Toilet bolts on each side of the toilet are used to firmly hold the toilet on the floor and also squeeze it hard against the wax ring creating a watertight seal. An unplugged drain can allow sewer gas to enter your home. Rubber is not. Check the drain to make sure the old wax ring isn’t still attached and then set the toilet on the blocks. Wearing a pair of disposable gloves, press the new wax ring into place around the raised ring at the bottom of the toilet drain on the underside. Is it above the finished floor or is it below? Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. To replace the wax ring and reinstall the toilet would usually be about $100 - maybe $150 in large cities and high-cost areas - normally a minimum visit charge plus about $5 for the wax ring. Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market. With the toilet flange in place, you are ready to install the toilet with a new wax ring. A wax ring cannot be reused. Apply fresh plumbers thread tape to the tank inlet threads and attach the water supply line to complete the project. You wouldn’t think something as heavy as a toilet could fall over but it can if it's not anchored down. How this happens is that every time someone flushes the toilet some water does not flow down the drainpipe but rather leaks out through the wax ring. With your toilet out, you have to opportunity to replace it if needed. And when you deform the wax ring you cannot remodel it. If the toilet wobbles for a long time it will finally break the wax ring seal resulting in a leaking toilet. A wet/dry shop vacuum empties toilet tanks and bowls quickly. A wobbly/rocking toilet is caused by several factors mostly a broken toilet flange or loose toilet bolts. Too much torque can crack the porcelain or damage the drain flange. Place the toilet on top of the flange, lining up the toilet with the new bolts. Have a bucket and some towels or cloths within reach to catch any drips when you turn off and disconnect the water supply line. The first thing you’ll want to do when replacing or readjusting the height of your flange to shut your water off and remove the toilet from the floor. Replacing a toilet flange means removing the toilet first. Press down to seal the wax ring with the flange. Every time you remove the toilet you must replace the wax ring too. Provide plenty of ventilation and use a plastic putty knife, followed by a rag soaked in odorless mineral spirits, for cleaning any remaining wax from around the toilet anchor flange and the drain on the bottom of the toilet (if you’re reinstalling it). Detach the water supply line hose from the toilet tank and catch any water in the line using a bucket or towels. Most wax rings are fortunately designed to fit in both 4 and 3-inch drainpipes. Rubber gasket seals have in recent times proved to be an excellent alternative to wax rings. It's a straightforward do-it-yourself task. If you ever notice water collecting around the base of your toilet, it is one of the clearest indications that your wax ring is leaking. If that’s the case, add a, Once you drain the toilet tank and unhook the water supply, it’s a good time to replace the, If you’re removing the toilet because of a leak at the base or water damage in the ceiling of the floor below, inspect that damage before you head to the store. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted. Toilet wax rings are universal but the size has to be right. If the ring has been in place for several years, it may take a little bit of force to remove. Amazon and Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. You might not think that the moisture around the base of your toilet is a problem, but you could be in for much bigger trouble. Toilet Flange Extender. Use your body weight to compress the wax seal and settle the toilet … Use a flat scraper and be careful not to damage anything else while taking the ring off. Additionally, Toilethaven.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Loosen and remove the nuts from the mounting bolts that are anchoring the toilet to your floor. Have you ever entered your bathroom only to be met by a horrific sewer odor? Short of hiring a plumber to raise the flange, there are products like this that allow you to raise the flange and still follow building codes. This method provides you with a better seal than placing the ring on top of the flange then setting the toilet later. Before toilet wax ring installation, prep the toilet flange and address any floor damage. 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