What To Do If Your Toilet Seat Is Too High

Imagine spending weeks working on the bathroom remodel of your dreams, complete with a new porcelain throne. Excited to break in the new bathroom, you head to the toilet, but can't help but notice that the toilet seat feels a bit too high. Even worse, your toilet is wobbling. Before you panic, the culprit is likely an easy fix: your toilet flange. A toilet flange is a pipe fitting that sits on the floor and has a circular opening at the top. Its purpose is to secure your toilet to the floor and connect it to your home's plumbing system.

What you might not have known before installing your toilet is that flanges should be positioned on top of a finished floor and protrude about a ¼ inch over the flooring material. If you installed a toilet flange extender or replaced your flooring with a more low-profile option compared to what you had, your toilet may now be sitting too high. A too-high flange can present all sorts of problems, like a wobbly toilet, leaks, or a seat that feels uncomfortably tall. The good news is that correcting toilet flange height is a fixable problem.

While repairing your toilet flange isn't rocket science, it does require power tools, safety gear, and a flange made from easily cuttable material like PVC. If you don't feel comfortable working with power tools or have a metal flange, it's best to call in a pro. A plumber can either cut your flange down to the correct size or completely replace it. If you're up for a DIY toilet flange repair, start by removing the toilet and wax ring. Then, measure the flange to see how far it protrudes from the finished floor — about ¼ inch is ideal. If the flange is significantly higher, you can cut it down with a hacksaw or angle grinder.

Before attempting this project, put on safety goggles, earplugs, and protective clothing. Slowly trim the flange, ensuring an even cut, and stop when the flange is around the ideal length of a ¼ inch above the floor. After correcting the flange height, the toilet should be able to sit level and achieve a tight, leak-free seal after the wax ring is reinstalled. If you don't have the right tools, you may be able to just replace the flange altogether.

Replacing a toilet flange can be a DIY job as long as it's made of PVC and is not glued or sealed to the drainpipe. If your flange is metal or is sealed to the drainpipe, call a plumber for a proper replacement. To replace your gasket-sealed PVC flange, start by removing the toilet from your bathroom. Scrape off the wax from the bottom of the toilet and the flange. Then, remove any mounting bolts or screws and gently lift your flange out of place. Purchase a new flange of the same diameter and correct height. If you're unsure of what size to get, take the old flange to any home improvement store, and an associate should be able to help you find the right fit.

Position the new flange over the drainpipe and secure it using rust-proof screws suited for your flooring. Add the toilet flange bolts to their proper slots and tighten them in place with washers and nuts. Finish by adding the wax ring and reinstalling your toilet.