Fernco Inc. FTS-3 3-Inch Wax Free Toilet Seal

by Fernco

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Fernco Flexible Couplings have found wide acceptance among sewer and plumbing contractors and municipalities because of their quality and ease of installation. Fernco couplings are used for all types of in-house and sewer connections: drain, waste, vent piping, house-to-main, repairs, cut- ins, conductor, roof drains and increasers-reducers.

Product Description

Wax Free Toilet Seal Fits 3" Drain and All Floor Types, A Strong, Flexible Adhesive Creates A Strong Seal To The Bottom Of The Toilet, Accommodates Floors Raised Above The Toilet Flange By 3/4", Seals On Raised Floors, Wood, Tile, Linoleum and Carpet, Ideal For In Floor Radiant Heat Installations, No More Guessing If There Is A Positive Seal.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 5 x 5 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BQUJEA
• Item model number: FTS-3
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,709 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #62 in Home Improvement > Rough Plumbing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great idea, September 29, 2007

By 

Van E. Wahlgren - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fernco Inc. FTS-3 3-Inch Wax Free Toilet Seal (Tools & Home Improvement)

This glues to the base of the toilet and ensures a long term leak free seal. great product .. all toilets should use these.. i'll never install another toilet with a wax seal. If you have chronic "pee" smell in the bathroom you probably have a leak of the wax seal.

Don't be fooled by the Fluidmaster waxless seals. they rely on a foam pad which in my opinion doesn't seal near as well as the fernco. http://www.amazon.com/Fluidmaster-7500P8-Wax-Free-Bowl-Gasket/dp/B000BQUG7U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1301842760&sr=1-1 (these are at home depot but i did not find the fernco there)

I just installed 4 new Eco Drake toilets in my house and a few pointers when using these..

If you have had leaking for a while examine the floor around the flange carefully to ensure there is no rot of the subfloor. If there is rot this should be repaired..
[...]

There are three sizes of Fernco waxless seals. Choose the correct size waxless seal based on the flange and the pipe and how the flange is glued to the pipe.

There are generally two sizes of pipe. 3 inch is most common 4 inch less common. You must have the correct size.

The flanges are also two different sizes. the flange can be glued on the outside of the pipe or the inside of the pipe. These waxless seals wil not work on the reto fit flanges and the nonstandard flanges. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=pvc+closet+flange&x=0&y=0

Examine the flange carefully. If you have had remodeling of the bath the flange may be below the level of the floor. Toilets are designed to have the flange on top of the finished floor. If yours is below the finished floor please put and extender on the flange to bring it to the proper height.
http://www.amazon.com/PVC-Closet-Flange-Spacer-Ring/dp/B000KKON1M These are attached to the existing flange using silicone caulk and stainless screws to fix to the subfloor. Sometimes you may have to add two or more of the spacers to bring the level to above the finished floor. I prefer size 10 X 1 1/2 or two inch stainless steel oval head screws into the subfloor.

When installing they work best on a new toilet with NO wax on the horn of the toilet. They can be used on old toilets but ALL THE WAX needs to be removed. I used gas after scrapping all the wax off . Be careful when using these strong solvents and always use then outdoors.
To insure the fernco bonds to the horn of the toilet i used a hair dryer to slightly warm the toilet base.

Seat the toilet using your weight to push the flange into the pipe. Lubricate the flange with dish soap. Attach the flange to the toilet with toilet bolts Johnny bolts or glass filled nylon bolts.
http://www.amazon.com/Toilet-Bolts-Open-Cap-Nuts/dp/B000L87RN4/ref=sr_1_58?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1301844139&sr=1-58

have the toilet seated to the floor and tight the toilet bolts. if there is rocking of the toilet stablize the rocking using small plastic shims
http://www.amazon.com/WM-Harvey-091816-Toilet-Shims/dp/B000H5OWE8/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301844691&sr=1-1-fkmr1

If it still wobbles slightly, secure it using caulk I like poly seam seal with just a small bead (you may have to remove it someday) leaving no caulk on the back of the toilet so that any water can escape should there be a leak for heaven's sake.

[...]

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Waxless Toilet Seal, November 15, 2008

By 

K. D. Lougheed (Estacada, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fernco Inc. FTS-3 3-Inch Wax Free Toilet Seal (Tools & Home Improvement)

I figured out that Fernco was shorter than the FluidMaster brand waxless seal. That shortness was what I needed since the distance from the top of the floor flange to the first 90 degree elbow was short.

Took extra time to follow the directions on removing ALL the old gunky wax from the previous wax ring. I used a putty knife and then sprayed window cleaner with ammonia in it. Got it CLEAN. Used a cloth rag after paper towels shredded on the rough ceramic surface around the toilet horn. Dried well and warmed the area with a hair dryer. I wanted the adhesive ring to really stick to the horn area. Probably wasn't needed but that's me.

I can tell you that this adhesive is super strong because no sooner had I pushed it down home when I remembered that I hadn't put the floor screws through the floor flange a year ago. DUH! That was the whole reason that I pulled the toilet again this time! So I had to pull the toilet up right away. Brother! Get this, when the two barbed sealing ridges on the Fernco tailpiece caught on a space inside the plastic drainpipe, I thought I'd be yanking the whole thing off the bottom of the toilet. I really had to put my back into it to get the toilet loose! When I did, there was the Fernco still glued TIGHT. Unbelievable! I'll never use another wax ring.

Four Stars because it held my toilet higher than the wax did. Had to shim the base with coins and caulk the gap. No big deal...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEVER USE A WAX RING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, July 14, 2009

By 

Tyler Barhorst - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fernco Inc. FTS-3 3-Inch Wax Free Toilet Seal (Tools & Home Improvement)

This product is so far superior to a wax ring. I have used about 10 of them in different properties that I have owned. I have 4 in my current house. It forms a great worry-free seal. It will not collapse like a wax ring. It also solves any floor height issues created by thick stone or tile floors. Wax rings are officially obsolete!!!!!!!!!!!!

I recommend lubricating the seal with hair conditioner or lotion before setting the toilet so that it slides into the flange easily. The adhesive on the top of seal that sticks the seal to the toilet is probably sufficient but I also add a bead of silicone around to the seal after pressing it onto the bottom of the toilet. I then let that set up for a few hours before setting the toilet.