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toddrey · Apr 10, 2008, 10:25 AM

I replaced the wax seal and the flange that holds the soil line on my first floor toilet this weekend. When I put the toilet back on it didn't feel like I was pressuring the wax seal or squishing it (technical term). My wife reports there is an oder in the basement. After replacing the seal I went to the basement while my wife flushed the toilet, and I didn't see any leaking. I am wondering if the seal may not be good, but not leaking because the wax seal I put on the bowl had a rubber extension that I expect drops into the soil line. Can I just pull the toilet to see if the wax ring sealed, and if not, could I add a wax seal to the flange and reseat the toilet to compress the wax seals together? I have a tile floor, and it seems like the flange sat below the finished floo height.

ballengerb1 · Apr 10, 2008, 12:47 PM

Usually when you pull the toilet you pretty much wreck the old ring so its going to be hard to tell if it were sealing or not. An even if it was will it still after your reset the toilet. I would just buy a new oversized ring with the neporeme collar and start over. Your flange can be flush with the fllor or slightly above. If the falnge lays below the floor I'd suggest a falnge spacer.

sps5383 · Apr 10, 2008, 01:23 PM

I had the same issue recently with my toilet on a tile floor. I couldn't find a flange spacer at Home Depot, so I used an oversized wax ring. The oversized ring wasn't large enough to create the seal, so I used 2 regular wax rings together, one with the rubber extension and one without. It worked great.

massplumber2008 · Apr 10, 2008, 02:57 PM

Hey ALL!

Hey, just wanted to give a visual on the flange spacers for toddrey... I use these for most times I find flange below the floor (see pic.)

The extra thick wax ring or doubling up wax rings works fine most of the time, too (sometimes the one on top squeezes into drain, so be careful if using 2 wax gaskets)... but spacers just make a more "mechanical" seal.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents! Good day all! Mark

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massplumber2008 · Apr 11, 2008, 06:42 AM

Yes... they get screwed down over/through the old metal flange ring, add johnny bolts, wax gasket and should be all set!

Let us know how it works out for you... Mark

Knucklez · Apr 11, 2008, 07:42 PM

You see the hole you cut for the flange is actually BIGGER than the diameter of the flange..

I didn't do this in my floor. I sit the flange on top, and then I had something underneath to screw into. What did you screw into?

Of course, with my flange install method I had to use a very thin wax ring (as you might remember! )

Anyway, what I wanted to say to original poster - once you lift the bowl, you can inspect the wax ring but do not think that it is reusable. You can never reuse wax ring. For $5, why take your chances? Get a new one

Knucklez

toddrey · Apr 14, 2008, 05:16 AM

Just to give an update to everyone, I replaced the wax seal this weekend using two wax rings. I went to two stores trying to find the spacers, but was unsuccessful. I appreciated the warning that sometimes the one wax ring can slip, and bought two with the black rubber extensions to insure the two stayed lined up. All appears to be working fine. Thank you to everyone for your comments.