Need help trouble shooting “wax” ring problem.

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Matty05

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About 3-4 weeks ago we noticed a leak from the bottom of the toilet. My husband and I were both busy so it went neglected for a couple weeks. We finally got around to replacing the wax with a rubber/plastic/foam donut. Put the toilet back and now the water just collects in the bowl and won’t flush. If you plunge the toilet the water will go down and make a gurgling sound in the pipes.

  • Now a little back story, one weekend there was a moldy smell which I assumed was the fact that we haven’t fixed the leak. probably stagnant water under the toilet that I couldn’t clean up. I spray an enzyme spray and the smell quickly went away.
  • Everyone was also banned from using that toilet for a couple weeks
  • Up until the new flange the toilet did flush aside from the small leak.
When we replaced the wax, we did put a spacer as per the directions. It said to use the spacer if your flange is either flush or below the floor level. Ours is flush so we used it. The toilet wobbled but is now secure on to the floor. When we tried to flush, the water would collect. When we plunge it goes down.
Off topic, I did adjust the fill valve in the tank to the proper height while I was in there.

would anyone have a clue as to why it wouldn’t flush suddenly? I have a feeling that it’s maybe the spacer but maybe that has nothing to do with anything. Air in the space between the flange and bowl whatever it’s called?
 

Reach4

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You probably have a blockage below the toilet. Do you have a septic tank?

Any backups into a shower or bathtub on the same floor?

A bad toilet or toilet with an obstruction could lead to plunging, also, but you symptoms to me seem more like a partial pipe blockage. I am am not a plumber.

The toilet wobbled but is now secure on to the floor.
If a toilet wobbles, that means you should have shims to prevent the rocking/wobbling.
 

Matty05

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You probably have a blockage below the toilet. Do you have a septic tank?

Any backups into a shower or bathtub on the same floor?

A bad toilet or toilet with an obstruction could lead to plunging, also, but you symptoms to me seem more like a partial pipe blockage. I am am not a plumber.


If a toilet wobbles, that means you should have shims to prevent the rocking/wobbling.
No wobble, nothing backing up, everything else works as per usual. Partial blockage may make sense. My husband’s going to snake it tomorrow but figured I’d ask in case someone may have a better clue.

I’m half tempted to undo the toilet again just to make sure.
 

Reach4

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No wobble, nothing backing up, everything else works as per usual. Partial blockage may make sense. My husband’s going to snake it tomorrow but figured I’d ask in case someone may have a better clue.
Wobbled was your word.

Try this: fill a 5 gallon bucket pretty full. Pour that at a good rate into the toilet. Does the toilet accept the flow? Keep the water level below the rim. If the level starts rising, how much water do you think you poured before the level started coming up significantly?
 
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Matty05

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Wobbled was your word.

Try this: fill a 5 gallon bucket pretty full. Pour that at a good rate into the toilet. Does the toilet accept the flow? Keep the water level below the rim. If the level starts rising, how much water do you think you poured before the level started coming up significantly?

water level
Wobbled was your word.

Try this: fill a 5 gallon bucket pretty full. Pour that at a good rate into the toilet. Does the toilet accept the flow? Keep the water level below the rim. If the level starts rising, how much water do you think you poured before the level started coming up significantly?
Filled it with water to the rim, I’m going to say you might be right about a partial blockage. The water slowly trickles back to regular level.

Makes me a little hopeful that snaking it will help tomorrow.

thanks for your insight.
 

Matty05

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Wobbled was your word.

Try this: fill a 5 gallon bucket pretty full. Pour that at a good rate into the toilet. Does the toilet accept the flow? Keep the water level below the rim. If the level starts rising, how much water do you think you poured before the level started coming up significantly?
Aah about the wobble, I mean when we were putting the toilet back it did wobble because it was not secured. As in the foam spacer did not compress right away. As we secured the toilet the wobble was gone sorry for the confusion.
 

Reach4

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You could lift the toilet, and pour water from the bucket right into the closet flange. Or use a garden hose.

Rather than a little home snake, consider bringing in a drain cleaning specialist.
 

Treeman

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The problem started when you installed a foam no-wax seal which caused the toilet to rock before you fastened it down (too thick?). Is there any chance that the foam seal is somehow causing the partial blockage (cause-effect)? Any chance (coincidence) someone flushed something that is blocking the toilet exit hole?
 
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