Ha, wish I'd seen this thread yesterday... just spent half my weekend battling a wax seal that refused to cooperate. Ended up going foam out of desperation, and honestly, it was way easier than expected. Floor's a bit wonky too, but it sealed right up—no leaks yet (fingers crossed). Lesson learned: level first, panic second.
Interesting you went with foam—I considered it myself but hesitated after reading mixed reviews about its durability over time. Did you find any solid info on how well foam holds up compared to wax seals long-term? I'm still leaning towards wax, despite the hassle, just because it's been around forever and seems reliable. But maybe I'm being overly cautious... Curious if anyone else has experience with foam seals lasting more than a couple years without issues.
"I'm still leaning towards wax, despite the hassle, just because it's been around forever and seems reliable."
Yeah, I get that. I installed a foam seal at my parents' place about three years ago—no leaks yet, knock on wood. Wax is tried-and-true, but foam's been solid so far... guess we'll see long-term.
"Wax is tried-and-true, but foam's been solid so far... guess we'll see long-term."
Yeah, foam seals definitely have their perks—no messy clean-ups or awkward installs. I've used both, and honestly, wax has never let me down either, even if it's a bit old-school. One tip though: whichever you pick, make sure the flange height is spot-on. Had a leak once because mine was slightly off-level... lesson learned the hard way. Good luck!
"Had a leak once because mine was slightly off-level... lesson learned the hard way."
Been there myself. Flange height is definitely critical—had a similar issue where the wax ring compressed unevenly due to a slight tilt I overlooked. Foam seals do simplify installation, but I've noticed they're less forgiving if the flange isn't perfectly level. Wax, while messy, tends to fill those small imperfections better. Either way, double-checking alignment and stability beforehand saves headaches down the line.
