toilet leaking?

[slushfund]

Just finished insulating the toilet tank and installing all new guts. Woks like a charm. Nice and quiet and flushes well. However I noticed the following day a small bead of water around the base of the toilet where it meets the floor covering. Now I'm thinking the wax seal is shot. The last time I replaced a wax seal on the other toilet I had a hell of a time because the leakage had rotted the metal closet flange at the base. Do they make a easy to install replacement closet flange other than those 1/4 round metal strips I used the last time? The toilet is sitting on linoleum.

[kato]

Are you sure it isn't leaking from the tank and creeping down to the floor? I would try tightening (but not too tight) all connections especially the bolts holding tank to base.

[Jeff Wisnia]

I have seen repair flanges which look like two half round steel pieces with short overlapping portions which purport to be able to completely replace the rusted out steel part of an existing PVC/steel flange. Oh, here 'tis:

If the closet flange is PVC glued INTO PVC, there is a tool made which will carve it out without damaging the outer pipe, then you just glue in a new flange.

If it's PVC glued OVER PVC you can cut away whatever you need of the old flange and then glue a new one flange inside the pipe.

HTH

Jeff

[slushfund]

Nope, it's not leaking from the tank or any of the connections. Checked them all real good. Got to be the wax seal. Thanks for the info on the flanges.

[slushfund]

Didn't mean to TP. thought I was where I belonged.

[Terry]

Suggestion. Last time we used a sponge rubber 'doughnut' style seal (3 to 4 bucks IIRC) instead of a wax one. So far it's worked well even though we have had it off and on again using the same seal, three times while renovating our single bathroom. By comparison; only once in past 30+ years was I able to successfully reuse a wax seal (it was a Sunday night/early hours emergency) reforming it by hand into a semblance of the right shape!

[Jeff Wisnia]

But an undisturbed wax seal will last longer than a lifetime, and I'm not sure spnge rubber will.

I'll stick with wax, and for less than a buck I can afford to keep a spare on hand in my plumbing "Hell box".

Good insurance that; having a spare guarantees you'll never have need for it.

Jeff

[D'Olier]

"> By comparison; only once in past 30+ years was I able to successfully reuse

Wax seals are never supposed to be used twice.