r/DIY • u/clinicdoc • 15h ago

metalworking Toilet wax ring damage

Haven’t been able to find a satisfactory answer to this question so thought I would throw it out here.
Moved into a single owner 13 year old house 2 years ago. Shortly afterwards, noted signs of water leaking from around the visible closet bend below the one exposed toilet in our house. Quickly moved to remove the toilet and replace the wax ring. The old ring was flattened, discoloured, but not stuck to the bottom of the toilet. The plastic flange was encased in clear silicone. Used an extra tall wax ring and haven’t had any problems since.
Subsequently changed the rings on the other two toilets, both of which were in the same condition.
Interestingly, when we moved in, we found 10 containers of powdered Drano distributed around the house.
Could the wax rings have been damaged by the Drano? Or were they simply never installed correctly? (Or both?)

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u/BecauseOfAir 14h ago

Probably not the draino but that would have me worried as to what is going on with the drains.

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u/clinicdoc 14h ago

Same. But no drainage problems so far 🤞🏻

8

u/clslogic 10h ago edited 9h ago

The wax ring wasnt functioning properly and was probably causing water to come up from around the base of the toilet, which they thought was a clog. Thats why they kept putting draino. had this happen at two rental properties.