What to Look for When Buying a Toilet Ring

A toilet ring made of wax is under almost any toilet. It creates an airtight and watertight seal between the bathroom and the pipes that lead to the sewer or septic tank. It is important that this ring remain sealed correctly to keep water from leaking, and to keep sewer gases from coming up into the bathroom. If there is water on the floor around the toilet, or foul smells in the bathroom. the wax ring may need to be replaced. Doing this requires that the toilet be pulled up and the new ring installed under it. This is a job for an experienced plumber or a do-it-yourselfer who feels very confident about doing the job correctly.

Funnel or No Funnel

Toilet wax rings come either with a plastic funnel built in or without one. This prevents leakage even more. Some people say it restricts the flow to the pipe too much. It is really the choice of the person doing the installation. The funnel points downward into the pipe.

Flange, Pipe and Bolts

After moving the toilet, it may be found that the flange or the bolts are broken. In this case, replace them. Some people replace these parts every time they pull up the toilet, just to make sure everything works as well as possible. A section of pipe may need to be replaced also. The old wax ring will need to be scraped off the flange, if it is not being replaced, and off the bottom of the toilet.

Height and Width

The correct size of wax ring for the toilet and the pipe should be used. It helps to find the toilet manufacturer and model number. This information may be on the inside of the tank or underneath it. Measure the pipe opening in the floor. Talk to someone at the hardware store to get the right size. Wax rings come in more than one thickness, or height. If the floor has been built up and a standard size isn't high enough, use a thicker one. Some people say to use two rings to make sure there is enough wax to make the seal, others say this is a bad idea.

Handling the Ring

The wax of a toilet ring is very sticky. Try not to handle it directly. Place it either over the flange or around the "horn" on the bottom of the toilet. If it's on the flange it may be harder to keep it in place while the toilet is lowered. If a ring gets squished by a toilet that is lowered wrong, it's better to start over with a new ring.

Modern Alternative

There is a modern way to avoid the use of a wax toilet ring. Flanges made of PVC are available, that have a part that sticks down into the pipe. A rubber seal around that part can be adjusted until it is tight against the sides of the pipe. Some people like this alternative, some swear by the tried and true wax ring.