Toilets use wax rings to create a watertight and smell-free seal around the plumbing fixture and stabilize it on the floor. It prevents leakage and wobbling on an uneven floor and is common among plumbers when installing a toilet.
Are Waxless Toilet Rings Good? Waxless toilet rings are good because they are easy to install, reusable, create less mess, can withstand temperature and temperature fluctuations, and are flexible and versatile. There are fewer chances of leakage, and they do not need adapters to fix the lower flanges on the tile floor.
However, waxless rings are available in the market and have become famous among house owners and plumbers because of their modern seal designs. They are now competing with wax rings because of their exceptional features and the advantages of installing them under the toilet.
Why are waxless toilet rings good?
Waxless rings have many advantages, and some benefits of using these sealing products are listed below.
Easy to install
The wax rings are challenging to handle and need much effort and attention while installing them on the floor.
They need an adequate temperature because cold wax is hard to place and fix around the ring, and hot wax can squeeze around the plumbing fixture when a heavy-weight toilet is installed on it.
The waxless toilet rings are easier to deal with and install on the floor or over the flange because they use high-quality rubber, which is flexible enough to adjust into the flange without using wax.
They can control the drain water leakage and sewer gases from entering the bathroom and offers a long-lasting seal around the plumbing fixture.
Less mess when replacing the ring
The wax rings can create a lot of mess around the toilet during installation or when replacing a worn-out sealing ring. In addition, it can damage the floor because the wax can cling to the floor, and you need a sharp tool to make it off the tiles and then install a new ring over it.
However, the waxless rings do not cause any mess around the plumbing fixture and are safe for tile or wooden floors.
They do not use wax, and the PVC models have a self-sticking property that can attach to the toilet using a strong adhesive layer on the upper side.
They make the cleaning process much easier when you reinstall a new ring, as you do not clean to remove the old and dry wax from the floor. The tile floor will remain clean and stains free, and you can use any mild cleaner to remove the dust and dirt from the floor.
Reusable
You cannot use the wax seals again after removing the toilet and the seal from the flange, as it will lose its sticking capability and become dry over time.
The waxless rings offer you to reuse them again as long as they are in good condition, unlike the wax sealing. The foam seals can maintain their shape, and you can use them when repositioning the toilet.
The foam rings can fill the extra gap if the plumbing fixture shifts slightly and prevents wobbling. You can change its position without selecting a new wax ring, and make sure that the toilet is fixed in its location and does not wobble when you reposition it.
Withstand temperature fluctuations
You can install waxless toilet rings on the floors with a heated system because the foam and sponge sealing do not melt under temperature changes.
They can tolerate temperature fluctuations, and the temperature change does not affect the performance and lifetime of the seal.
However, the wax seals can melt on the heated floors if the temperature is changed, which causes the seal to break and leak under the toilet bowl.
You do not need to worry about the wax melting or the seal breakage if you install the waxless ring under the plumbing fixture, and the chances of mold and bacteria decrease.
Flexible and versatile
The waxless rings are more flexible than the wax rings, as they can adjust under different environments and perform amazingly well.
They do not lose their functionality over time, retain their design and avoid the wobbling and rocking of the plumbing fixture.
They are versatile, as you can install them for different types of toilets to allow stability and adjustment. The house owners do not need to struggle to find the best wax seal to fit under the toilet when renovating the bathroom interior or replacing the damaged wax seal.
Fewer chances of leakage
You cannot use a plunger for the toilet with the wax rings because there are chances of the seal breaking when you apply pressure to unclog the drain pipes.
It causes the waste drain water into the bathroom, and sewer gases to leak, which creates a terrible situation, and you need to replace the ring as soon as possible to use the plumbing fixture.
Using the waxless ring does not cause leakage or seal-breaking problems, and you can use the plunger and an auger to unclog the toilet. In addition, the heavy weight on the plumbing fixture does not affect the waxless ring and prevents leaks.
Do not need an adapter to fix the lower flange
You do not need the flange adapters to install the waxless toilet ring on the flange that is not balanced with the floor.
The rubber and foam waxless rings provide the benefit to stack them over each other to install them over the tile floor and flange without using any adapter.
The PVC rings are long enough to place on an under-floor flange and prevent unstable toilet seating. However, the wax rings require flange adapters to install the ring on the flange that is under the floor to adjust the floor level.
Why do some people avoid using waxless toilet rings?
Waxless toilet rings have many advantages, but some people do not want to install them because of the following reasons.
Less durable
They are less durable than wax rings, as the lifespan of waxless rings is 10-15 years, while wax rings can last for 20-30 years, depending on the temperature changes and maintenance.
The wax rings are tried and tested by professional plumbers; therefore, they recommend having them for a better and long-lasting seal.
More expensive
They are more expensive than wax sealing because of the advanced features to attach with the flange and the plumbing fixture without using any wax.
The material used for their manufacturing is expensive, as high-quality PVC or rubber sealing is more expensive than traditional wax.
Moreover, it can cause installation costs if you do not know how to install the waxless ring under the toilet because improper installation can cause damage to the plumbing fixture.
No clear understanding of the installation
People hesitate to install them because they do not have a clear understanding of the correct installation, as it is a new and modern way to seal the toilet with the flange.
Wax rings are more common and famous among users, and they can do the task without calling the plumber and save labor costs.
What are the different types of waxless toilet rings?
There are different types of waxless rings, and you can use any depending on your preference or the type of plumbing fixture in the bathroom.
The foam gasket is made using polyurethane or other foam material, which offers better sealing for the toilet with over or underfloor flange. In addition, it allows a 4-7 inches distance of flange from the floor and adjusting the plumbing fixture correctly on the tile surface.
The foam gasket can be stacked to cover an under-floor flange distance, unlike the wax seal that needs an adapter, offset, or floor cutting to adjust the fixture.
A sponge gasket is a thick sponge ring that is commonly used for wall-hanging toilets and urinals, but some people use it for floor plumbing fixtures.
It comes with varying thicknesses and sizes, and professionals recommend measuring the exact size of the seal before selecting the sponge gasket.
Wax-free bowl gasket is a rubber sealing and O-shaped ring, which can offer a watertight seal between the toilet and the flange.
waxless toilet ring is reusable and can be used for deep-length flanges to seal the drain pipe and the toilet connection. In addition, it is more durable than the sponge and other gaskets, depending on the rubber quality used in the manufacturing.
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