Tips for Installing New Valterra RV Toilet Flange

Published 03/02/2018

Question:

I was curious if you had a good way to get the flange and plumbing out, so I can install a better system for next time. Maybe the valter threaded application. If you have any input I would appreciate it. Thank you

asked by: Jason C

Expert Reply:

Replacing the floor flange of a toilet can be somewhat challenging and there aren't really any great shortcuts for it.

Step 1
Flush out your black water tank. While this is not a necessary step for replacing the toilet flange, it makes the job more pleasant. An RV flange attaches directly into the black water holding tank, so a clean tank means less odor during the job.

Step 2
Turn off or disconnect the water going into the RV. Flush the toilet to empty the water from the bowl. Disconnect the water lines to the toilet.

Step 3
Remove the bolts holding the toilet down. Depending on the model toilet, two to four bolts are at the base of the toilet. Pull the toilet up and set it aside.

Step 4
Remove the flange seal. The flange seal is made of either rubber or wax. If it is a wax seal and has melted to the flange, use a putty knife to scrape off the wax.

Step 5
Remove the screws holding the flange to the floor. Commonly, the screws are stuck and difficult to remove. Use an angle grinder, if needed, to cut the bolts off.

Step 6
Shine a flashlight down the pipe leading to the black water tank to see how the flange is attached. The flange attaches approximately 1 to 3 inches down the tube. Usually, the flange screws into the tank. Sometimes, the flange is glued or cemented into the tank.

Step 7
Disconnect the flange. If the flange is screwed into the tank without any glue or cement, twist the flange counter-clockwise to detach it from the tank. Corrosion makes the flange hard to turn, so you have to put some muscle into your turning action. To remove a glued or cemented flange, hit the glued or cemented part with a chisel until you break the seal. Breaking the glue or cement bond requires a quite a bit of force and numerous hits with the chisel. Once you break through the glue or cement, twist or pull the flange off the black water tank.

Step 8
Install the new flange by screwing it clockwise into the black water tank. If you have one of the few tanks that do not have a screw in attachment for the flange, glue the flange into place using a waterproof marine adhesive.

Step 9
Replace the screws into the flange to hold the flange to the floor. If you previously cut the screws, install new ones.

Step 10
Set a new flange seal on top of the flange. Use a rubber flange seal, even if your prior flange seal was wax. Wax flange seals are not appropriate for RVs because they melt.

Step 11
Reinstall the toilet, reversing the toilet removal instructions.