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Plumbing question

Couple hundred. Plumbers charge an obscene amount of money for simple stuff like that. Wax seals cost a few dollars atany hardware store. They're fairly easy to replace too. Empty the tank and bowl first, remove the bolts on either side of the toilet base, remove the old seal, carefully line up the new seal. put toilet back on floor, replace bolts, DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE BOLTS. Tada, finished. You can also caulk around the base of the toilet to add an extra seal.
 
OK, the problem is sewer gas. It's not coming from the sink and there's no shower. When the toilet flushes, sometimes air bubbles come back up from the drain but the stench is always there. Is the seal the likely problem?
 
It's easy enough if:
  • anchor bolts aren't too corroded (fat chance)
  • shut off valve doesn't leak
  • tank to bowl seals don't leak after the procedure
  • feeder connection seals up nicely when completed
  • floor isn't rotted (probably is, since it's been leaking)
  • Flange isn't destroyed...
You might get it done for $100.00.

OK, the problem is sewer gas. It's not coming from the sink and there's no shower. When the toilet flushes, sometimes air bubbles come back up from the drain but the stench is always there. Is the seal the likely problem?
Click to expand...
No. Sounds like a venting (or lack of vent) problem. Is the house old?
 
Originally posted by: jaeger66
OK, the problem is sewer gas. It's not coming from the sink and there's no shower. When the toilet flushes, sometimes air bubbles come back up from the drain but the stench is always there. Is the seal the likely problem?
Click to expand...

I'd guess so. When was it last replaced/how old is your house?
 
Originally posted by: godmare


I'd guess so. When was it last replaced/how old is your house?
Click to expand...

The house was built in '77, I don't know if the toilet is original but it must be old since it's one of those big turbo flush ones.
 
See if something is blocking the vent stack. You should be able to pour tens of gallons down the stack without it ever overflowing. Use five gallon buckets and a hose. Try to make it overflow. If it doesn't, that's not the problem.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
See if something is blocking the vent stack. You should be able to pour tens of gallons down the stack without it ever overflowing. Use five gallon buckets and a hose. Try to make it overflow. If it doesn't, that's not the problem.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I don't really know anything about this. Vent stack?
 
Originally posted by: jaeger66
OK, the problem is sewer gas. It's not coming from the sink and there's no shower. When the toilet flushes, sometimes air bubbles come back up from the drain but the stench is always there. Is the seal the likely problem?
Click to expand...

No, the problem is not the wax ring. If you've got bubbles and sewer gas, I'd be looking at the drain vent. You drain must be vented to the outside. It sounds like it might be plugged.

Replacing the wax ring IS easy though - and you can get one for less than a dollar most anyplace. And if you do decide to do this, spend the extra quarter and get the one with the plastic flange that goes down the hole -- it's so much better. But it would be wasted effort.
 
It could be the seal allowing gas to come out, but that wouldn't explain the bubbles. 1977 is a new house, and I'm sure it has a proper stack.

Edit: Go on your roof above that bathroom and look for a 4" ID black pipe. Probably made of ABS plastic. Maybe something crawled in and died... who knows?
 
Originally posted by: jaeger66
OK, the problem is sewer gas. It's not coming from the sink and there's no shower. When the toilet flushes, sometimes air bubbles come back up from the drain but the stench is always there. Is the seal the likely problem?
Click to expand...



You have a plugged drain line or vent. Call a plumber and get it over with. Probably cost you $150-$200.
 
Originally posted by: jaeger66
Originally posted by: godmare


I'd guess so. When was it last replaced/how old is your house?
Click to expand...

The house was built in '77, I don't know if the toilet is original but it must be old since it's one of those big turbo flush ones.
Click to expand...
Could be someone did a crummy job on the seal the first time, they should last like 30-40 years.

Hmm, it could be ventilation, too, I suppose. I've never had issues with that.

 
Originally posted by: Ornery


Edit: Go on your roof above that bathroom and look for a 4" ID black pipe. Probably made of ABS plastic. Maybe something crawled in and died... who knows?
Click to expand...

That actually wouldn't surprise me, for some reason birds love our roof.
 
The vent will probably be a 2" or so piece of PVC pipe through the roof of your house. There will probably be a rubber boot around it where it goes through the roof - it must extend, what is it ??? ... about 4-8" OVER the roofline of the house so you have proper ventilation. A house I used to own had the vent just barely through the roof and we had sewer gas problems all the time until I extended the vent.

I don't know that I'd go filling it up with water - if it's broken off someplace, it'll make a horrible mess. If it's plugged, that just makes a different mess to unplug. I'd go the drain-snake routine.

Or call a pro.


edit: There's no way it's a 4" piece. The drain is 4", not the vent... I'm thinking the vent is either 1 3/4 or 2". Can't remember for sure.
 
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