Can I mix ABS and PVC plastic?

[MakinSmoke]

My Thetford Aqua Magic Aurora toilet wouldn't hold water. I bought a "repair kit" online and took the toilet apart. I found multiple broken parts. After a discussion with Jack at SC, we decided that it would be better to replace the toilet than to rebuild the one we had because it was never as good as one would hope.

Jack suggested the Thetford Aqua Magic Style Plus. To make a long story shorter, the Style plus bolt pattern (where it connects to the ABS collar flange in the drain) is at 9 and 3. The old Aurora bolt pattern was at 11 and 5.


That means I have to replace the ABS closet flange (collar). I went to Lowes and HD and neither had ABS, they both only carried a variety of PVC. My question is can I use a PVC closet flange (with the proper bolt pattern) and join it to ABS plastic or do I have to order ABS fixtures?

[Workshop]

Smoke...as far as I know all PVC's are interchangeable...except CPVC which is for 'drinking' water and is a different size OD. Others are Black...waste systems, White...general use, Gray...electrical and purple for reclaimed water. CPVC is yellow.
All can be fitted together together except CPVC which would require adapters that are available.

As they all have some differences in their makeup, they recommend their own glues/solvents. If you read the can label, they will indicate use. HD and Lowes sells a solvent that can be used on both PVC and ABS.

Even tho the ABS is designed for waste systems, the home industry has been using PVC is some sections for years. So parts available at HD/Lowes should work.

Just looked at pictures of my toilet connection and waste line, it appears the tiolet floor flange is attached to a 45 degree before the straight pipe. I had thought that if the flange was connected to a straight section....that it could be cut...the flange disconnected from the floor and rotated to the correct position and secured....and a rubber coupling/boot installed to reconnect the piping.

What does your pipe look like?

workhorse

[MakinSmoke]

Thanks for the info on ABS connecting to PVC. I'll look for the glue.

My Closet collar and 45 degree is ONE PIECE as if goes through the floor and then connects with a short piece of 3" schedule 40 ABS before it makes another 45 degree bend to a longer piece of ABS.

I'm on my way to ACE to buy replacement PVC now. My next decision is where to cut the ABS to make a joint. Seems like just above the second 45 leaving enough to use a sleeve joint assuming I can find the right Oatey cement. Did I tell you recently that I HATRE HOME REPAIRS?????????

[Workshop]

Smoke sounds like you have the same setup/connection that I have. I will post a photo when I get them uploaded shortly. I haven't removed my toilet to make my 'water holding problem ' yet...so don't know what it looks like at the floor/flange....would you be able to use something like this to make the necessary connection without removing any of the existing parts?

Cutting near the floor does sound like it would give you more room up top to make adjustments. It will be a tight space to fit and 'glue' the parts together...still might consider the rubber coupling which will allow the parts to be fitted easier. If you decide to use solvent, dry fit everything first and using a marker, draw an index line to aid aligning the parts back together. Remember the parts will probably fit together easier once the solvent 'lubes' the parts and they slip together easier. Meaning they might be shorter when glued together. The rubber coupling will allow for that.

For FYI here are several links on ABS:

ABS products
ABF FAQ

[Workshop]

Here is a photo of my waste pipe....





Here is the rubber coupling...





Just came back from checking my toilet...because of the threat of removing it and making any repairs....it was holding water in the bowl from the last cleaning of the seal and lubing the rubber areas....had considered removing it now to look at the flange to floor connection, but if it's now holding water____won't invite trouble on a Friday !!!


workhorse

[wa8yxm]

One thought.. There is some "Range" in that collar.. It may be you do not have to replace it.. And in some cases you can simply drill the holes needed and pass the bolt up.

I do not recall.. Oh, yes I do, the collar is designed for common toilet bolts, these have oval heads that go in a slot,

If your toilet is on a riser, as mine is, you can simple drill holes where you need them, all the way through the wood, and shove a bolt up from under by removing the front riser panel. This works well

While you have the toilet off, if that riser is carpeted, RIP THE CARPET OUT and properly seal and paint or stain the wood underneath. Whoever came up with the idea of carpeting those risers needs to be dumped in the tank the unit dumps into.

[MakinSmoke]

Chris,
I bought that fernco coupling. Finally got to talk to a (real) plumber and he told me that ABS and PVC expand and contract at different rates and his experience is that they tend to crack. He uses fernco joins exclusively. So we did good on that part of the decision.
Now, on your pictures, my collar and ABS pipe have the same 45 that you show in the picture and I cut the ABs about 8" down the ABS pipe because I could not reach nor get the saw closer. My drain is not in the regular basement, it is behind a sliding door next to my battery compartment and is very tight for a guy my size. I reached in a cut it with one hand, cutting my hands in several places on exposed screws. (did I say recently that I HATE HOME REPAIR JOBS?)

After finally resolving the drain issue, now I am faced with the fresh water infeed termination coming up through the floor is not nearly long enough to reach the water input on the new toilet. The new one is higher up on the toilet and at a different angle so I guess it is back to HD for my third trip today...22 miles round trip. Did I tell you that I hate home repairs lately. This stuff really, really sucks! Why in the world would anybody enjoy doing that kind of work.

WA8YXM,
My flange was fixed with no range at all and there was no carpet in our bathroom.

[Workshop]

Been away making money for a Friday....good to hear that you have the drain cut and by saying 'finally resolved' do you mean cut and removed or the new flange installed?

If your supply is like mine it is a PEX tubing....in the above photo the BLUE inlet line is visible. You should be able to purchase a length of PEX and using something like the SharkBite fittting/couplings add a section to lengthen to what you need. I've used them before and they are easy to use and haven't had any problems.

Yes I know what your saying.....

[MakinSmoke]

Workhorse,
First let me say thanks again for your patience and help.

Now, I have successfully installed the closet flange, 45 elbow, an 8" pieceof PVC all primed and glued firmly. Next inline I slid on the fernco sleeve farther down on the ABS than it needed to be and as I slide the newly built PVC pieces down into the fernco, slid the fernco back up just a little and left it loose while I screwed down the closet flange to the floor. Worked like I knew what I was doing!

Now, I am off to Home Depot again to buy the pex and fittin's you are recommending to extend the fresh water line up to the toilet intake. ALMOST DONE....maybe.

Oh, did I say recently that I do not like home repairs? but it beats the 11 day wait for the RV repair folks with no toilet!

[Workshop]

Good for you.

As far as the parts to extend the the water line into /farther up....if you can't find the fitting needed to make the connection between the new line and the toilet....might consider using two coupling and a longer length of tubing to use as an extention in the line so you can use the existing toilet fitting.

I'm out unpacking new electronics for the Beast, but will check in often.

workhorse

[MakinSmoke]

OK final episode...I hope. For the fresh water connection "extension", the Home Depot dude has ready made extention of various lengths which have 1/2 female on one end and a plastic female (both pipe threaded)on the other and it was actually marked "Toilet Connector".

Man I jumped all over that and was soooo happy as I drove the 10 miles back to the RV. Got inside and found that the plastic female was NOT 1/2 inch. Apparently on a new regular HOME toilet, the male plastic nipple on the regular home toilet is 7/8" so they make the "Toilet Connectors up with 1/2" at one end and 7/8" at the other.

RV toilets have 1/2" male nipples built into the toilet. Trip number 6 of the day to Home Depot scored me a 16" piece, ready made with 1/2" chromed females on both ends. Guess what, that piece is actually marked "Faucet Connector". When I got back to the RV, IT WORKED. I cross threaded it the first time and prayed that it didn't mess up the plastic thread but the next time, I got it right and it DID NOT LEAK. S U C C E S S! I was dancing around like a kid. Dadgum, I am soooo happy this job is over. Thank you again for your suggestions, parts and pictures. They worked and helped get me through this.

[Workshop]

Glad for you!

Think how much easier it will be the next time....

One thing I learned the first week in the home repair area...you have no idea what your getting yourself into, you never have the right tools all the time, you can't carry all the stuff you need and with plumbing....it was always the worst.

workhorse