Wax seal and sewer gas

[Joe Terza]

I am getting sewer gas fumes in my bathroom but there is no apparent leakage on the floor around the toilet. Is it possible that the wax seal is broken or not properly installed even though there is no apparent water on the floor around the toilet?

 

[hj]

wax seal

In many cases you could install the toilet without a wax ring and it would not leak water, but you would get sewer gas odors. Yes it is possible that the seal has failed, especially if the toilet can "rock" when you sit on it.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[RBrown]

My plumber doesn't use wax rings. He uses plumbers putty to set toilets. So far, so good.

 

[LonnythePlumber]

Putty?

I didn't realize there were plumbers still setting their toilets in putty. What part of our country do you live in?

 

[RBrown]

Putty

I'm from West Virginia. My plumber told me that he had seen toilets that had been in place for over forty years set in putty. It does work.