What workarounds did people try for "How to remove a broken toilet flange yourself"?

Community members documented 36 workarounds: 1. Researching plumbing subreddits and guides 2. Attempting the repair independently 3. Using epoxy to patch the broken flange 4. Installing a metal flange repair kit or ring over the old one 5. Rotating the toilet 90 degrees 6. Cutting the pipe and using a flush-fit floor flange 7. Grinding down interior high spots with a carbide rasp bit 8. Cutting the top neck internally and using an expansion or Twist-N-Set flange 9. Replacing the old lead bend and transitioning to PVC below the slab 10. Used silicone to glue the toilet to the floor 11. Used a green foam and wax ring 12. Using a sawzall to cut the bottom of the flange 13. Using an inside pipe cutting tool with a drill to remove the flange 14. Shimming the toilet 15. replacing the part entirely instead of cleaning or repairing it 16. Twisting to the left 17. Pulling upward or outward 18. Using a stainless repair ring screwed to the concrete 19. Holding the plastic piece with a wrench while unscrewing 20. Loosening the nuts below while holding the screws from turning 21. Pushing up and twisting if the seat has a quick-release mechanism 22. Calling a professional plumber 23. Soldering a new brass flange to the lead 24. Connecting PVC pipe to a new PVC flange 25. Using thread-in flange adapters for old metal pipe 26. Using a ferrule puller 27. Cutting behind the nut with a fine-toothed saw or oscillating tool 28. Using a mini hacksaw or file to cut the ferrule without damaging the pipe 29. Using channel locks to wiggle or twist the ferrule off 30. Reusing the existing nut and ferrule with a new compression valve 31. Using penetrating oil and gently tapping with a hammer on a block of wood to break the rust bond 32. Putting a rug on the button to get grip while pushing down and twisting 33. Checking the backside of the button to align matching notch numbers/markers before pushing and twisting 34. Untwisting the outer chrome piece from the drop valve below 35. Unclipping the mechanism from the underside 36. Spinning it counter-clockwise (to the left)

How to remove a broken toilet flange yourself

Removing a stuck or broken toilet flange is difficult because it anchors the toilet firmly to the floor and often breaks during removal, leaving homeowners unsure whether to patch it with epoxy or attempt a full replacement. This uncertainty leaves the bathroom out of commission and forces a decision between continuing a tricky DIY repair or calling a professional plumber.

Overview

Last updated Oct 30, 2026

People affected15 accounts across 3 forums

Workarounds found36 items attempted

Community agreement61 total upvotes

What the numbers show

Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count

The most recent one is from October 2026.
This comes up 17.4× more often in r/Plumbing than across the site as a whole.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

36 items+ Contribute

Found another way around this?

Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.

1
Researching plumbing subreddits and guides
Did this help you?
2
Attempting the repair independently
Did this help you?
3
Using epoxy to patch the broken flange
Did this help you?
4
Installing a metal flange repair kit or ring over the old one
Did this help you?
5
Rotating the toilet 90 degrees
Did this help you?
6
Cutting the pipe and using a flush-fit floor flange
Did this help you?
7
Grinding down interior high spots with a carbide rasp bit
Did this help you?
8
Cutting the top neck internally and using an expansion or Twist-N-Set flange
Did this help you?
9
Replacing the old lead bend and transitioning to PVC below the slab
Did this help you?
10
Used silicone to glue the toilet to the floor
Did this help you?
11
Used a green foam and wax ring
Did this help you?
12
Using a sawzall to cut the bottom of the flange
Did this help you?
13
Using an inside pipe cutting tool with a drill to remove the flange
Did this help you?
14
Shimming the toilet
Did this help you?
15
replacing the part entirely instead of cleaning or repairing it
Did this help you?
16
Twisting to the left
Did this help you?
17
Pulling upward or outward
Did this help you?
18
Using a stainless repair ring screwed to the concrete
Did this help you?
19
Holding the plastic piece with a wrench while unscrewing
Did this help you?
20
Loosening the nuts below while holding the screws from turning
Did this help you?
21
Pushing up and twisting if the seat has a quick-release mechanism
Did this help you?
22
Calling a professional plumber
Did this help you?
23
Soldering a new brass flange to the lead
Did this help you?
24
Connecting PVC pipe to a new PVC flange
Did this help you?
25
Using thread-in flange adapters for old metal pipe
Did this help you?
26
Using a ferrule puller
Did this help you?
27
Cutting behind the nut with a fine-toothed saw or oscillating tool
Did this help you?
28
Using a mini hacksaw or file to cut the ferrule without damaging the pipe
Did this help you?
29
Using channel locks to wiggle or twist the ferrule off
Did this help you?
30
Reusing the existing nut and ferrule with a new compression valve
Did this help you?
31
Using penetrating oil and gently tapping with a hammer on a block of wood to break the rust bond
Did this help you?
32
Putting a rug on the button to get grip while pushing down and twisting
Did this help you?
33
Checking the backside of the button to align matching notch numbers/markers before pushing and twisting
Did this help you?
34
Untwisting the outer chrome piece from the drop valve below
Did this help you?
35
Unclipping the mechanism from the underside
Did this help you?
36
Spinning it counter-clockwise (to the left)
Did this help you?

Tried another approach not listed above?+ Share your workaround ↑

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.

r/Plumbing13 people · September 2026 – October 2026

“Recently had the floors redone after some water damage (not related to this toilet or flange).”source ↗

“I'm not sure if the flange is glued in to the drain pipe or what, but it definitely isn't anchored to the slab underneath.”source ↗

“Looks like a new wax ring will still leak on the side where the flange is missing...”source ↗

“Any help is appreciated, as I'm hoping to avoid paying a ton here.”source ↗

Anxious_Highway1679 · r/Plumbing · 21 upvotes

“Should I replace the toilet mount or use epoxy to patch it?”source ↗

“I noticed some rocking on the toilet and decided to pull it out think the wax ring was getting unseated. Pulled the toilet and flange broken.”source ↗

Fly_Hopeful · r/Plumbing · 9 upvotes

“Trying to install a bidet back here and broke the valve behind my toilet trying to take it off.”source ↗

“Got all the water in the house off so hoping to get this fixed before the family mutinies.”source ↗

Shay_Verkhouter · r/Plumbing · 9 upvotes

“Toilet fills, swirls weakly, slows down, and rises without pulling a proper siphon flush.”source ↗

“Looking down the open flange, the throat underneath is severely deformed/restricted into a tight, keyhole shape (choked down to under 2 inches in spots).”source ↗

shizuka28m · r/Plumbing · 4 upvotes

“New homeowner here. I was cleaning the toilet and the screws were free spinning. I investigated further and i found that they have completely snapped off.”source ↗

“Google is telling me to install a flange repair ring, screw it in and follow it up with a fluidmaster extra thicc wax. Is that correct? I’m confused as to how the ring is supposed to screw in, if the extra thick ring is appropriate for my flush hole, and if the broken tiles are gonna mess anything up.”source ↗

twoanahalf · r/Plumbing · 2 upvotes

“Most obvious is my flange is too high.”source ↗

“The flange is not level, and I miscalculated the bolt positions when putting in the replacement steel ring.”source ↗

“When I went to dry fit the toilet, it was hitting the flange.”source ↗

KonnAlexander · r/Plumbing · 2 upvotes

“I’m having a hard time removing the old flange, and I want to make sure a new one fits in that same.”source ↗

“Does this look like something for a pro or can I still fix it myself?”source ↗

sw33tchili234 · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“the round (male?) part is stuck and won't budge, what pliers do i use? how do i remove?”source ↗

godisnotmyson · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“My son just bought a house and the toilet was rocking. Figured we's just remove and reset it with a new wax ring and some plaster. The flange came off the pipe, looks to be lead. How do I fix this?”source ↗

Ar7_Vandelay · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“I think OP would need to cut the nut and ferrule off, take off the bell escutcheon and put on a regular escutcheon.”source ↗

tomdalzell · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“I’ve tried putting a rug on it pushing down while twisting but it’s not moving.”source ↗

ladysman_untrue · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“Recently moved into a home and the toilet was rocking just a bit so decided to tighten it down.”source ↗

“One side was fine with plenty of thread but the other side was barely hanging on and popped off as soon as I touched it.”source ↗

bartholomewbiggles · r/Plumbing · 1 upvotes

“i am trying to put a bidet on this american standard toilet with a bemis toilet seat. i have tried vinegar to remove mineral build up. i have also held the plastic with a wrench while trying to unscrew the top. the slotted screw and the metal plate move as one unit.”source ↗

Ok_Cat_423 · r/Plumbing

r/HomeImprovement1 person · September 2026

“I’ve been trying to remove this towel ring from the bathroom with zero success”source ↗

“I can’t figure out how to take it down. There doesn’t seem to be a screw, it barely twists to the left, and pulling it upward or outward has done nothing.”source ↗

smallsaltybread · r/HomeImprovement · 6 upvotes

r/HomeMaintenance1 person · October 2026

“Please. Every step of the way for this toilet installation has been a nightmare. I have put in idk maybe 4 toilets ever and this was just an endurance test. I’m at my wit’s end. I cannot afford a plumber if I mess this up.”source ↗

Klutzy_Journalist_36 · r/HomeMaintenance · 1 upvotes

“Ohmygod thank you. THANK YOU.”source ↗