Hi. We live on the 18th floor of a 21 story apartment building and water was leaking from our apartment down to our neighbors. Ultimately, it turned out to be compromised caulking around our tub (and our teenage son's long showers).
At first though, our super suspected a leak from under our toilet (we did not) and brought in a licensed plumber in to remove the toilet and inspect. Our toilet is a Toto Carlyle Gmax from about 2003. The plumber removed the toilet and of course, found no leak. They reinstalled the toilet and caulked around the base of the toilet. The caulk degraded after a few days so they returned and plastered around the toilet which has since held. But, since the toilet was removed and then reinstalled, we get a sewage smell that comes and goes from that area. Because the water had been off for a few days, I thought maybe something "grew" in the tank so I emptied the tank and filled it with vinegar overnight, emptied, and then scrubbed the tank, the bowl, everything. I also vinegar'd/baking soda'd the sink and shower drains. We still are getting the smell and like I said it comes and goes. I don't believe our brand toilet has the usual wax seal of which I read about and I would think the plaster around the base would be sufficient to contain gasses? Of course, I could be wrong. Any ideas? It's stinky and driving us nuts. Maybe unhealthy, too?
At first though, our super suspected a leak from under our toilet (we did not) and brought in a licensed plumber in to remove the toilet and inspect. Our toilet is a Toto Carlyle Gmax from about 2003. The plumber removed the toilet and of course, found no leak. They reinstalled the toilet and caulked around the base of the toilet. The caulk degraded after a few days so they returned and plastered around the toilet which has since held. But, since the toilet was removed and then reinstalled, we get a sewage smell that comes and goes from that area. Because the water had been off for a few days, I thought maybe something "grew" in the tank so I emptied the tank and filled it with vinegar overnight, emptied, and then scrubbed the tank, the bowl, everything. I also vinegar'd/baking soda'd the sink and shower drains. We still are getting the smell and like I said it comes and goes. I don't believe our brand toilet has the usual wax seal of which I read about and I would think the plaster around the base would be sufficient to contain gasses? Of course, I could be wrong. Any ideas? It's stinky and driving us nuts. Maybe unhealthy, too?