Whenever replacing a toilet wax ring, it's essential to make sure you get the appropriate size for your toilet. If you don't and try to install a new toilet or put back your old one, you'll have to buy a brand new ring and start all over!
Diameter: When installing a wax ring, the diameter must be the same as the opening on the bottom of the toilet. All Oatey wax rings fit 3-inch or 4-inch waste lines. You will need a 2-inch diameter wax ring for a urinal installation.
Most wax rings are standard size. You should pull your toilet off again and scrape off all the old wax. If your toilet flange is below floor level, you may have to use two wax rings, one on top of the other. You can buy rings of different thicknesses, but standard rings should work.
You only have to replace the wax ring if the toilet leaks. It's wise to replace it whenever you remove the toilet, though. It's not a matter of age, but the fact that a wax ring is intended to be a single-use item. They squish into place when you set a toilet, and that can't happen very well more than once.
Water Leaking: If you notice water pooling around the base of the toilet, it could indicate a failing wax ring. This is often the most obvious sign. Unpleasant Odors: A wax ring that has deteriorated can allow sewage gases to escape, leading to foul odors near the toilet.
Every toilet in your home has a wax ring connecting it to your plumbing, which creates a waterproof seal to keep what goes down to the sewer from seeping out the sides. This piece of equipment usually lasts as long as the toilet, about 30 years.
The wax ring is the seal between your toilet and the sewer pipe. It's essential to have a good seal so that waste and water would not leak from the base of your toilet. If your toilet is leaking, the wax ring likely needs to be replaced. On average, it costs between $200 and $250 to replace a toilet wax ring.
Position the new toilet wax ring on top of the toilet flange, ensuring it is centered. Want to know more about choosing the correct wax ring size, crucial installation tips, and other frequently asked questions?
Reasons to Caulk Around a Toilet
Moisture Prevention: Without caulk around the toilet base, external water can seep under the toilet, leading to floor and subfloor damage over time. This is especially important in bathrooms with wooden floors, as prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to rot and structural issues.
Again, leaky water is a telltale and common sign of a bad wax ring. If you do not regularly see moisture or puddling water under your toilet, you may be fine. Leaks can, however, happen where you do not see them, under the finished floor and into the subfloor.
An improperly installed wax ring may leak. Perhaps the installer used a ring that wasn't thick enough, or perhaps the flange is high enough to lift the toilet off the floor and make it rock. Once water begins seeping through a compromised wax ring, it won't stop.
If you install the toilet flange flush with the finished floor, or even below the finished floor, leak paths will form, because the flange won't be at the correct height to accept the horn at the bottom of the toilet.
A properly set toilet flange will sit just on top of the finished floor. However, if your flange is positioned too low or flush with the floor, using a jumbo wax ring is a quick fix. Jumbo wax rings are about a quarter-inch thicker than the standard and compensate for the height lost with a flange that sits too low.
If a wax ring breaks or wears down, then it loses its watertight seal. When this happens, the seal allows water to leak out when you flush.
Toilet flanges are usually 3 or 4 inches in diameter, depending on the size of the drainpipe. A flange should fit with the pipe either by fitting comfortably inside of it or sliding over it. The pipe length should be adjusted depending on the floor finishing's thickness.
Plunging down too hard
A hard thrust downward can break the wax seal between the toilet and the floor, causing a leak. And a really hard thrust could even crack the bowl.
If you notice the caulk around the base of your toilet start to turn brown, it means your toilet has a wax ring which is leaking. As a result, human waste especially urine is decolorizing the normally white caulk. The solution to this is to remove the toilet and put a new wax ring.
Wax Toilet Seals: Keeping with Tradition
For years, wax rings have been plumbers' go-to options for making these types of toilet repairs.
To determine the correct width for your toilet wax ring, simply turn your toilet bowl on its side, and measure the opening on the bottom of your toilet, called the “elbow neck.” Whatever width this measurement is, use that width wax ring. E.g. if the elbow neck measures 3 inches, use a 3-inch wax ring.
Wax Ring: Replacing a wax ring costs $50–$200. This part seals the toilet base to the floor drain. Plumbers use plates to examine and replace this part. Tank: A toilet tank replacement costs $50–$100.
Wear a pair of waterproof cleaning gloves to remove and discard the old wax ring. Scrape the old wax seal off the base of the toilet and toilet flange, using a putty knife. Scrape any caulk off the toilet bowl and finished flooring. Inspect the toilet flange for any cracks or decay.
Replacing a toilet costs between $275 and $480 in most cases, and the average cost sits around $375.
Not only is our Wax-Free Toilet Seal easier to install than traditional wax rings, but it also provides superior performance.