Interesting take on wax vs foam, but have you considered trying one of those reinforced wax rings with the built-in rubber flange? I get the appeal of traditional wax—it's forgiving and molds nicely—but honestly, I've seen some pretty gnarly wax ring fails too, especially when floors are uneven or toilets shift around a bit. Wax can compress over time, and if your toilet rocks even slightly, you're back to square one.
Have you checked if your toilet is actually stable on the floor? Even a tiny wobble can ruin any seal, wax or foam. I had a similar issue at my brother's place—old house, uneven tiles, the whole nine yards. We ended up shimming the toilet base with plastic shims (cheap and easy fix), then used one of those hybrid wax/rubber seals. It's been leak-free for over two years now, knock on wood...
Also curious—did you replace the flange bolts when you swapped seals? Sometimes old bolts get corroded or bent, and that can mess up your seal no matter what material you're using. And speaking of flanges, is yours sitting flush with the floor or is it recessed? If it's recessed, you might need an extender ring to bring it level. That alone can make a huge difference.
I mean, foam seals aren't perfect either—I agree they're convenient but can be finicky—but wax isn't always bulletproof. Maybe it's less about foam vs wax and more about getting the toilet stable and flange height right first?
Anyway, just throwing some ideas out there... plumbing is always an adventure, isn't it?
Good points about the flange bolts—seen plenty of leaks caused by old hardware myself. Quick thought though, did you check if the subfloor around the flange is still solid? Had a rental once where hidden water damage caused endless seal issues...
Had a similar issue at my place last year—thought it was just the flange bolts too, until I noticed the subfloor felt oddly spongy. Turned out there was hidden water damage underneath, and no matter how many seals or bolts I replaced, it kept leaking. Honestly, I'd double-check that subfloor first before spending more money on hardware fixes. Might save you a headache down the line...
"Honestly, I'd double-check that subfloor first before spending more money on hardware fixes. Might save you a headache down the line..."
Yeah, gotta agree with this. I've seen way too many cases where folks keep swapping out wax rings and bolts, thinking that's the issue, when it's actually water damage lurking underneath. If your subfloor feels even slightly soft or spongy, that's usually a red flag. You might wanna pull the toilet completely and take a good look at what's going on beneath it. I know it's a pain, but better safe than sorry—water damage can spread pretty quickly and quietly.
Also, if you do find damage, don't just patch it up superficially. Make sure you replace any compromised plywood or flooring properly. Otherwise, you'll just end up back at square one in a few months (been there myself...). Good luck with it—hope it's not too serious!
Definitely solid advice here. Had a similar situation a couple years back—thought it was just the wax ring, but nope... ended up replacing part of the subfloor. It's not fun, but once you bite the bullet and fix it properly, you'll feel way better knowing it's done right. Hang in there, sounds like you're on the right track already.
