Ancient technology…tried and true? Or grossly out of date?
I see two manufacturers marketing non-wax toilet drain connections. Fluidmaster makes one (even sold at big box stores) and an underdog version called Ultra Seal is available (mentioned in a toilets FHB article #121). Have pros started to turn to these as alternatives? Seems to make sense since there’s no “settling in” period like with wax. They also seem rather bomb proof – and people are dropping some pretty powerful bombs out there!.
Of these two alternatives, the Fluidmaster (www.fluidmaster.com) comes with a 10 year warranty and the Ultra Seal with a lifetime. But the Ultra Seal is sold just about nowhere practical (www.plumb-bob.com). Those of you how have gone this way, any preferences of these two options?
Fluidmaster – $6-$8
Ultra Seal – $8-$9 plus shipping if no one sells it locally
Even with these, Johni-ring still seems to have the thrown.
Seth
John Cage
Replies
Seth,
I've seen those. I'm not a plumber, but I've set a couple dozen toilets I would guess. Seems to me that the non-wax alternatives are solving a non-existent problem...and charging a lot of money for the privlege.
The only "settling in" period I'm aware of with the wax is the time I'm tightening the hold down bolts. If it "settles in" beyond that, it wasn't done right.
Don't twist the toilet, don't rock the toilet...set it straight down with some pressure and then tighten the hold down bolts, a little on the left, a little on the right, etc. Good article in FHB a year or two ago on the subject.
Another day, another tool.
we use those non wax gaskets for remodels where we will be pulling the toilet regularly, especially when there is only one bathroom in the house or if you are trying to contain dust to one area ( examples of toilet being pulled several times would include painting, tileing, wainscoting etc.)
if you pull and re seat a toilet 3 times the cost is about the same for the high tech version as for changing wax every time.
What Rich Bechman said sounds right.
I'm no plumber but I have set a few toilets. The only time I had any settling problem was when I rushed a job on a cold night. The wax was stiff. I sat on the john for about 20 minutes talking with the lady and drinking coffee. Kind of an odd romance. It seemed to have settled in by then and I was able to bolt it in place. As far as I know she never had any problems with it after the job.
Later, talking to a plumber friend, I asked about how he did it. He said that up north, we are in Florida now, he used to warm the wax rings to soften them if they were too stiff. He said kept a few rings in the cab of his truck to keep them warmer on cold nights and would place one near, not too near, the heater on the way over to the service call.
Maybe something to keep in mind for the rubber duckie thread! I used the Fluidmaster on a toilet in a bathroom we were renovating---no problems, no wax mess the multiple times I took it out. Otherwise, I like to think when I set a toilet, I am not going to be taking it out anytime soon.
I did notice that the toilet was more solidly set with the wax ring than the Fluidmaster. The Fluidmaster has this little cardboard square used to get a good seal between the rubber gasket and the toilet, which is crushed when you tighten down the toilet.