Is there supposed to be calk around the part of the toilet that sets on the floor?

Question

I asked a question yesterday about the calk smelling like urine and someone responded that there shouldn't of been calk around the toilet anyway because if the toilet leaks it's better for it to go on the floor so that I can see the leak. Please only answer if you know for sure because I am going to tackle this job myself tomorrow. Thanks!!

I am replacing the wax ring tomorrow (if I can figure out exactly what that is!)

Answer 1

No, but there's no rule that says you can't. A wax ring around the drain pipe that the toilet sits on keeps it from leaking, and some people caulk around the toilet to make sure. Turn off and disconnect the water connection, flush, undo the two nuts on either side of the toilet holding it to the floor, and lift it up. Clean the bottom of the toilet, and the old wax ring on the floor. Set your new wax ring around the pipe, place the toilet in position, and push down to squish the wax between the toilet and the floor. Replace the nuts, tighten them down (not crazy tight, you'll pull the bolts out of the floor, especially if the subfloor is weak), reconnect your water, and voila! You've fixed the loo!

Answer 2

It is only cosmetic to caulk the bottom of the toilet. And I recommend you don't. For exactly the reason the person suggested. If it is a somewhat small leak at the wax ring, it may leak for a long time before you know about it. Then the water is leaking down into the subfloor and if on the second floor down to the first floor drywall ceiling. If that happens you now have to fix the toilet and drywall, maybe flooring maybe even subfloor. If there is no caulk, you know about the leak almost immediately, so shut off the water, pull the toilet, mop up the mess, fix the toilet. But many plumbers still do caulk it. It happened to me a while back, not counting the trip to Home Cheapo for a new wax ring, it took me a half hour to fix. If I didn't know about it, and the subfloor and flooring was damaged, imagine the time to fix it.

Edit: Give credit where credit is due. I did not know it was code. Now I know, thanks Inspector Homes. You learn something everyday. I still recommend leaving a gap, to detect a leak earlier rather than later.

Answer 3

I really don't think that you should be tackling this job by yourself tomorrow if you don't know what a wax ring is. No caulk goes around the bottom of the toilet. It is unnecessary and eventually smells like urine. You have to be VERY careful replacing the wax ring. You have to get it in there just right or you will have a BIG leak. I had my bathroom professionally remodeled. About a month later, when I flushed the toilet, I heard water running down into my kitchen. I called the company and when they came out, they said the wax ring hadn't been properly placed. They, of course, fixed the toilet but I had to clean up that disgusting water. It took me all day because I wanted to scrub everything down with disinfectant. YUCK!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

i'm the one who responded about not caulking around the base of a toilet.i appreciate your concerns,let me give an example.i was recently called to a home to repair a toilet that was"loose on the floor,just needs to be tightened back down".upon inspecting the toilet(which was caulked to the floor) i found that the floor was rotten under the toilet,homeowner asked me to make necessary repairs.i pulled the toilet and started cutting out bad flooring which turned out to be the whole bathroom floor.see,someone had remodeled several years back and put another layer of 1/2 plywood over the existing floor.after new vinyl the toilet was set and base caulked.bolts had been over-tightened(very common mistake) and it had been leaking undetected.this homeowner had to pay me $1,500 for a repair that should have been completely visible from the beginning and made right.the answer about it being code is bunk,and if he is a building inspector,that's all he is because he certainly never worked on one.that's not personal,just the way i see it.save yourself the potential expense.it does look a little cleaner,but it's not worth it.this was just one example,i've done this same thing, for the same reason,dozens of times.thanks and good luck.

Answer 5

I know for sure. There should be no caulk. Just go to the hardware store and get the wax ring. It goes rigth around the pipe that comes out of the bottom of the toilet where it meets the pipe in the floor. Get extra bolts to hold the toilet down while you are there (they are about .50c) and make sure you scrape off all the caulk.

Answer 6

yep, all you should need is the wax ring, no caulk. the wax ring is what creates the seal. You can get one at Home Depot or lowes for a few dollars. Not very expensive. Ask in the plumbing department. The associate should also be able to give you a general idea of how its done. Make sure you ask, because I thing you need quite a bit of weight on the ring for a while inorder to make the seal perminant.

Answer 7

No there should not be caulk. If there is the odor of urine, the wax ring is leaking and needs to be replaced. If you have wooden flooring, caulk would destroy the floor, keeping the water between the toilet and floor. Changing the wax ring is really easy. But, if you are not sure call a plumber to repair it.

Answer 8

The requirements for caulk on the bottom of your toilet vary with state and local codes. In some regions, they require the bottom to be caulked, others don't. I believe it is a good idea to caulk, because it gives you a second seal to keep sewer gasses contained and I'd rather not have a leak spread all over my floor.
That said, it's up to you since your doing the work yourself as to caulk or don't caulk. Nobody is going to come into your house and write you a citation for not caulking the toilet.

Answer 9

Sure I just installed two toilets today...I've been doin it for years heh...ok the deal is no...theres not supposed to be caulk because that makes it difficult to replace the bowl the next time around...some also say you wouldnt see the leak if the bowl is sealed so I guess it would just go through the floor and cause water damage...this to me is debatable but any reason to do the right thing is a good reason so I'm gonna allow this heh...the hotel I work for however wants me to caulk the toilet...I think it's because they think it looks pretty that way...a "pretty" toilet..thats hilarious...lol..oh well good luck...

Answer 10

Well I just installed a new toilet a few months ago, in addition to putting in a new wax ring I caulked the bottom of the toilet using clean drying caulk.