I've had mixed luck with silicone rings myself. They're great in theory—reusable, cleaner to handle—but seating them properly can be finicky, especially if your flange isn't perfectly level. As for flange repair kits, I've found the "universal" ones are usually okay, but not foolproof. Best bet is to measure your existing flange carefully (diameter, bolt spacing) before heading to the store. Saves you from multiple trips...trust me, learned that the hard way too.
Yeah, silicone rings can be tricky—I ended up switching back to wax after a couple frustrating attempts. Measuring beforehand is key, but also double-check the flange condition itself. Mine looked okay at first glance, but had hidden cracks that caused leaks later...lesson learned the messy way.
Been there, done that... silicone rings always promise convenience but deliver chaos, lol. Wax rings might be old-school, but hey, they've been sealing toilets since forever for a reason. Good call on checking the flange—had one that looked fine until I poked it with a screwdriver and half of it crumbled away. Fun times. Better to find out now than during Thanksgiving dinner, trust me.
Yep, silicone rings can be hit or miss—mostly miss in my experience. Wax rings might be messy, but they're reliable. Good catch on the flange; seen plenty that look solid until you start poking around. Also, double-check the bolts while you're at it. Had a job once where the flange was fine, but the bolts were rusted halfway through. Better safe than sorry, especially before holiday chaos hits...
Good points all around. From my experience:
- Silicone rings seem convenient but often leak after a while—had to redo a few jobs because of that.
- Wax rings are messy, sure, but they're tried-and-true.
- Definitely second checking those bolts; rust sneaks up fast, especially in older bathrooms.
Better to spend an extra 10 mins now than hours later mopping up toilet water...
