"Even slight movement can break the seal over time, no matter how good your wax ring or gasket is."
Yeah, exactly this. Did you happen to check if the floor itself is level? Had a similar issue once where the toilet was fine, bolts were snug, but the floor underneath had settled unevenly over time. Ended up shimming it carefully and problem solved. Might be worth a quick check before you go porcelain shopping...
Good call on checking the floor level—seen that plenty of times myself. If you do shim it, just make sure you use plastic shims (wood ones rot eventually) and trim them flush after tightening everything down. Should hold up fine after that.
"just make sure you use plastic shims (wood ones rot eventually)"
Good tip on the plastic shims—learned that lesson the hard way myself. Had a toilet wobbling issue a few years back, and I used wooden shims thinking they'd be fine. Fast forward about two years, and I was right back at square one with rotted wood and another weekend wasted.
One thing I'd add: if you're already pulling things apart, might as well double-check the wax ring too. Sometimes uneven floors can cause the seal to compress unevenly, leading to leaks down the road. Wax-free seals are pricier but reusable and less messy—anyone tried those? Curious if they're worth the extra bucks or just marketing hype...
Plastic shims are definitely the way to go—wood just doesn't hold up long-term, especially in a damp bathroom environment. Been there myself, and it's frustrating having to redo something you thought was sorted.
About the wax-free seals, I've actually used one on my downstairs toilet about three years ago. Installation was straightforward, and I liked not dealing with messy wax. So far, no leaks or issues, even with a slightly uneven tile floor. They're pricier upfront, but honestly, the convenience factor alone made it worth it for me. Plus, if you ever need to reposition or remove the toilet again (hopefully not!), they're reusable, which saves hassle down the line.
But yeah, definitely check that seal while you're at it—uneven floors can cause headaches later if you skip that step. Good luck getting everything sorted... plumbing issues are never fun.
Plastic shims are solid, but honestly, I've seen wax-free seals fail more often than traditional wax rings—especially if the floor isn't perfectly level. Had a client last year who went wax-free for convenience, and it leaked after about 18 months. Wax is messy, sure, but it's been reliable for decades. Just saying... convenience is great, but reliability matters more when you're dealing with potential water damage.
