I believe that we have at least one professional plumber on board.

We are replacing a couple of toilets, "builder specials." that were original with the house in 1986. One of the toilets has started to leak around the base.

The toilets that we are buying come with new wax rings. My wife is a bit skeptical about wax rings because that area is where the leak is coming from.

My question: Are wax rings good? Or should we spring for an extra ten bucks for something like this?

I am not a plumber, but I do engineer and design industrial and commercial plumbing systems (including housing projects). The wax ring has been around for decades and decades and is perfectly fine, but a bit messy removing and replacing, and they will dry out - crack and leak. I've not heard of any issues with the wax-less ring you showed (I think one mfgr is Fluidmaster). If you're only doing one or two installs I personally would spend the extra money. I've had contractors I know well tell me the same thing regarding their homes. But quite another story when you're bidding on a job and have razor thin margins and cutthroat competition.

Yes, you are correct. The one shown is FluidMaster, as shown on the link that I included. I just used it as an example because I'm planning to buy the two toilets (the "7 billiard ball" model) from Home Depot, and the FluidMaster popped up on their website.

From a non-plumbers perspective you should get the new style. There is a little bit of skill in using the wax rings, you need to get the initial positioning right since they do not handle repositioning very well. They are also messy. Since you are only doing two, cost is not an issue. I would seriously consider going with the new style.

After looking at the video of the product, I see that you may need to "stack" more than one ring if your toilet flange is too deep due to floor covering etc. I would be less likely to want to stack them if that is your case. I would probably just use one of the oversized wax rings for that application.

IF it makes her happy, then by all means, we replaced all the toilets in the house, taller, elongaged bowls etc.

Wax rings on all of them, and none leak, wax rings have been around for ages, like anything done properly they work.

Whichever enhances your reading room enjoyment for perusing SF on the iPad....

Use a wax ring. I like the ones with a plastic horn. They come in standard and extra thick. If your flange is on top of your(higher) tile/flooring use a standard. If it is lower or even than the flooring use the extra thick.

The extra thick really makes a great seal and with the extra wax if there is ever movement of the toilet its more likely to never leak.

I also like to use the 5/16" closet bolts over the 1/4".

I will throw away the small wax rings that come with a new toilet and use the one I linked below or the thicker version.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/OA...Horn-90230/312148477

As HRK said wax rings have been around forever and they work. Those newer-style ones IMHO are a solution looking for a problem.

Consider installing the ADA toilets. Easier on the knees.

quote:

Consider installing the ADA toilets.

Did you look at the "billiard ball" toilets that I mentioned, third post in this thread?

Just in the past month I have installed two commodes.
The wax rings seal by crushing and adhering to the commode. They don’t “uncrush” if you have to reset it. Of course you could remove the commode, reshape the wax with a putty knife and set it again.
I agree with Comet24 - I think the new rings are a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Finally for the OP - in choosing the new commode(s), look in the tank and see what parts are needed for fixing it down the road.
All the new commodes had different internal parts from what I have lived with for the past 40 years. Many have “bigger” 3” flapper valves. Some have new mechanisms altogether.
I wanted the old style because parts are available virtually everywhere. What I didn’t want was the “New/Better, More complex” innards that can’t be found except by special order from a plumbing supply warehouse. The needed part WILL DIE on Saturday afternoon when you will have ZERO CHANCE of finding one before Monday after work.
So, get a spare 3” flapper that fits your new commode when you get the commode.
By the way, anybody in need of a new, old stock, new in the wrapper, standard flapper for their old style commode? I happen to have a spare one….

quote:

Did you look at the "billiard ball" toilets that I mentioned, third post in this thread?

^^^^^^^
Oh did they rename ADA toilets? LOL

Im not a plumber but the last two toilets I installed have the newer rings like you linked. Its so much easier for one person install. I had to reposition the toilet a few times to get the flange bolts lined up. The wax rings would have been a nightmare.

Its been almost 8 years and no issues at all.

I hate plumbing. I could make a dry pipe leak! But, last year I replaced two toilets with American Standard ADA complaint Champion models. Both with wax rings and neither of them leaked.

Now later that afternoon when I replaced a vanity sink pop up drain, well that’s another story about leaks!

My dad was a plumber, I learned a lot from him.
I’ve replaced a bunch of toilets in my lifetime. We always used the thick wax rings. I did put one of the new ones like you linked, in my big kids house because they were all out of the extra thick wax rings at Lowes that day. It’s been working fine for Matt for 5 years.

Dad always used the extra thick wax rings.

You can only set the toilet once, or you have to get a new ring.

An entire toilet and tank can be very heavy and unwieldy, so practice one time with no ring first…and the stupid closet bolts (those are the ones coming up from the ground and thru the bottom of the base) always fall over or slide when you are trying to set them. Dad had an extra wax ring he used part of to stuff around the bottom of the closet bolts to keep them from wiggling while you set it.

Plumber here
Wax rings work fine. Like stated above use extra thick wax if need. If in doubt do it.
before you set the new water closet (toilet) check the floor flange to make sure 1 it is secure to the floor. If it is not do it. If the flange is not secure to the floor when you tighten the jonni bolts it will pull up the flange and squeeze all the wax out and you toilet will wobble.
2 make sure the floor flange is not cracked around the slots where the jonni bolts go.
3 assemble toilet tank to bowl and install seat. Warm wax ring in warm water is the lav sink or a small bucket. Install wax with plastic horn on floor flange.
4 install new jonni bolts and use a dab of the wax around the bolts to keep bolts in place when setting toilet
5 straddle toilet and pick it up back by the seat bolt. Sometimes it easier to put a flashlight on each side to better see the bolts
set it down easy onto the rings and lightly push straight down on the wax until it is to the floor.
6 Tighten bolts alternatly from side to side unti it is solid and does not wiggle.
7 cut bolts off if they are too long and tighten again a little bit, put on caps, hook up water to balcock, turn on water and check for leaks

I'm not a plumber. Not even anywhere close to being a handyman, but I have replaced 3 toilets myself with new wax rings. It has been several years. No leaks.

Just remember…the used wax rings may look inviting…but never chew them no matter how inviting they look…it’s never as it seems…just sayin’

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Consider installing the ADA toilets.

Did you look at the "billiard ball" toilets that I mentioned, third post in this thread?

Man, if you’re shitting billiard balls, you need a doctor!

quote:

Man, if you’re shitting billiard balls, you need a doctor!

Maybe a change of diet?

I used wax rings in the few toilets I've replaced over the years, but watching my father replace a toilet has made realize the benefit of the flex rings.

I am a "set it once" installer, my father is way less confident. He set the toilet on the wax ring, questioned the fit, pulled it up, had to go back and get the thicker ring, set it, thought it was too hard to seat, and was going to buy another regular wax ring.
The guy at the ACE counter recognized him from the first wax ring replacement, and suggested the Fluidmaster gasket.
My father bought that, installed the toilet, ran water down it, pulled the toilet, saw there were no leaks, and reseated the toilet.
Been leak free for 3 years now.

For the cautious do-it-yourselfer, they are worth the extra money. For experienced installers, the savings for the standard wax would add up quick.

Extra thick wax ring with flange. Take el cheapo wax ring that comes with the toilet and stack it on top of the extra thick ring. I seat the rings to the pipe/floor and then slowly drop the toilet straight down over the bolts. Sit straight down to seat the toilet to the wax. Tighten down the bolts. Sit and tighten a couple times if necessary.