I've had one of those wax-free seals installed for about 4 years now—no leaks or issues yet. Honestly, seems like a solid alternative, especially if your flange isn't perfect. I'd trust it again for sure.
I've had mixed experiences with wax-free seals myself. They're definitely handy if your flange isn't in great shape, but I wonder how they'll hold up long-term—say, 10+ years? Curious if anyone's had one installed longer than 5 years yet...
"They're definitely handy if your flange isn't in great shape, but I wonder how they'll hold up long-term—say, 10+ years?"
Yeah, that's a good point. I've only seen wax-free seals in action for about 3 years tops on jobs I've helped with, and so far they've been solid. But honestly, I'm kinda skeptical about the long-term durability too. Wax seals have been around forever and seem to hold up pretty well if installed correctly... but then again, they can be messy and annoying to deal with if you gotta reseat the toilet.
Makes me wonder if climate or humidity levels might affect how well these wax-free options perform over time. Like, would they hold up differently in a humid bathroom versus a drier environment? I haven't seen anyone really talk about that yet.
I've had wax-free seals in a couple rentals for about 5-6 years now, and honestly, no issues yet. But yeah, humidity could be a factor... bathrooms with poor ventilation seem to wear everything down faster, so I'd keep an eye on that.
I've been using wax-free seals in my bathroom for about 3 years now, and honestly, no complaints from me either. But I totally agree about humidity—it's sneaky. I moved into a house last year where the previous owner had done some DIY plumbing fixes, and they didn't bother to install a proper vent fan. First thing I noticed was how fast everything started deteriorating—paint peeling, caulking getting moldy way quicker than normal, even some rust on fixtures.
Anyway, one thing that helped me a ton was installing a decent bathroom exhaust fan. It wasn't too expensive or complicated—just watched a few YouTube videos and got it done over a weekend. Made such a difference. The room feels fresher, and things aren't breaking down nearly as fast.
Also, if you're already working on plumbing stuff yourself, it's probably worth checking out your pipes and fittings while you're at it. I found some minor leaks under the sink that were causing moisture buildup I hadn't even noticed before. Tightened up those connections, replaced a couple fittings, and now it's way better. Sometimes the small things you overlook end up causing bigger headaches later...
Just my two cents as someone who's still figuring things out myself. Good luck with your DIY!
