I am trying to fix a wobbly toilet. I got the toilet off no problem. Now I am trying to put in a new flange as the old one is cracked, rotted, no good. I can't get it off. It appears to be stuck to the outside of the pvc pipe that leads to the sewer. I've found lots of information on getting one off of the inside of the pipe, but none on how to remove it from the outside. Also. The floor has tiles but whoever installed it previously didn't put it in at the correct height, it is too low. Any help greatly appreciated! I think the flange is plastic of some sort as it bends too easily to be metal, although I am not an expert!

just chop, smash, bash or whatever you have to do to get the old flange removed. if there are pieces still glued on the outside of the pipe that is fine. destroy the flange but not the pipe..
then get a flange designed to glue inside 4 inch pipe. or one that has a rubber gasket designed for push into 4 inch pipe.

thanks so much for the reply. one other question. it looks as if the old flange was set directly into concrete or perhaps mortar, which has disintegrated in places. should i re mortar the entire area? or can the flange in the pipe hold the weight of the toilet? it also appears that the old flange did not sit over the tile, but too low if that makes sense.
thanks again



Edited 2 times.

The new flange needs to sit atop the tiles, or at a height equal to the top of the tiles. There should be tapcons securing the flange to the floor.

The flange does NOT support any of the toilet's weight. That is what the floor is for.