How to Check for Leaky Wax Toilet Seal: Part 1 Can My Wax Ring Leak Even If I Don’t See Water Leaking?

How to Check for Leaky Wax Toilet Seal: Part 1

Can My Wax Ring Leak Even If I Don’t See Water Leaking?

If you suspect your toilet is leaking, it's not always obvious by water pooling around the base. Even if no visible water is leaking, your wax seal could still be compromised, causing other issues like sewer gas leaks or water damage. Here’s how to check for a leaky wax toilet seal before it leads to bigger problems:

Step-by-Step Guide to Check for a Leaky Wax Toilet Seal

1. Remove the Tank Lid
   Start by carefully removing the lid of your toilet tank and setting it aside.
2. Lift the Toilet Seat
   Lift the toilet seat to give you a clear view and access to the tank and toilet base.
3. Observe the Water in the Tank
   While looking at the water in the tank, watch carefully for any movement. If the water level shifts or moves, this could indicate that your toilet is shifting, which often happens when the wax seal is compromised.
4. Apply Pressure at 10 & 4 O'Clock
   Use paper towels to apply alternating pressure with your hands at the 10 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions around the rim of the toilet bowl. This will help you detect any subtle shifts in the toilet.
5. Repeat at 2 & 7 O'Clock
   Next, repeat this process, placing your hands at the 2 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions. This helps ensure that you're testing for movement in the toilet or the floor that creates leaks.

• Look for Movement in the Tank
  If you see the water in the tank moving during this process, there’s a very high chance (about 99%) that your wax seal is leaking sewer gas and/or water. This means you have a leaky wax seal that should be replaced.

For a clear visual demonstration, check out our videoo showing the easiest way to remove your toilet and replace the wax seal. https://youtu.be/gVs6i2sEhI0

• Do’s & Don’ts to Fix Leaky Toilet Seal

Many homeowners mistakenly try to fix a leaking toilet by shimming the base or tightening the toilet bolts. Here’s why these solutions won’t work:

Why Shimming the Toilet Won’t Solve the Problem:

Shimming may prevent rocking, but it doesn’t address the root cause: a compressed wax seal. Once the wax ring is compressed, it doesn’t bounce back creating a toilet wax ring leak. Even a single rocking motion can over-compress the seal on two sides, creating a gap where both sewer gas and water can leak.

Why Tightening the Toilet Bolts Won’t Fix the Leak:

While it’s important to secure the toilet, over-tightening the bolts can make the problem worse. Tightening bolts too much can cause the toilet flange to flex upward around the bolt, but it won’t improve the seal. In fact, over-tightening can stress the flange, sometimes causing plastic toilet flanges to crack and metal flanges to bend.

The Dangers of Over-Tightening Bolts:

• Many toilet flanges break due to over-tightening toilet bolts because it’s impossible to know when you begin to stress the flange while tightening standard toilet bolts. If you suspect your toilet is leaking and over-tighten the toilet bolts to fix it, you risk cracking the flange. This can lead to toilet flange issues (a much larger plumbing repair job).

The One-N-Done Toilet Seal and Flange Repair Kit: The Ultimate Solution

 

To address these common issues, we’ve developed the One-N-Done Toilet Seal and Toilet Flange Repair Kit. Our kit will replace wax toilet seal and solve the problems of over-compression, toilet movement, and prevent toilet flange damage due to over-tightening. One-N-Done is the only toilet seal movement solution. Here’s how it works:

Why One-N-Done Works:

• Handles Toilet Movement:
  Our One-N-Done toilet seal repair kit is designed to handle any toilet movement. It grips tightly around the horned toilet outlet (the part that’s under the toilet), adjusting automatically to any toilet flange depth to create a watertight seal even with extreme toilet movement.

• Reinforced Bolts:
  The kit includes reinforced nylon toilet bolts and nuts that prevent over-tightening, ensuring your toilet flange won’t crack. We also offer optional metal bolts for those who prefer them, but the nylon bolts are more than strong enough to secure the toilet and easier to cut down using the included diamond saw.
• Easy-to-Clean Toilet Caps:
  The kit comes with new toilet caps that lock in place with a simple 1/4 turn and are easy to clean, keeping your toilet area sanitary.

Watch the [One-N-Done Installation Video] for a step-by-step guide on how to install the kit.

 

https://youtu.be/7mCE6PdY16M 

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet Flange

If your toilet flange is broken, low, or the floor is wet from a leak, our One-N-Done Toilet Flange Repair Kit is your solution. Here’s how to install it: 

 

https://youtu.be/5hrAEovCkpY

1. Place the Kit Over the Flange:
   For flanges that are 1/8" above the floor to 1 1/2" below the floor, simply place the One-N-Done repair kit over the broken flange. Center the bolts and screw through the flange to anchor it down.
2. Attach the Toilet:
   Once anchored, set your toilet on top of the repair kit. The seal will automatically center to the toilet and adjust to the flange depth.
3. Tighten the Bolts:
   Tighten the nylon bolts by hand (one-quarter turn past hand tight). For a perfect finish, cut the excess bolts with our diamond saw. For metal bolts, tighten with a 7/16” wrench and reuse the cap that came with the toilet.
4. Check for Leaks:
   Turn the water supply back on, wipe all water connections dry with a paper towel, and check for leaks. Wipe around the toilet base and flush it to ensure everything stays dry.

Why Choose the One-N-Done Kit?

The Wax Free One-N-Done Toilet Seal and Flange Repair Kit ensures your toilet stays securely in place and leak-free, eliminating the need for future repairs. Whether you’re replacing a worn wax seal, fixing a broken flange, or dealing with a low toilet flange, this comprehensive solution is built to last and prevent costly repairs down the road.

With this knowledge, you can confidently diagnose and repair any toilet leaks without over-tightening or unnecessary fixes.