I recently hired a plumber to auger out the drain in the 1925 house I just bought. In the process of doing so we needed to remove an old toilet. This toilet had a crack in the base and had been leaking for years. Once it came off we discovered why- the brass flange was not soldered to the lead drain pipe. However, this particular plumber wanted $500 to install a new flange (!!) but being new to town I don’t know any other good plumbers, so I want to try to deal with this myself.
I’m planning on gutting this bathroom in the next six months, so I don’t need a permanent solution, just something to get me through without causing too much damage. Does anyone have any ideas for me? In a previous house I recall using a pvc insert in this situation, but I don’t remember much else. Attached are two pics..
Thanks,
Andy
Replies
I think I've seen a t shaped pvc flange that fits down inside the hole. You tighten a couple of screws and it comresses up against the side of the pipe. Then you put your wax ring and toilet on top.
Does it matter that the pipe is lead instead of cast iron?
Thanks,
Andy
I don't think I've ever seen the brass ring soldered to the lead. Your problem looks like an easy fix to me.
First tap the lead bend (gently) inward so you can slip a new brass ring over it.
Screw the brass ring to your subfloor using the screws supplied with the ring or substitute some other type of fastener. Just make sure the brass ring is nice and solid to the floor.
Gently tap the lead bend back over on top of the brass ring.
Insert johnny bolts onto brass ring.
They make a wax ring that has a rubber hub on it. Use this wax ring to ensure the waste is gonna go down the lead bend.
Place wax ring on brass ring.
Install toilet aligning with the johnny bolts
Tighten nuts be careful not to tight. Don't want to crack the base. =)
Install water supply.
Turn water on.
Take a nice healthy one!
Looks like they re-tiled the floor over the old hex tile, and just went around the toilet without removing it and extending the drain. Vicious bastards!
If you can get under the floor, I'd cut the old pipe and use a no-hub coupling to tie in a new piece of plastic pipe. Definitely try the solution detailed above but if it doesn't work you need to be prepared to get underneath.