How Do I Tell If A Wax Seal Is Leaking?

Usually, the first indication that a wax ring is failing is often the obvious presence of water on the floor or seeping up from the grout in the tile around the base of the toilet due to the toilet ring seal leaking. Sometimes you may not be able to see the water damage if the contractor or plumber caulked around the toilet. You may be smelling an unpleasant odor n your bathroom and that could be another sign that the wax ring seal is not working effectively. This allows sewer gasses to seep into the air of the bathroom. It is still very likely it could still be slowly leaking and damaging the subfloor or the ceiling of the room below your bathroom. Plumbing leaks can cause much more damage to your home than you may realize. They also have the ability to cause health issues especially if there is bacteria present in the category 3 water. The category of water can be determined by IICRC Standards. IICRC stands for The Institute Of Inspection Cleaning And Restoration Certification

You can also reference: ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration

Seeing water on a bathroom floor does not always mean there is a bad wax seal. Seeing water on the floor in rooms like the kitchen or throughout a home could be from many sources depending on the location. In a bathroom It could be seeping out between the toilet base and the toilet tank, it is possible the toilet could have a cracked base, or the mounting bolts could be loose. You could also have a slab leak which means that one of your pipes in your concrete foundation is leaking and this is a more difficult repair. If the toilet can be rocked back and forth, the toilet flange could be permanently damaged. Once you remove the toilet for any reason you will still need to install a new wax ring.

You do not have to be a plumber to replace a wax ring as its a very simple do-it-yourself task. You will have to make the determination if you would like to do it yourself or hire a professional contractor or plumber.  First, you will have to remove the old wax ring, then check to see if there is a damaged flange. If there is a damaged flange you will need to repair it with a flange repair kit. There are two ways you can replace a wax ring.  Fit it on the boot base of the toilet, or position it on the toilet flange. Then set the toilet back in its original place. To get the wax ring to seal properly gently rock the toilet back and forth while applying downward pressure until it’s flush and flat on the floor.

Wax rings are pretty standard one-size-fits-all and are available with or without a polyethylene “boot” or attached rubber that extends into the toilet flange opening. The booted rings work well and are recommended, but if the toilet flange sits a high, the boot will most likely keep the toilet from resting flat on the floor which is most likely tile. If the flange is low, you can buy a thicker wax ring to fill in the extra space. If you buy a standard wax ring they don’t have the added boot protection, but they fit almost all toilets.

If you see signs of a damaged wax ring, call an Experienced Public Adjuster to come out and do a free home inspection and they can help determine the extent of the damage and the cause of the damage. They can also discuss with you the possibility of filing an insurance claim for the resulting water damage! Sometimes for not just the damage but the health of your family having this process filed through your insurance company can ensure that you have the proper contractors are paid to make sure it is cleaned properly and repaired back to pre-loss condition. Let Experienced Public Adjusters advocate for the personal and financial health of your family when you suffer any type of loss to your home. Call Us Today! (407) 212-8669

We have a team of Orlando Public Adjusters but we are located throughout the State of Florida and are licensed around the United States.