Toilet wax seal or rubber?

[memphis]

Web wheeler
Joined
Jun 6, 2020
Member Number
1867
Messages
809
I’ve never changed a toilet seal… I don’t want to do it twice. The bathroom was redone before we bought the house. I’m not sure on the height of the toilet flange… but I do know that they added a subfloor and tile to this bathroom so I am under the assumption the flange is below the floor.

Do I stick with wax or go rubber? Whatever seal is currently installed, it lasted about 8-9 years
 
I've never used anything but wax. Without the added cone.

I can't say if the rubber/foam ones are bad, I've just never used them, no reason to change.

Edit: I didn't read the whole post.

The closet flange needs to be at least level with the floor. If it's sunk below the level of the floor, they make spacer kits you can add to the flange to raise it up, if fixing the height isn't an option. there are a few different styles, one is just a bunch of thin plates that you stack. They do work better than nothing. The better ones are one piece and have to be bolted/screwed down. Thats the right way to do it.. well, right-er way. Rightest way is reattaching the flange at the right height.
 
Last edited:
I am 100% making an assumption that the flange is below the floor

That’s 3/8 subfloor overtop of the original 1952 subfloor plus tile
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3633.jpeg
    IMG_3633.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 0
I've used both. Last time the only thing Ace had on the shelf was some super duper neoprene reusable one. It hasn't leaked, but neither did any of the wax rings.
 
Tall wax or double them. I keep everything needed to fix any toilet at any time. Grab some closet shims and new bolts.
BTW: You can almost completly empty the bowl by dumping a five gallon bucket of water down the toilet. Never dump hot water down a toilet....
 
billdacat said:
Tall wax or double them. I keep everything needed to fix any toilet at any time. Grab some closet shims and new bolts.
BTW: You can almost completly empty the bowl by dumping a five gallon bucket of water down the toilet. Never dump hot water down a toilet....
Click to expand...
Does hot water melt out the rubber seal?

Maybe it really is the superior material
 
Ummduh said:
I've never used anything but wax. Without the added cone.

I can't say if the rubber/foam ones are bad, I've just never used them, no reason to change.

Edit: I didn't read the whole post.

The closet flange needs to be at least level with the floor. If it's sunk below the level of the floor, they make spacer kits you can add to the flange to raise it up, if fixing the height isn't an option. there are a few different styles, one is just a bunch of thin plates that you stack. They do work better than nothing. The better ones are one piece and have to be bolted/screwed down. Thats the right way to do it.. well, right-er way. Rightest way is reattaching the flange at the right height.
Click to expand...

Etyler2 said:
Wax. They make tall ones also.
Click to expand...


What they said, or stack them. They are cheap enough buy two regular and one thick so you dont need to make extra trips. Pick up flange bolts while you are there cause the old ones are going to fawk with you in some fashion.

Lay toilet on back or side. Put 2' level across bottom of toilet to simulate floor. Measure distance drom level to toilet outlet.

Now put the level on the floor above the toilet flange and measure down from level to flange.

Use appropriate wax rings to give you a good 1/2 or more squish when you set the toilet and sit on it to set it before tightening the bolts.

Now all the plumbers here can tell me how wrong I am. Lol
 
Just food for thought:

I've replaced TONS of wax rings double stacked or more from low flanges. The wax ring is not technically a water seal, it's a gas seal (according to the plumbing union). The horn of the toilet is supposed to be inside/below the closet flange by design. Water (could/will) slowly find a way through the wax if the flange is too low.

Ymmv
 
Ummduh said:
Just food for thought:

I've replaced TONS of wax rings double stacked or more from low flanges. The wax ring is not technically a water seal, it's a gas seal (according to the plumbing union). The horn of the toilet is supposed to be inside/below the closet flange by design. Water (could/will) slowly find a way through the wax if the flange is too low.

Ymmv
Click to expand...

Yes, but it will last a LONG time, and I doubt he wants to raise the flange. Unless its really easy to get to.
 
The silicone rings are great if the flange is below the floor or if the toilet or floor move. Zero issues with them at all.

You can always just stack two or 1.5 rings together if you need to. Its a vapor seal not a water seal so take that for what its worth.
 
Last edited:
I've always used the thick wax seals. I've had a problem toilet that sits on uneven tile and with a crooked flange that starts leaking every few years. I used one of those newfangled rubber seal kits and shimmed it level and it's been good for several months.
 
I’ve always used wax. Just remember that wax only compresses, and doesn’t rebound, so if you **** up the install, it’s going to leak, and that’s not the fault of the wax. Line the bowl up, and drop it straight down without rocking it. When done properly, it’ll last a lifetime.
 
Another vote for wax.

Check the casting before installing (or better yet at the store). Make sure the bottom is actually flat so the toilet doesn't rock and make sure the castings aren't all plugged up so the passages will actually flow water. Nothing worse than putting a toilet in for it to rock and not flush (ya, I've been there).
 
I used the rubber one. I ended up having to pull the toilet a couple times so it was nice having the rubber one as it was reusable. Only been a year but no issues. Next toilet a guy gave me the Danco “perfect seal” linked above. Since it was free I tried it out. Worked fine but again only been 6 months since install.
 
I’ve used both, not a problem with either. As mentioned the wax is available in a few sizes. The rubber one is cleaner to work with.
 
Santa said:
What they said, or stack them. They are cheap enough buy two regular and one thick so you dont need to make extra trips. Pick up flange bolts while you are there cause the old ones are going to fawk with you in some fashion.

Lay toilet on back or side. Put 2' level across bottom of toilet to simulate floor. Measure distance drom level to toilet outlet.

Now put the level on the floor above the toilet flange and measure down from level to flange.

Use appropriate wax rings to give you a good 1/2 or more squish when you set the toilet and sit on it to set it before tightening the bolts.

Now all the plumbers here can tell me how wrong I am. Lol
Click to expand...
:thumbs up: this method.


SomeGuy said:
Another vote for wax.

Check the casting before installing (or better yet at the store). Make sure the bottom is actually flat so the toilet doesn't rock and make sure the castings aren't all plugged up so the passages will actually flow water. Nothing worse than putting a toilet in for it to rock and not flush (ya, I've been there).
Click to expand...
And this. I didn't check, and got a rocky one. A diamond blade on an angle grinder fixed its' little red wagon!

I've used flange shims to bring it up to level. I've tried the rubber things a couple times, and always come back to wax, even though I hate them. What a 1700s solution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar Threads

Ribbed rubber seal vs butyl tape for windows
Replies
3
Views
578
TrikeKid
TrikeKid
Top Back Refresh