toilet base area showing dirt

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

I disagree with the suggestion of sealing around the toilet with silicone. The wax ring should provide all the seal that is needed. If that starts to leak, I want the water to be able to seep out to where I can see it. I don't want it sealed under the toilet with silicone.

It's required in our area, we recently had new one installed and it was sealed.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

It's required in our area, we recently had new one installed and it was sealed.

In some places certified plumbers have no choice but to seal the base of the toilet to the floor. They have to follow the city or borough installation codes. The same is required for public places where the toilet or urinal is mounted on the wall.

However, if the home owner does the work himself, that's another story I help a plumber at work, and sometimes I install toilets or replace wax rings, so I have to follow the installation codes or rules. At home I have one toilet where I didn't seal the base. 15 or longer years later the toilet still does not leak out the wax ring. I just installed a new toilet in another bathroom in my house (on ceramic tiles), and this one I sealed, but I am certain that the wax ring won't leak for many years just like the other one.

[mmyk72]

My parent's house (one we grew up in) still has the original toilets in use... no leaks. I think sealing the base is about protecting it from water overflowing from the top and getting in the gap.