Toilets often have wax rings at their base. These rings create a tight seal between the base of the toilet and your plumbing system. They keep your toilet watertight and prevent the escape of noxious and potentially harmful sewer gases.
However, sometimes these rings get damaged or break. How can you tell if your wax ring has a problem?
1. Your Toilet Is Unstable
Toilets should have a firm and strong connection to the floor. They shouldn't move when you sit down on them or when you stand up.
If your toilet feels unstable, like if it rocks when you use it, that will lead to a wax ring problem. Most wax rings have no memory, meaning once it's compressed, it won't go back to its original shape. When a toilet moves, it breaks the wax seal, and the only way to fix it is to pull the toilet and replace the wax.
2. You See Water Pooling Around Your Toilet
If a wax ring breaks or wears down, then it loses its watertight seal. When this happens, the seal allows water to leak out when you flush.
Often, when this happens, you'll see some water on the floor around the base of your toilet. If you're unsure, dry the floor around the toilet base and put some toilet paper or paper towels up against the toilet base. Check back periodically to see if it gets wet. If the toilet paper or paper towels stay dry, then your ring might not be the problem. If it gets wet again, then your ring has probably lost its seal.
3. You Have Mold Growth Around Your Toilet
A broken or damaged wax ring allows water to pool around the base of a toilet. If this area is persistently damp or wet, then mold might start to grow.
Look at the base of your toilet. If you can see spots of black mold around its edges, then you might have a leaking wax ring.
4. Your Toilet Smells Like Sewage
While odors are natural, they should be temporary and shouldn't linger. If the air around your toilet smells strongly of sewage all the time, then your wax ring might have lost its seal. A damaged wax ring can allow sewer gas to come up through your system and out into the room. You may or may not also have some water on the floor at this point. Sewer gas isn't hygienic. High levels of exposure to this gas can cause health problems.
You'll also want to get rid of the noxious smell. More worryingly, this gas can be flammable. If it were to come into contact with a flame, then it might combust. This odor is a sign that you need a fast repair.
5. Your Floor Feels Damp and/or Spongy
If a wax ring stops doing its job, then water escapes from your toilet. While you sometimes see this water on the floor, it isn't always visible.
If you have a leak under your toilet, then water might stay under the base of your toilet and seep into your subfloor around the toilet where it can cause hidden damage.
If your floor feels different around your toilet, then you might have a leak in the area. For example, some flooring will feel spongy and soft when you stand on it. Sometimes, it will feel damp. Discoloration can also be an indicator of a leak.
While these signs can indicate a wax seal problem, they can also be caused by loose bolts, a failing flange, or problems in a sewer line. To find out exactly what is wrong with your toilet,
contact Aurora Plumbing and Electric. We will find the cause of your problem and repair it fast.
