I have heard on several occasions the suggestion that it is good to use TWO wax rings when installing a toilet, one stacked above the other. True??

Only reason to consider 2 is if the floor flange is below the finished floor level. If flange is level or slightly above floor, 2 are not necessary. In fact, you may squeeze wax into the toilet stub or flange opening and restrict flow. Get the ring with the built in funnel. If flange is below the floor level, get the extension rings at HD or Lowe's, about $3-4.

OK. Thanks.

Only reason to consider 2 is if the floor flange is below the finished floor level.

Even than is not a good idea to use 2 wax rings.
When compressed they can spread out and block the drain. A much better way would be to build the flange up to the floor level with flange extenders. Does this answer your question? Good luck, Tom

It does. Many thanks. I actually got that 2 rings idea from a homeinspector on this site: How To Install A New Or Used Toilet - www.SanDiegoHomeInspectionBlog.com - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MNtJntOoHA)

Hey John

That is a VERY bad video...a home inspector pretending to be a plumber...UGH!! It's not as if two wax gaskets can't be used, but the toilet flange must be well below the floor, not almost flush like in that video!

As presented here, flange extension kits are really the only way to make up a difference between flange and floor height.

Have a good day!

The only way I would hire the guy in the video is If I get him with a licensed plumber to learn the trade. He didn't even evacuate the water out of the toilet and putting that have a toilet in a bathtub is a terrible idea. I have already given my opinion on not using two wax rings.(Use flange extenders) Let me tell you about a problem using just one wax seal. In my capacity as shop trouble shooter I began to run into a slew of complaints on our new construction that were just like yours. I knew they all couldn't be " bad toilets" so I went looking for the cause. I found that when installing the new bowl that the wax ring had been forced out into the discharge pipe and blocking the free flow of water. When the water hit it a backpressure was set up preventing the siphon that makes a good flush and the solids just swirled around while the water went slowly down. I had to set up meeting with our plumbers and show them the problem and how to fix it. When you set the bowl, put the wax seal down on the flat side to the closet flange. Then take your hands and bevel the wax seal outward so that when you set a bowl on it the wax is forced out instead of in blocking the flush. The customer complaints stopped and I had less work to do. Try molding the wax seal so it doesn't choke down on the flush. Good luck, Tom .
PS. I had planned on putting up a image of the flange extenders. However, it seems that attaching images is now an impossibility. Happy new year, Tom

45394

45393

Is that what you are referring to? And like you, SB, I can't get the pic to simply "show up" on the post.



OK. Finally got it to show up. Had to "Go Advanced", then select "attachments" from there. Kind of different. I was using the old format until about a week ago when it just changed to this. Oh well. Old dog... new tricks. That's kind of where I am.

Just using "insert image" wouldn't get it done. You would think that would be the way to do it.