I just watched an episode of Disaster DIY with host Bryan Baeumler. When
he was installing a toilet, he used a wax ring with the flange that goes
into the drain pipe.

As he was installing the ring, he said to the homeowner (more or less)
"Have you ever seen the rubber seals? Don't use them. Whenever I've removed
a toilet with a rubber seal, the seal has always been dried out and
cracked." Actually, I don't recall if he said "seal" or "ring" but he
definitely said "rubber" and not "waxless".

I tried to see when the show was produced, but the only thing I caught in
the credits was "Copyright 2008".

So, having never used a waxless ring, do you think he was talking about
what you guys have suggested in this ng many times or could there be
something different that he was talking about? If the episode _was_ from
2008 (I don't know what was copyright 2008 - the episode or Bryan's media
company or something else) is it possible that the early waxless rings were
not as good?

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 17:18:59 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I just watched an episode of Disaster DIY with host Bryan Baeumler. When
he was installing a toilet, he used a wax ring with the flange that goes
into the drain pipe.

As he was installing the ring, he said to the homeowner (more or less)
"Have you ever seen the rubber seals? Don't use them. Whenever I've removed
a toilet with a rubber seal, the seal has always been dried out and
cracked." Actually, I don't recall if he said "seal" or "ring" but he
definitely said "rubber" and not "waxless".

I tried to see when the show was produced, but the only thing I caught in
the credits was "Copyright 2008".

So, having never used a waxless ring, do you think he was talking about
what you guys have suggested in this ng many times or could there be
something different that he was talking about? If the episode _was_ from
2008 (I don't know what was copyright 2008 - the episode or Bryan's media
company or something else) is it possible that the early waxless rings were
not as good?

If it works, why fix it? I have had beeswax rings last for many decades.

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 17:18:59 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I just watched an episode of Disaster DIY with host Bryan Baeumler. When
he was installing a toilet, he used a wax ring with the flange that goes
into the drain pipe.

As he was installing the ring, he said to the homeowner (more or less)
"Have you ever seen the rubber seals? Don't use them. Whenever I've removed
a toilet with a rubber seal, the seal has always been dried out and
cracked." Actually, I don't recall if he said "seal" or "ring" but he
definitely said "rubber" and not "waxless".

I tried to see when the show was produced, but the only thing I caught in
the credits was "Copyright 2008".

So, having never used a waxless ring, do you think he was talking about
what you guys have suggested in this ng many times or could there be
something different that he was talking about? If the episode _was_ from
2008 (I don't know what was copyright 2008 - the episode or Bryan's media
company or something else) is it possible that the early waxless rings were
not as good?

I tried one ~ 8 years ago. Do not recall the brand, but it used a
rubber O-ring. My sewer pipe had a shallow sweep and I was not able
to get it to seat correctly.

The newest Fernco has four "Flexible ribs form a tight, positive seal
to the inside of the drain pipe"

http://www.fernco.com/plumbing/wax-free-toilet-seal#tabs-1-1

May try them next time, though.