"Wax rings might seem old-school, but they're reliable if installed right."
True, wax rings have stood the test of time, but honestly, I've switched to silicone rings and haven't looked back. They're reusable, less messy, and from an eco-friendly standpoint, they reduce waste since you're not tossing out wax every time you reseat the toilet. Had a wonky flange myself last year—silicone ring sealed it perfectly, no leaks yet (knock on sustainably harvested wood...). Might be worth a shot if you're tired of waxy fingers and cleanup headaches.
Totally get where you're coming from on silicone rings. I've used them myself and had good luck, especially when dealing with uneven surfaces or flange issues. But I still keep a wax ring handy as backup—call me cautious, but old habits die hard.
If anyone's going the silicone route, just a quick heads-up: make sure your flange is clean and dry before installing. Silicone seals best when there's no moisture or debris in the way. Learned that the hard way after rushing through a job once...ended up having to redo it completely because of a tiny bit of leftover wax residue. Not fun.
Also, if your flange sits below floor level (which happens more often than you'd think), you might need an extender or spacer to get a solid seal. Silicone rings are forgiving, but they're not miracle workers, so checking flange height beforehand can save you some headaches down the road.
Either way—wax or silicone—taking your time during installation is key. Don't rush tightening down those bolts either; snug them evenly and gradually to avoid cracking the porcelain base (been there too, unfortunately). And once everything's set, give it a gentle rock test to ensure it's stable and sealed properly.
Good luck getting things sorted...toilet troubles are never fun, but sounds like you're already on the right track!
Haha, reading your story brought back memories of my own "toilet adventures." I remember the first time I tried using a silicone ring—I was all confident, thinking I'd finally solved my wax ring woes forever. Everything went smoothly at first, but after a week or so, I noticed this slight wobble. Thought I'd just snug up the bolts a bit more and be done with it. Big mistake. Turns out, in my rush to finish the job, I'd overlooked that pesky below-floor flange you mentioned...and yep, no extender.
Ended up having to pull the whole thing apart again (on a Saturday afternoon, no less), and let's just say my wife was less than thrilled about our bathroom being out of commission for another day. Lesson learned: always double-check flange height BEFORE setting the toilet down.
I still mostly stick with wax rings these days—just feels like there's less room for error if you're careful—but silicone definitely has its moments. Like you said, uneven surfaces or tricky installations can benefit from that added flexibility.
Speaking of toilet mishaps though...anyone here ever accidentally overtighten the bolts and crack the porcelain base? Because that's a fun one to explain to family members when they're wondering why there's suddenly a new toilet sitting in the garage waiting to be installed 😅
