without cutting? We have a toilet flange that is cracked and we cannot break it free from the drain pipe. Thanks.

[mygirlsdad77]

Nope, you will have to cut the old flange off and replace it. Once the pipe is cleaned primed and glued, its as good as welded.

[hkstroud]

PVC joints can be separated using heat but it takes a little practice and a lot of luck. However, there are repair clamps for toilet flanges. Show us a picture of your problem.

[speedball1]

PVC joints aren't glued, The PVC Cement welds the two together. I don't know about heating the fittings to separated them. The two surfaces become one when cemented so even if you got them apart they couldn't be used or anything cemented back on.
As for the flange, If a tab or slot's broken 5they make a flange repair kit, (see image) that makes such a repair easy. Good luck, Tom

[mygirlsdad77]

Great advice above, a repair flange may be an option for you. Can you show us a pic.

[mygirlsdad77]

Harold, I agree, it can be done, I have done it a few times, and seen my boss do it many times, but there's about a fifty fifty split for success. Takes a lot of patience and as you said, luck. On a side note, I saw a tool online(cant remember where) that was an actual tool for reaming out pvc pipe from fitting, pretty spendy as I recall, but looked like the right tool for certain jobs. Of course it wouldn't help here.

[Missouri Bound]

Mygirlsdad... that tool isn't that expensive, guess it depends on how bad you need it... maybe in the 20-30 dollar range. Many plumbing supply houses have them now. (I saw it on This Old House)

[massplumber2008]

Here it is guys... called a RAM BIT... see image. It may even be possible to use here IF the flange actually needs to come out... ;) I've used this many times with great success! As mentioned, about $30.00ish for a 3" ram bit... sold at all plumbing supply stores in my area.

Otherwise, if a PVC or ABS plastic flange metal ring is the issue then they could use the repair rings above or could also use the clam bivalve type repair ring below... see other image.

Mark

[speedball1]

Thanks Mark,
I learn something new everyday on this site. We didn't have that tool back when I was working. Re just made very sure of our work before we primed and glued it. All of our condos and commercial jobs were done in cast iron. We didn't start to use plastic until the 80's and then in single family residences.
Makes me wonder though, why would you need such a tool in the first place? Just curious, Tom

[massplumber2008]

Hi Tom...

I use this tool in cases where there are PVC or ABS fittings that are cemented together in succession in such a way that I can't just cut the fitting off and cement a coupling on to the pipe so, for example, I can relocate some piping. Here, I cut one fitting off almost flush with the fitting I want to use and then use the RAMBIT to clear the fitting of remaining pipe and then can prime/cement and reuse the fitting to continue my work.

A good example would be swapping out a new sink for an old sink where the drains don't line up and under the sink is a PVC street 45 and a trap piped directly into the sanitary tee fitting in the wall... no way to extend the pipe without cutting into the wall and removing the sanitary tee, or using this tool!

Another example, and it applies nicely here, was when someone ripped out a tile floor and snapped a street closet flange but left the elbow intact. I was able to use the rambit to remove the street closet flange and reuse the elbow to install a new street closet flange.

PS: I've also used heat (torch, heat gun) to remove things like this but the fumes are extremely dangerous so this rambit has proved, well... good for my health... literally!

Have a great day!

Mark

[speedball1]

Thanks Mark,
All of my working life has been in new construction and service/ warranty repair. I never worked for a company that did remodels. Personally I never liked remodels. Dirty, dusty and before you could build something up you had to tear something out. New construction! Much cleaner with nothing to tear out.