Q: Does the wax seal need to be replaced when the flange is replaced?

• <div><p>Yes, you&rsquo;ll need to replace your toilet&rsquo;s wax seal any time you move the toilet. This is because movement of the toilet will break the seal, rendering the remaining wax useless. Thankfully, <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-replace-toilet-wax-ring.htm">replacing a wax seal</a> is fairly easy, and the seal itself only costs <b>$2 to $10</b> at most home improvement stores.</p><p>When replacing a wax seal you typically also have to replace the closet bolts that secure the toilet to the flange. These are usually about 2.5&quot; - 3&quot; long and have to be cut once the toilet is secure. Cutting them usually makes them too short to reuse.</p></div>

Question 1

What is the most common plumbing item to fail in a residential home?

Accepted Answer

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Many parts of your plumbing system can fail, but clogged drains are one of the biggest plumbing problems you’ll likely encounter. From your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub, there are plenty of opportunities for gunk, hair, food scraps, and more to get stuck in drains. When this happens, water will slowly drain, leading to standing water, bad odors, drain flies, and other issues.

Many homeowners can handle a minor clog themselves, but if you have a clog in your main line, you’re best off hiring a local plumber to get the drain back to its normal flow rate.

Question 2

How do you empty a broken toilet?

Accepted Answer

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To drain a broken toilet, place towels or plastic sheeting around the base in case of splashing or overflowing. Next, shut off the toilet’s water supply, usually via a valve on the wall behind the toilet. Begin flushing the handle to remove as much water as possible from the tank and the bowl. Don’t flush the toilet if it’s clogged, though. From there, use a large sponge to soak up any remaining water and wring it over a bucket.

Question 3

What causes a toilet flapper to leak?

Accepted Answer

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The main causes for a leaky toilet flapper include wear and tear or a broken or incorrectly installed toilet flapper chain. If your toilet flapper is torn or deteriorated, it can’t provide a proper seal to keep water from running. Meanwhile, a chain that has come loose, was moved, or just wasn’t installed right can prevent your flapper from fully closing.

Question 4

Does the wax seal need to be replaced when the flange is replaced?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, you’ll need to replace your toilet’s wax seal any time you move the toilet. This is because movement of the toilet will break the seal, rendering the remaining wax useless. Thankfully, replacing a wax seal is fairly easy, and the seal itself only costs $2 to $10 at most home improvement stores.

When replacing a wax seal you typically also have to replace the closet bolts that secure the toilet to the flange. These are usually about 2.5" - 3" long and have to be cut once the toilet is secure. Cutting them usually makes them too short to reuse.

Question 5

Can you put an elongated toilet seat on a round toilet?

Accepted Answer

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Technically, you can put an elongated toilet seat on a round toilet, but it’s not a good idea. Elongated toilet seats are a few inches longer than round toilets, so they will hang over the front edge of your toilet, which isn’t appealing. Additionally, an unsupported toilet seat or portion of a toilet seat is more likely to crack and shift, which could result in injury to whoever uses the toilet. Always match your toilet seat style to your toilet, or replace the toilet entirely if you’re looking to switch styles.