ISSUE:
Our toilet was "loose". You could rock it front-to-back and side-to-side. I removed the toilet to find the "closet flange" was broken on each side where the threaded studs came through it.
CAUSE:
We have a separate commode room. Ahead of the commode is a counter with a small sink. Below the counter, on the front wall, I mounted the toilet paper holder. My "guess" is that 1.5 years of reaching that far forward to access the toilet paper, stressed and finally cracked the plastic closet flange.
REPAIR OPTIONS:
I suppose the best and most proper repair would have been to replace the closet flange. Doing so at a campground would take me several hours as I'd have to empty the storage bay, remove the entire utility wall, cut a section of 3" sewer pipe, remove the closet flange, 45 degree angle, a section of the 3" drain pipe, add new, then reinstall the commode.
I'm supposed to be working on the Goshen rally right now and I don't want to lose a half day.
Another option is to mend what I have.
REPAIR:
As we are staying in the Dallas, TX area for 2 days, I asked my good friend and forum moderator, Terry Hershberger to take a look at it. He and I went to Lowes and there, we found some repair/mending kits. We bought all 3 types. One of them turned out to be the best. Simply put, we left the closet flange in place and overlaid a metal ring and screwed it to the floor. Viola!
The only issue is the metal mending ring is about 3/32" thick. This meant that after the repair was done, commode reinstalled and tested, the commode still rocked - this time because it was lifted 3/32" off the floor. So for now, I've used some synthetic shims and it's rock solid. Later, I'll look for the right material to use for a full-perimeter shim, remove the commode, insert said material, reinstall commode and run a bead of almond silicone rubber around the commode base.
Our toilet was "loose". You could rock it front-to-back and side-to-side. I removed the toilet to find the "closet flange" was broken on each side where the threaded studs came through it.
CAUSE:
We have a separate commode room. Ahead of the commode is a counter with a small sink. Below the counter, on the front wall, I mounted the toilet paper holder. My "guess" is that 1.5 years of reaching that far forward to access the toilet paper, stressed and finally cracked the plastic closet flange.
REPAIR OPTIONS:
I suppose the best and most proper repair would have been to replace the closet flange. Doing so at a campground would take me several hours as I'd have to empty the storage bay, remove the entire utility wall, cut a section of 3" sewer pipe, remove the closet flange, 45 degree angle, a section of the 3" drain pipe, add new, then reinstall the commode.
I'm supposed to be working on the Goshen rally right now and I don't want to lose a half day.
Another option is to mend what I have.
REPAIR:
As we are staying in the Dallas, TX area for 2 days, I asked my good friend and forum moderator, Terry Hershberger to take a look at it. He and I went to Lowes and there, we found some repair/mending kits. We bought all 3 types. One of them turned out to be the best. Simply put, we left the closet flange in place and overlaid a metal ring and screwed it to the floor. Viola!
The only issue is the metal mending ring is about 3/32" thick. This meant that after the repair was done, commode reinstalled and tested, the commode still rocked - this time because it was lifted 3/32" off the floor. So for now, I've used some synthetic shims and it's rock solid. Later, I'll look for the right material to use for a full-perimeter shim, remove the commode, insert said material, reinstall commode and run a bead of almond silicone rubber around the commode base.
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