Hello. We moved into a rental house that is approx. 5-6 years old a little over a month ago. There was a problem with the upstairs toilet and the landlord asked if we could remove it and set it in the garage and he would replace it with a new one. So we did that and put old towels in the hole until a new one could get installed. Our landlord travels extensivley and we still have no toilet yet and that has been since we moved in pretty much (a little over a month ago) My question is, is there any danger to having a hole stuffed with towels for this long? We have a teenager whose room is up by that bathroom (not connected) and is fearful of even staying in the bedroom because of possible gas that can't be smelled leaking out of the hole where the towels have been stuffed. I am assuming that since this is relativley a newer neighboorhood that the sewer system is as well. I tried to explain that all 3 bathrooms work on the same line and when you flush any of them, it cleans out the pipes so to speak and that gravity sucks things out, not pushes them in or up, am I right on that? Thanks so much for your answers on this.

I think that is a horrendous situation. Your landlord should be taken to task for even suggesting you remove the toilet and wait for a new one to be installed; and yet even waiting a month. I know you say you have other toilets.

The toilet could have been left in place until someone came with the new one.

No, I don't think there is any danger from sewer gases, but I for one would not want a toilet hole exposed for any reason, or any length of time.

Tick

I think that is a horrendous situation. Your landlord should be taken to task for even suggesting you remove the toilet and wait for a new one to be installed; and yet even waiting a month. I know you say you have other toilets.

The toilet could have been left in place until someone came with the new one.

No, I dont think there is any danger from sewer gases, but I for one would not want a toilet hole exposed for any reason, or any length of time.

tick

Somehow there was a big crack in the toilet and the landlord didn't want it to leak in case it were to leak would be my guess for him wanting it removed. I thought it would have been taken care of before now but I guess it will this weekend before he gets to it.

Tick is bang on with her concerns. . This is indeed a health hazard and should be looked after at once, You should contact your landlord and have a new toilet installed ASAP. If he drags his feet on this I would then contact The Health Department where he will be cited and fined and still required to make then repair. This has gone on for far too lone and you've been far too patient. Good luck, Tom

No health hazard.
Sewer gasses are under no pressure. The towel will block them.
Any dilute gasses will go out the roof vents (The pipes you see terminating above the roof.)
If still concerned, seal with plastic wrap. If the bowl wax ring is still there, press the plastic to adhere airtight to the ring.
Did toilet water freeze and crack the toilet?

No health hazard.
Sewer gas is always a health hazard, No exceptions!

Any dilute gasses will go out the roof vents
Wrong again! Roof vents do not expel sewer gas. Vents poll air into the system to relieve then suction caused by a fixture draining.

Sewer gasses are under no pressure.The towel will block them. True , most of the time. However if there's a partial blockage that sets up a back pressure the sewer gas will blow right past them towel.
Sorry Robert, Back to Plumbing 101 for you. Cheers, tom