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Clean Old Wax from Flange — Prepare the Work Area and Clean the Flange

Beginner

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How to Install a Toilet Flange Extender · Step 1 of 6

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In this video

Before starting, ensure you have the new wax-free toilet seal kit. The first step is to thoroughly clean the old wax off the toilet flange. Wearing gloves, use disposable packing paper or rags to scrape and wipe away all the sticky residue from the flange and the surrounding floor. Remove and discard the old flange bolts as the kit provides new ones.

Goal: Bathroom Cleaning

  • The best way to clean the sticky wax is by using paper to absorb and remove it. Disposing of the paper makes cleanup easier.
  • Always wear gloves during this step as the wax is very messy.

Used in this video

  • Gloves (brand: Firm Grip, Material: Fabric, Rubber)To protect hands from old wax and dirt.
  • Packing Paper (Material: Paper)To wipe and remove old wax from the flange.
  • Plastic Bag (Material: Plastic)To dispose of the old wax and used paper.
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Lowe's Home Improvement

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FAQs

Why is a toilet flange extender needed, and what's the typical time commitment for this beginner-level project?

A toilet flange extender like the Oatey 1/4 in. PVC Toilet Flange Spacer is needed when new, thicker flooring causes your existing flange to sit below the finished floor level, preventing a leak-proof seal. This project is considered beginner-friendly, mainly requiring basic hand tools and careful attention to detail. Expect to dedicate 1-2 hours for the installation once the toilet is removed and the area is prepped.

Which specific tools and materials are most critical for successfully installing the flange extender and ensuring a leak-proof seal?

Key tools include a Husky 10 in. Adjustable Wrench for bolts, an HDX 6-in-1 Screwdriver, and a JES 10 oz. 12:1 Caulk Gun for the silicone sealant. Crucial materials are the Oatey 1/4 in. PVC Toilet Flange Spacer itself, an Everbilt Extra Thick Toilet Wax Ring with Plastic Horn, and Everbilt 1/4 in. x 2-1/4 in. Toilet Floor Bolts for securing everything.

What are the biggest mistakes to avoid during installation to prevent future leaks?

The most common mistakes are failing to thoroughly clean and dry the existing flange before applying silicone, or neglecting to dry-fit the extender to ensure it's flush with the finished floor. Always use a fresh, high-quality Everbilt Extra Thick Toilet Wax Ring and ensure the closet bolts are tightened evenly without over-tightening, which can crack the toilet base.

What essential safety steps should I take before and during the flange extender installation?

Always begin by shutting off the water supply to the toilet and flushing to empty the tank and bowl completely. Wear FIRM GRIP Pro Cleaning Disposable Nitrile Gloves for hygiene and protection. Be mindful of lifting the toilet, which can be heavy, and ensure a stable, dry work area to prevent slips.

Transcript
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So first thing we're going to do is clean this up and the best way to clean this up is actually just using paper to be just have like paper that you can use like this, like a packing paper, this is really sticky so obviously wear a glove and you can just keep wiping it down like that and then throwing it away. It'll be easier also if you would remove the bolt, usually this fluid master kit comes with a bolt so you would want to remove the existing bolt and because you would need to, you wouldn't want to use a new bolt so that it won't be, it will last longer. Alright, so come to that newer bolt and it's actually longer. Alright, the second thing that you would need is, so the second thing that you would need is to measure the height of this particular bracket here to make sure that it's about a quarter inch above the floor or flush with the floor. If it's more than a quarter inch above the floor, this one is almost flush as I would say about a last and a quarter of an inch so this is perfect that means we don't need to use a seal spacer like this. We don't need to use this if your hole is actually lower than a quarter of an inch then you need to use this spacer. Now since we don't need to use the spacer we can just install something like this that the actual seal itself directly on it. Alright, but I don't have everything clean yet. Let me go ahead and continue cleaning and then we'll show you how to install the bolts and eventually the seal in the toilet. Okay, so we got the bracket clean enough and what we're going to do is now start to install

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