I have an odor in 2 out of 3 toilets in a newly built townhome. The wax rings were changed out and one of the toilets has been replaced just 4 days ago. The newly replaced toilet gave us a few days of clean air smell but now it?s starting to smell also.

Here?s what we?ve noticed?

If we keep the bathroom doors closed then there?s no odor unless you go looking for it, as in sticking your head down by the water almost into the bowl, and sniffing. If we keep the bathroom doors open then the smell worsens during the day and is worse by night. By this I mean that we can smell it in the air as we round the corner into the bathrooms. If we have a door open to the outside air then it makes the smells worse even faster.

Our traps are kept wet, the house went through it?s plumbing inspection only months ago, we?re in the process of changing the cheap Proflo toilets with Kohler Wellworth series 6. Our plumber is baffled, we?re baffled, and we?re thinking since the open (or closed) doors seem to have an effect on the odor then maybe we?re getting too much draft and we need to extend the vent pipe. This is a super tight townhouse and any odors linger around. The 3rd toilet, which is on the 2nd level, smells only on occasion. The more offensive toilets (2 of them) are on the first floor.

I can only describe the odor as dirty ashtray/burnt coffee. It?s a pipe-y, dirty smell.

Help!

Smells and noises are the hardest to track down if you're not there yourself.

the smell worsens during the day and is worse by night. Sewer gas raises with daytime heat and fall at night as it cools down. Has anybody looked for a open vent in the attic? Has your plumber suggested running a smoke test on your drainage? I don't think chasnging the toilets will help. If you've tried everything else a smoke test would be helpful. Good luck and let us know what you find. Tom

We live on Cape Cod, MA. I don't think they have sophisticated plumbing techniques here. For now, where it's a new house, we've been relying on the plumber who had a hand in building the house. Re open vent in attic, both my husband and the plumber have been up in the attic. Nothing. They also cut a hole in the 2nd floor bathroom wall near the vent. Nothing.

OK! That smell's coming from somewhere. I would , for sure. Block off then roof vents and the house cleanout and run a smoke test to find out where. With everything blocked off you should see no smoke at all. This has been a mystery long enough. Let's nail it down. Good luck, Tom