Why is my toilet leaking with a new wax ring?

A: The most likely cause is that the wax ring around the closet flange is leaking, allowing a small amount of water to seep from under the toilet with each flush. The wax rings are probably misaligned. The fix is to reseat the toilet using a flange extension and one wax ring.

How do you center a toilet with a wax ring?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Next place the wax ring onto the sewer flange with the narrow end of the plastic lip insert it into the flange Center. And adjust the ring is needed.

Should toilet flange be flush with floor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Thing you want to do is remember that all toilet flanges should always be installed on top of the finished floor.

How do you tell if a toilet is seated properly?

Check the Flange Height



With the toilet removed, you can see the toilet flange and measure its height above the floor. The optimum flange height to aim for is 1/4 inch above the finished floor. This typically allows for almost any type of wax ring to be used and still ensure a good seal.

Does the wax ring go on the toilet or the flange?

Whenever you remove a toilet for any reason, you will need to replace the wax ring seal between the toilet and the toilet flange (sometimes called a closet flange) attached to the floor. A wax seal is used because it resists mold and bacteria and retains its sealing ability after years of use.

Should you caulk around a toilet?





Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. It’s actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?

Are toilet wax rings all the same size?

Wax rings come in two diameters, 3 inches and 4 inches, because — as you might expect — those are the two standard sizes for toilet waste openings. Besides diameter, thickness is also an important parameter when it comes to wax rings. Again, there are two possibilities: regular and extra thick.

Can you use 2 wax rings when installing a toilet?

You can certainly install a toilet with multiple wax rings, in fact sometimes it is necessary to make sure you don’t have a leak. The most common case is when a homeowner will install a tile floor (or really any thick floor).

How tight should the bolts on a toilet be?

As tight as you can go will probably snap the porcelain (with a good socket you can torque a nut onto a bolt quite a bit). Until you think it’s about to snap is just guessing. Snug. No movement.

How do I know if my wax ring is installed?



Place tissues around the entire bottom of the toilet bowl where it meets the finished floor and flush the toilet several times. If you notice water on the tissues, the wax seal isn’t properly installed, and you’ll have to remove the toilet and start the installation over with a new wax seal.

How do you test a toilet wax seal?

Water around the Toilet Base



To test that a bad seal is the problem, grab a couple of towels and wipe up the water. Go on with your day, checking periodically to see if the water has returned. If the floor is still dry, chances are that the water wasn’t coming from the toilet’s base.

How do you know which wax ring to use?

To determine the correct width for your wax ring, simply turn your toilet bowl on its side, and measure the opening on the bottom of your toilet, called the “elbow neck.” Whatever width this measurement is, use that width wax ring. E.g. if the elbow neck measures 3 inches, use a 3-inch wax ring.

Are there different wax rings for toilets?



A wax ring will either have a standard thickness or a double thickness. As a rule of thumb, if the toilet flange is installed flush of the floor you will need a standard thickness wax ring. If the flange is installed below the floor level you will need the double thickness wax ring.

How many wax rings does a toilet need?

Installing Two Wax Rings



Place the toilet on the flange and push down firmly to compress the wax. Tighten the bolts, hook up the water and give the toilet a few test flushes to make sure it isn’t still leaking.

Should toilet flange sit on top of tile?

The toilet flange needs to be on top of the finished floor. Meaning the bottom edge of the flange needs to be on the same plane as the toilet. So if your toilet sits on the tile, the flange needs to be on top of the tile too. The spacing of the toilet exit “horn” and sealing surface is designed for this height.

Why does a wax ring fail?

One very common cause of wax ring problems is loose toilets. If the toilet is not firmly mounted, or gets loose to the point where it rocks a bit, it can cause the wax ring to lose its seal. When installed, a wax ring is compressed to fit the flange and the toilet, creating the seal.

How thick is an extra thick wax ring?



about 1.25 inches thick

A: Yes it should work as the extra thick wax ring is about 1.25 inches thick. Helpful? A: Sometimes it’s necessary to double up on rings to compensate for the type of circumstance that you’re describing.

Do Waxless toilet seals work?

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.