Fernco FTS-3 3' Wax Free Toilet Seal

Works great. I am a professional contractor and regularly use this product. Great for bathrooms with in floor heat where wax is not an option

Eleven years ago when I needed to replace my toilet seals, my choices were wax rings and Sani-Seal (SS, henceforth). It was easy to install, but I recently came across reviews questioning SS' durability and that made me wonder what was going on with my installations. When I pulled both toilets, one SS was continuing to seal, while the other had failed. The failed SS was water logged because the thin membrane protecting the foam had peeled. In addition to their less-than-lifetime durability, the second generation's "shortened extension" swayed me away from SS.It's awesome that in 2024 there is a wide assortment of wax-free seals. This time, my goal was to find one that 1) doesn't use foam and 2) is a one-piece design. Many designs are separate layers of mixed materials stacked to accommodate flanges that are below the floor, which is the case for both of my toilets. Water has a way of seeping past layers with sufficient pressure (as when plunging). Therefore, I avoided the offerings from Danco, Fluidmaster, Korky, and Reliabilt. As I began to wonder if there was still no better choice than another SS (gen 2), I saw the Fernco FTS-3 at a local hardware store. The only other wax-free alternative they carry is also a one-piece design, the SS. Since I was able to have my hands on the FTS-3, I examined and liked its substantial, one-piece, rubber (flexible PVC) construction.Unfortunately, that one-piece design is the only benefit for me.The FTS-3 does not come with new bolts, nuts, or caps. This was negative #1 for me because bolts are still required to secure the toilet to the flange; I appreciate Fernco's effort to reduce waste, however. I then noticed the narrowness of the inner diameter of the FTS-3 sleeve that goes into the sewer pipe. That 2.44-inch inner diameter (ID) is less than the sewer pipe's 3 inches (photo). This is negative #2. To be fair, the ID of the toilet horn @2.66 inches is also narrower than 3 inches. Unusual for a toilet seal, the FTS-3 attaches to the toilet horn (adhesive) and the sewer pipe (friction) – not the flange. The FTS-3's adhesive did not fully adhere around the horn of my toilet even though I had cleaned that area with alcohol as part of the clean up from the SS. Also, the excess width of the adhesive end of the FTS-3 required that I look through the FTS-3 to be sure I was centering it over the horn. Next, I set the FTS-3-attached toilet (photo) over the flange only to find the toilet rocked badly. I weighted the toilet briefly by sitting on it to "feel the seal", as Fernco claims. I quickly decided against forcing the toilet to seat because I've learned from many DIY projects to avoid forcing a fit. When I lifted the toilet, the FTS-3 remained partially adhered to the horn. I measured the height of my horn at 15 mm, which is shorter than the 20 mm that is the distance from the adhesive surface to the top of the sleeve (four-dimpled surface in photo) of the FTS-3. It's no surprise that the toilet was unable to push the sleeve of the FTS-3 into the sewer pipe. I then decided to try first fitting the sleeve into the sewer pipe and then seating the toilet on top of the FTS-3. I did this by pushing my fingers on the FTS-3 where the horn should have applied pressure (photo) to push the FTS-3 into the sewer pipe. This did work to seat the FTS-3 in the sewer pipe, but I had pushed it down too far: Now, the FTS-3's adhesive surface would no longer contact the base of the horn. Worse, the FTS-3 was now stuck in the sewer pipe no matter how hard I pulled. Its four ribs clung to the sewer pipe with a death grip. That's negative #3, and the decider in abandoning the FTS-3. I then spent 30 minutes using a hand pruner, diagonal cutter, and box cutter to cut out the FTS-3, carefully so as to not damage the sewer pipe or lose any of these tools down the sewer pipe. Wondering why the FTS-3 has so many ribs and why it has to create such a tight seal, I concluded that the FTS-3 would be good for installations experiencing sewer gases escaping up past other toilet seals. Our house has four plumbing vent pipes for our two toilets, so there is no unpleasant odor coming from our drain pipe even when the toilet is not installed. Even if I had shaved the ribs to create a looser fit with the sewer pipe, I still wouldn't be pleased with the 2.44-inch ID restricting the flush.I ultimately installed the One-N-Done T10-OND-200-DS.

This rubber toilet ring works better then a wax ring because you can remove and reset the toilet more than once. Also, it is not as messy as a wax ring. Be sure of your pipe size before you order.

I have been using one of these for 4+ years after having purchased four other no wax systems.I decide Fernco had the best solution and chose to installed it.Today I thought I had a leak (it was just condensation) and pulled up a toilet.No issues - the seal has been working perfectly and was still correctly attached etc.I just re-installed the toilet with the old seal and all is good.I like Fernco products - they make lots of the flexible plumbing connections and I have used those for 30+ years. Happy to say Fernco has never let me down.

Good product. Worked great.