Wax rings come in two diameters, 3 and 4 inches, to comply with the standard size for toilets in the United States. Thickness is also a specification that should be considered. Again, you have two options: regular and extra thick.
10 Extra Thick Standard Wax Gaskets are designed with 40% more wax for problem floor outlet toilet bowl areas that need extra thick wax. These wax rings are recommended for setting any floor mount toilet.
Place the Wax Ring and Toilet
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. Do not be tempted to stack up two wax rings because this setup tends to leak.
From the Manufacturer. 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.
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.
Wax rings come in two diameters, 3 and 4 inches, to comply with the standard size for toilets in the United States. Thickness is also a specification that should be considered. Again, you have two options: regular and extra thick.
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.
Wax-free toilet seals are made out of a heavy duty rubber, so they're flexible enough to shimmy into the flange without smearing a wax ring. Wax-free seals can also be reused. As long as they're still attached to the bowl in good condition, you can reinstall the toilet without replacing the seal.
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.
It is fairly easy to tell if you have a properly sealed wax ring; your toilet will not wobble, will be stable, and will have no water leaks. A few specific things to check include the height of your toilet flange, the stability of the toilet, and whether the floor around the base of the toilet remains dry.
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.
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. It doesn't take standing water long to rot a 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.
Wax Toilet Seals: Keeping with Tradition
For years, wax rings have been plumbers' go-to options for making these types of toilet repairs.
The wax ring should be compressed around 1/2 to 3/4 it's initial height once installed.
Hercules® Johni-Ring® Jumbo Size features extra wax for special jobs and provides a permanent, sanitary, gas and watertight seal on most types of water closets. Constructed of high-quality golden wax, Johni-Rings will not dry out, harden or deteriorate.
Wax rings come with or without a horn. A horn is a plastic diverter that directs water into the drainpipe. I prefer wax rings that have this horn. The wax is very sticky and works well as long as the toilet does not move once the bowl is in place.
If you think your flange is not set to the right height, or it needs to be replaced, then you'll want to do it the right away. 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.