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Are you having trouble with your toilet or having difficulty maintaining it? There are times when even the bowl appears to be leaking, and you need to fix it fast. Various things could go wrong with a toilet, but at the same time, they don’t need to be too difficult or expensive. One of these common problems is replacing a wax ring on a toilet. It might sound difficult, but once you know how easy it is, it’s not complicated. It will take two hours for most homeowners and can last for years without any issues if done correctly.
Frequently arising brain questions are: Why is it important to replace a wax ring before replacing the toilet? What is a wax ring, and why do I have to replace it when replacing the toilet? So, we are here to resolve your problem and give you an easy step-by-step solution.
How to Replace a Wax Ring on a Toilet – Unexplained Mystery
A toilet wax ring is a rubber gasket between the toilet base and the floor. It seals the gap between these two surfaces and prevents water from leaking out of the toilet.
A leaking wax ring can be an inconvenience, but it’s not a cause for concern unless there is significant water damage to your floor or walls. You can replace a leaking wax ring yourself with a few simple tools.
What Is A Toilet Wax Ring?
A wax ring is a seal at the base of your toilet that keeps water from leaking into your basement or crawl space. The purpose of replacing a wax ring is to fix any problems with your toilet’s seal and ensure it’s watertight.
The wax ring can replace every time you install a new toilet, just as you would replace the flange on a sink. The flange (sometimes called a “drip flange”) is the metal band that goes around the hole in your bathroom floor. It’s held in place with bolts, and its purpose is to create an airtight seal between your sink or tub and the tile floor underneath it.
The same concept applies to toilets: if there’s no seal between the toilet and its base, water will leak from underneath it. This can cause serious problems like mold growth inside your home and potentially damaging floors and walls through rot or mildew buildup.
Types Of Toilet Wax
O-ring seal: This seal is made from an elastic material that contracts when water passes through it. You have to get a small flathead screwdriver to remove the old seal. Push the new seal into the hole until it snaps into place. Replace the screws and washer.
Flapper seal: This type of seal is made from rubber or plastic and has a metal flap that opens and closes when water flows through it. You’ll need pliers to remove the old seal. Pry off the metal flap, then insert the new one. Replace the screws and washer.
Cylinder seal: This type of seal is made from rubber or plastic and has a metal ring that rests on top of the toilet bowl. You’ll need a flathead screwdriver to remove the old seal. Pry off the metal ring, then insert the new one. Replace the screws and washer.
Standard Wax Ring: This type of wax ring is made of rubber and is typically installed on toilets with one or two flappers. To remove it, you will need to unscrew it from the bowl and remove the old sealant. Once removed, use a new glue to install the new ring. You should replace this type of ring every six months.
Tools required
If your toilet is not flushing properly, it may be because of a wax ring. A wax ring is a type of seal that holds the water in the toilet tank. Over time, these rings can wear down and cause the toilet to stop flushing.
To replace a wax ring on a toilet, you will need the following items:
- A new wax ring
- A utility knife or scissors
- A putty knife or paint scraper
- A wax ring with a sleeve
- A felt sealant or gasket maker
- A sponge gasket maker
- Waxless gaskets or foam gaskets
- A plunger
- A bowl or bucket
Indication to change wax ring
Here are some common indicational signs that indicate that it’s time to replace your wax ring:
- The toilet is making strange noises or not flushing correctly
- The wax ring is starting to come off of the bowl
- There is visible water inside the bowl around the wax ring
- Your toilet takes longer than usual to fill with water and flush.
- You notice a decrease in the toilet’s water usage.
- The wax ring has started to become brittle or cracked.
- There is a noticeable sewer smell coming from the bathroom.
- There is a noticeable build-up of sediment around the base of the toilet tank.
6 Easy ways to replace the wax ring
Over time, these rings can wear down, allowing the wax to leak out and cause clogs. Here are four ways to replace a wax ring on a toilet:
- Turn off the main water supply to the house. If there’s no main water supply, turn off the water under the sink where the toilet is located.
- Remove the bolts which hold the tank cover in place. There are usually two bolts on each side of the tank cover. Pry them loose using a flat-head screwdriver. Don’t use a wrench because you might damage the mounting screws on the tank cover.
- Remove the old ring by unscrewing it from the top of the tank. Be careful not to break it open; you’ll need it for step 3.
- Pour some hot water into the tank until it covers the bottom of the ring. Swirl it around to melt the wax, and then pour it out.
- Place a new ring upside down on top of the broken one. Make sure that all edges are lined up evenly, and then screw it back onto the top of the tank.
- Pour some boiling water into the tank and wait five minutes. Carefully pour it out, breaking up any clumps as you go, and replace any filters that might have ended up in the wax mixture.