A closet flange is the pipe fitting that anchors a toilet to the floor and joins it to the drain. Bolts hold the toilet to the flange. A wax ring sits on top of the flange to seal the gap. It is also called a toilet flange or closet ring.
A closet flange is the pipe fitting that connects a toilet to the drain and holds it to the floor. It is also called a toilet flange or closet ring. The name comes from water closet, the old word for a toilet.
What it does
The closet flange has two jobs. First, it anchors the toilet. Two closet bolts pass up through the flange and through the base of the toilet, then nuts hold the toilet down. Second, it connects the toilet to the closet bend, the pipe that carries waste to the drain. The flange fastens to the floor with screws driven into the subfloor.
How it seals
A closet flange does not seal on its own. A wax ring sits on top of the flange, between the flange and the bottom of the toilet. When the toilet is set and bolted down, the wax squeezes flat and makes a watertight seal. That seal keeps water and sewer gas from escaping at the base. If the flange cracks or sits too low, the seal can fail. For that, see how to fix a broken toilet flange.
Materials and height
Closet flanges are made from PVC, ABS, cast iron, or brass. PVC and ABS are the most common in newer homes. Brass and cast iron show up in older homes. Height matters too. The flange should sit on top of the finished floor, level with the tile or vinyl, not below it. A flange set at the right height helps the wax ring seal well and keeps the toilet from rocking.