I’ve heard the wax rings are tried and true, but I keep seeing those rubber ones at the hardware store and wondering if I’m missing out on something easier. The mess with wax kind of freaks me out, honestly. Has anyone had luck with the newer “no-mess” waxless ones, or do they all end up leaking eventually?
I totally get the wax ring dread—last time I tried one, it felt like wrestling a sticky donut under my toilet. I actually went with one of those rubber “no-mess” rings on my last bathroom update. It was way less gross, and so far, no leaks (knock on wood). I’ve heard some folks say they don’t seal as well if your floor isn’t perfectly level, though. For me, the convenience was worth it, but I’m always a little paranoid and check for drips every now and then...
I actually went with one of those rubber “no-mess” rings on my last bathroom update. It was way less gross, and so far, no leaks (knock on wood). I’ve heard some folks say they don’t seal as well if your floor isn’t perfectly level, though.
That’s the catch with those rubber rings—they’re a dream for clean hands, but if your flange is even a hair off level, you might get a slow leak that sneaks up on you. I still use wax most of the time, messy as it is. Trick is to warm the wax ring a bit before install; makes it way easier to seat and less like wrestling a jelly donut. But hey, if the rubber’s holding for you, can’t argue with results... just keep an eye on that base after long showers or mopping. Water finds every weak spot eventually.
I’ve had mixed luck with those rubber rings, honestly. Tried one at my uncle’s place—floor was just a bit uneven and it started leaking after a couple months. Ended up pulling the toilet and going back to wax, which fixed it. Wax is messy, yeah, but it’s more forgiving if things aren’t perfectly flat. I do like the idea of not having to scrape up old wax every time, though... maybe if I ever get a perfectly level floor I’ll give rubber another shot.
Yeah, I hear you on the wax being messy but reliable. I’ve tried those rubber rings too—thought it’d be a cleaner fix, but my bathroom floor isn’t exactly level either and I had a tiny leak after a while. Ended up doing the same as you and just went back to wax. It’s not glamorous scraping that stuff off, but at least it works even if things aren’t perfect. Maybe one day I’ll spring for new flooring and give the rubber another go... for now, wax is just cheaper and less hassle for me.
