A regular wax ring is all you need if the flange is set on top of the finished floor. Oatey® Heavy Duty Wax Bowl Ring can be used to set any floor type closet bowl. A thicker wax ring is used when the flange has already been set on the subfloor and is flush with the tile instead of sitting on top of it.
Thickness – Check the toilet flange.
If the flange is level with your floor, a regular-thickness wax ring will be fine. You'll only use a double-thickness wax ring if the flange is located under the floor.
Choose a wax ring of the appropriate size. The type with a polyethylene plastic sleeve provides a great seal and fits most standard drains. If the toilet's floor flange height is slightly less than 1/4 inch above the flooring, you can use an extra-thick wax ring to make up the difference.
For toilets with flanges that sit even with or below the floor, the Fluidmaster Extra Thick Wax Toilet Bowl Gasket is an excellent pick. With 40 percent more wax than standard wax sealing rings, it's made to conform into these larger spaces and ensure a secure, watertight fit.
Diameter: When installing a wax ring, the diameter must be the same as the opening on the bottom of the toilet.
Wax Toilet Seals: Keeping with Tradition
For years, wax rings have been plumbers' go-to options for making these types of toilet repairs.
Johni-Ring Jumbo has 40% more wax than the standard Johni-Ring – for applications where the floor flange is excessively recessed. Eliminates the need for “double stacking.” Johni-Ring for Urinals - felt reinforced, 2" diameter for most wall-installed urinals. Can be used on cast iron, copper or plastic fittings.
For those that don't already know, the proper toilet flange height is when it's flush with the top of the finished floor. The optimum height is about ¼ inch.
Eastman's Jumbo Flanged Toilet Wax Ring is necessary for toilet installation. The wax ring creates a seal between the toilet bowl and the sewer pipe. This wax ring is ideal for use where a regular ring does not provide enough wax.
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.
Here's what to know. 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.
If the wax ring has plastic reinforcement, the plastic must fit into the waste line, so it's usually best to place the ring on the flange. Then drop the toilet into place. Once that's done, it's important to compress the wax ring to make the toilet sit flush on the floor before bolting it in.
🚽 Caulking Prevents Water Contamination
It could be water splashing out of a bathtub, mop water, water from a shower and even misguided potty training from your young boys who seem to miss the toilet bowl every single time! Without caulk around the toilet base, water can get under there and sit for a long time.
or certainly 20 to 30 years.
Besides leaking, signs that the wax ring may need replacing could be an odd odor seemingly stemming from the area where the toilet meets the floor, or if the toilet itself feels wobbly.
Traditional wax toilet seals are widely used, but they can be messy and tricky to install. Modern wax-free toilet seals are easier to install, but not always as durable. Professional plumbers use both at times, depending on their preference and job's requirements.
But sometimes wax rings can dry out, crumble, and fail prematurely. When that happens, they need to be replaced. Sign Up for the Royal Flush newsletter today! The telltale sign of wax ring failure is water leaking out from around the base of the toilet.
No waiting necessary. The wax deforms and makes a water/waste proof connection instantly. Also turning the water on won't exposed the ring to the full flush until you flush your toilet. Most, if not all, of the water gets stopped at the S bend below and behind the bowl.
As a result, having a local plumber replace your toilet's wax ring can be anywhere from $75-250 depending on the cost of the trip charge and whether anything else is discovered in the process that needs fixing.
I start by hand tightening as much as I can, then I tighten a little on each side and check if the toilet moves. If it does then I tighten a bit more, check and repeat until there's no movement. You're trying to avoid bowl movement, so that it doesn't shift or fall over, not to hold the floor up by the toilet bolts.
Signs indicating you need to raise your toilet flange include a wobbly toilet, unpleasant odors wafting from the bathroom, or even water seeping around the base of your toilet. Installing a toilet flange extender requires a bit of plumbing prowess, a sharp eye for detail, and proper tools.