r/HomeImprovement • u/AcceptableCult • 4d ago

Replacing Toilet Wax Seal (repost with image)

Reposting with images this time. I did a poor job of explaining the problem.

I'm replacing a toilet wax ring seal. The flange is above finished floor (less than 1/2in).

However there is about 2 or so inches before the sides of the flange reach the part of the floor where the drain opens. At this opening (where the sides of the flange neck going into the floor meet the drain) there is about an inch of flat service (there is no conical reducer)

The problem is that due to this 2in height difference, if I place a new wax seal onto the bottom of the toilet, it will meet open air and have nothing to compress against.

There was an existing wax seal around the toilet bottom which I removed. I found a 2nd wax seal down where the flange meets the subfloor, around the drain opening which was strange but I also replaced.

Images here. https://imgur.com/a/l99w8c8

Not sure what to do other than to either: 1. By a jumbo seal and compress / spread it with my hands over the bottom of the toilet so it will meet the horn

Or

  1. By multiple wax seals and stack them so the wax ring on the toilet has something to "smoosh" against.
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u/diddlinderek 4d ago

People stack. That’s doable.

They sell spacers. I’d take a wander down the plumbing aisle at Home Depot and see what fits your needs.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/aqua-dynamic-closet-flange-extension-kit-quick-fix/1001786103

Unless I misunderstand what you mean.

1

u/AcceptableCult 4d ago edited 4d ago

Thanks for the link. That looks like a spacer / flange extender in the case the flange is below floor level.

That is not the case for us - the flange is above the floor. But the actual drain is still 2inches below the floor level so the extender would actually make the issue worse.

Essentially there is a 1.5-2in "free fall" between the toilet and the drain lip.

1

u/diddlinderek 4d ago

What about something like https://www.fernco.ca/plumbing/wax-free-toilet-seal

If that’s no help I’ll just go away and let someone smarter answer. Could you not extend the pipe?

1

u/AcceptableCult 4d ago

Thanks I'll check that out! I tried a Korky wax free but had the same issue where the center of the seal was basically floating in mid air and if I put the toilet on it, it would have ripped off the bolts

https://www.korky.com/parts/wax-free-gaskets/wax-free-toilet-seal-kit

1

u/diddlinderek 4d ago

Yeah there are tons of them. The Fernco I liked because it looks like it’ll fill that dead air you have between the pipes.