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Groundhog · Feb 25, 2010, 02:50 PM

I put a tile floor in my bathroom and at the same time changed my commode. I put in a commode that came out of my mother's house, which was in good operating condition before we took it out of the house.

Because of the tile and the plywood that was added to the flooring, I ended up using 4 wax rings to keep it from leaking.

Now, I am having trouble getting it to completely flush. The commode fills completely, but it does not go down. I can plunge it and it will with several flushes and plunges go down.

I have bought a toilet auger and tried to find something that might be clogging it, but found nothing.

Could I have clogged something up with the wax ring that was not supposed to get clogged up?:confused:

creahands · Feb 25, 2010, 03:05 PM

What is location of flange for mounting toilet?

Flange should be even with finished floor. If lower, flange should be raised.

4 wax rings will be approx 6 to 8 inches in height before compression. Sounds like when u mounted toilet, u forced parts of wax ring over drain opening and blocking water from exiting.

Chuck

Groundhog · Feb 25, 2010, 03:36 PM

My flange is level with the original floor. So, now, what do I do

Groundhog

creahands · Feb 25, 2010, 04:46 PM

What is distance from original floor to new finished floor?

What is material of waste pipe?

Chuck

speedball1 · Feb 25, 2010, 04:50 PM

When I was the warranty man and trouble shooter for a large plumbing company we used to get calls like yours. "The toilet does not overflow; the water reaches the rim and gradually subsides, leaving the waste and a small amount of water in the bowl."
As a rule in older toilets this would mean a blocked jet butI was getting these calls on toilets that we just installed in our new construction. So when we got a complaint that one of our new toilets was having a flush problem I went out on the call. After a few calls I found the trouble. When our installers set a toilet the wax ring would spread in instead of out. This choked down on the opening setting up a back pressure that stopped the siphon action of the flush.
The remedy was to pull the toilet and form the wax seal so it beveled out and would spread out instead of in blocking the drain opening. I would have this checked first. After our plumbers began to bevel the ring out out complaints stopped. Good luck, Tom

massplumber2008 · Feb 25, 2010, 06:50 PM

Hi all:

Groundhog: If your closet flange is level with the old floor, please tell me what the difference in height is between the old finished floor and the new finished floor? If over an inch than I would recommend that you first install extension flanges... see image.

These extensions are sold at all home improvement stores. You will want to install them as directed in the instructions so that the extensions are, at a minimum, flush with the new finished floor. At a best result, you'd want the extensions to stick above the floor a maximum of 1/4" above the new finished floor.

Install an extra thick wax gasket if flange is flush with the floor, or a regular wax gasket with horn if the flange is set above the finished floor.

Answer my question... back to you.

Mark

Groundhog · Feb 26, 2010, 05:50 AM

There is 1 1/2" between the old floor and the new floor (1/2" plywood, 1/2" concrete board, 1/2" tile).
We used 1 wax ring that had a flange attached to it. Then we added the other rings above that one. What Speedball1 is saying is what I was wondering. It seems like all of you are saying I need to remove the toilet, put in an extension flange, then re-install with 1 wax ring. Is this correct?

creahands · Feb 26, 2010, 06:11 AM

Hi groundhog

That's the way to go.

Yes, need to use an extension flange.

Good luck

Chuck

speedball1 · Feb 26, 2010, 07:10 AM

I told youwhy I thought your toilet wasn't flushing but I agree with the rest of the other experts that you should use flange extenders to bring the flange up to floor level. Good luck. Tom

Groundhog · Feb 26, 2010, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

I told youwhy I thought your toilet wasn't flushing but I agree with the rest of the other experts that you should use flange extenders to bring the flange up to floor level. good luck. Tom

I won't be able to get to it until next week-end, but I do appreciate your help.:)

Groundhog · Feb 26, 2010, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by creahands

What is location of flange for mounting toilet?

Flange should be even with finished floor. If lower, flange should be raised.

4 wax rings will be approx 6 to 8 inches in height before compression. Sounds like when u mounted toilet, u forced parts of wax ring over drain opening and blocking water from exiting.

Chuck

It is possible that the wax was forced into areas it did not belong. I don't believe I will be able to actually raise the old flange. It will have to be placed over what I have in 1 way or another.:confused:

Groundhog · Feb 26, 2010, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by creahands

What is distance from original floor to new finished floor?

What is material of waste pipe?

Chuck

Waste pipe is PVC. As I said in another response, it is 1 1/2" between new floor and old floor.

massplumber2008 · Feb 27, 2010, 07:54 AM

Hi Groundhog...

Most likely the wax gasket fell into the hole a bit. Best to lift the toilet and see what you find... ;)

If you have a PVC you should be able to use the extenders without issue... simply put this is the best result, if possible.

Keep us posted.

Groundhog · Feb 27, 2010, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Hi Groundhog...

Most likely the wax gasket fell into the hole a bit. Best to lift the toilet and see what you find...;)

If you have a PVC you should be able to use the extenders without issue...simply put this is the best end result, if possible.

Keep us posted.

I appreciate your help. I'll try that next week-end.

Groundhog:cool: