Been there, done that... silicone sounds great until reality hits. Older properties have a way of humbling us all, don't they? Wax seals might be messy, but they're like the duct tape of plumbing—ugly, sticky, yet somehow always reliable. Glad you got it sorted, and hey, at least now you've earned your plumbing badge the hard way.
Totally agree about wax seals being reliable, but have you ever tried those newer foam gasket seals? Heard they're supposed to be easier and less messy than wax, but I'm wondering if they're actually as durable long-term, especially in older homes. Has anyone here had experience with them holding up over time, or do they end up causing more headaches down the road? I'm still learning, so any insights would be great...
I've installed a few of those foam gasket seals, and here's my take:
- Definitely easier and cleaner to install than wax—no messy hands or ruined towels.
- Short-term, they work fine, but I've noticed they don't always compress evenly, especially if your flange isn't perfectly level (common in older homes).
- Had one call-back after about 18 months because the foam compressed unevenly, causing a slow leak. Switched back to wax, no issues since.
- Bottom line: foam's convenient, but wax still feels safer long-term, especially if your bathroom setup isn't ideal.
Had a similar experience with foam seals myself. Installed one in our guest bathroom since it seemed like a cleaner, quicker option. Worked great for about a year, but then slowly started noticing a faint smell...turned out it wasn't sealing evenly due to our slightly uneven flange (old house problems!). Switched back to wax and haven't had issues since. Foam's convenient, sure, but I'm sticking with wax for peace of mind.
Totally agree with your take on foam seals. They can be handy, but I've seen too many uneven flanges cause subtle leaks over time. Wax rings might seem old-school, but they're reliable if installed right. One tip: always double-check the flange height before installing—if it's too low, stacking two wax rings (one regular and one reinforced) usually does the trick. A bit messy, sure, but beats dealing with water damage down the line... learned that lesson the hard way myself.
