Hello all,
My first post, though I’ve been reading for a couple of days and have subscribed to FHB for a couple of years… I apologize if this post would be better posted in a different forum, but I didn’t see any plumbing forums/threads.
Here’s my question: When installing a toilet, has anyone else ever heard of using two wax rings? The theory being that two provides more wax and thus a more certain seal than one…
I read this technique somewhere (I promise I didn’t make it up), and have used it a couple of times, but the problem I run into is two-fold. First, (I can’t prove this yet), I think some of the excess wax may be protruding into the drainpipe and interfering with the siphon, causing the flush to be “sluggish”. Second, the excess wax appears to slowly seep out between the toilet and finished floor, creating the appearance, according to SWMBO, that our toilet is “leaking crap”.
I think I’ll go back to the one-ring technique, especially if I can confirm the first suspected problem above…
Thoughts?
Replies
It's done all the time, but only when the flange is too "deep" for one ring to work, and even then there are extra-height rings that work about as well.
You don't want to use two rings if the flange is proper height (about 1/4" "proud" of the finished floor) or even high. Too much wax is (almost) as apt to cause leaks as too little.
happy?
As the other poster implied, this can be done where the flange is deep, such as when a tile floor was laid over the existing floor and the flange wasn't raised. I've used two rings in such cases without any problems. BUT, since that time, I've discovered the newer rings with a foam core that makes the ring act more like a traditional washer, i.e., compressable with some rebound. I personally think that these work much better than extra wax. YMMV.
Mike Hennessy
As Dan said, two rings are a remedial solution to the problem of a bad fit. If you have things laid on properly, you should not need them.
There are ABS/wax combination rings specially made to deal with connecting to the lead connector when a new floor is laid on top; these models have an escutcheon and short pipe extension that goes down inside the lead and bridges the extra thickness. They also usually have a thicker than normal wax seal.
I can buy either 1" or 1½" wax rings here; I usually use the 1½'s on all remods where new plumbing is not being installed. I've never had to use two 1-inchers.
Dinosaur
Hold your ground!
I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me....
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Same deal.
If the floor is collar is low I normally use the rubber mounted one and if the collar is rough I can use a thin wax ring to adjust it going directly on the collar and the rubber one on the commode itself. Lots of remodels call for it with old plumbing and raised floors.
Marginally though is the collar is in bad shape it should be replaced and extended .
Tim
Thanks much for the replies, guys. Maybe I missed the line in the original source that said "I use two wax rings only in xyz circumstances..."Anyway, I'll be going back to one ring, and I may give the new rubber-foam "washer" style a try. Haven't seen them before, but they sound like an improvement...Thanks again