A faulty wax ring, or one that is going bad, may produce any number of telltale signs. These include leaks, bad smells, or a wobbly 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.
A damaged wax ring doesn't seal the connection between the toilet and sewer line. This causes water to leak out and pool around your toilet. If you catch this issue quickly, then it may not damage your subfloor and require additional repairs. Some leaks are constant, while others only occur when you flush the toilet.
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.
The most common place for a toilet to leak is at the wax seal. Replacing a wax seal may be as cheap as $50. Other common leak points are the tank and bowl which may cost $300 or more to repair.
The wax ring is exactly what it sounds like: a ring made of sticky wax that helps form a watertight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the sewer pipe. It requires no maintenance and can last 30 or more years, often as long as the toilet itself. But sometimes wax rings can dry out, crumble, and fail prematurely.
The only-when-flushed toilet leak could be caused by loose mounting bolts or a worn-out wax gasket while the all-the-time leak could be caused by a loose water supply line connection, a problematic water shutoff valve, or a faulty seal between the toilet tank and its base.
The most likely culprits are the drain line, wax ring, flange bolts, cracks, or water supply line. You can replace a wax ring on a toilet, or you can call in a pro for the job. A pro may recommend replacing parts or the entire toilet. Leaks can lead to expensive water bills and repairs, so quickly investigate.
Determine if the Wax ring is possibly bad by inspecting the floor for water or a foul odor of sewer gas. Use food coloring. If are unsure of where water is coming from you can add food coloring to the toilet tank. If the floor's water is the same color, then you likely will need to install a new wax ring.
A sewer gas smell in the bathroom can be caused by:
broken seal around the toilet in the wax ring or the caulk. A burst pipe. tree's roots have grown into or have caused damage to your sewer pipes. the sewer or main drain has bellied, collapsed, deformed, or deteriorated.
$90-$120 is a good ballpark.
If you are having other plumbing work done, they might do it cheaper, and if they have a large travel fee, you may pay closer to $150. Unless there is a problem, it should take them under a half hour, whereas, it might take a novice 1.5-2 hours.
The optimum flange height to aim for is 1/4 inch above the finished floor. This typically allows for almost any type of wax ring to be used and still ensure a good seal. If you recently tiled or changed the bathroom flooring, the flange height is likely less than optimal.
The wax ring is located underneath the toilet and is designed to cover and seal the waste pipe and toilet flange. If the wax ring isn't sealed correctly, it can cause wastewater to leak from the bottom. Leaking water can lead to mold around the floor.
When it works properly, the wax ring creates a watertight seal between the toilet base and the drain pipe. Unfortunately, wax can fail over time, leading to water leaking onto the floor. The good news is that popping on a replacement wax ring will fix the problem.
Flex Glue can be used for an assortment of bathroom repairs. Customers often use the waterproof glue to fix toilet tanks, shower tiles, sink pipes, and other bathroom needs. Flex Glue is also mold and mildew resistant, making it perfect for bathroom repairs.
Fixing the toilet
If your toilet is leaking from the water supply, the water supply line may need repairing. This is a common and inexpensive repair for your plumber to make. If the toilet rocks when you sit on it, your plumber may need to replace the wax seal.
The wax ring usually needs to be replaced because the toilet is loose. The other reason why a wax ring may need to be replaced is that it has been worn down over the years and is no longer pliable. This means the seal is no longer intact. Therefore, it causes water to seep through the base.
Like many things in the world of plumbing, a wax ring (aka wax seal) on a toilet is an inexpensive part by itself. However, the expertise and time needed to replace it often necessitate using a professional plumber to do the work.
Some plumbers use plumber's putty, some grout the toilet to the floor and others use silicone sealant (caulk) for that final connection. The application of silicone is much quicker and experienced plumber can probably do it in just a few minutes, where the plumber's putty may take more effort and time.
Brown stains can also come from iron bacteria, manganese bacteria or sulfur bacteria. These organisms grow in soil or shallow groundwater with high iron, manganese or sulfur concentrations. Water containing these bacteria leaves behind slimy brown rust deposits in plumbing fixtures and toilets.