We have a sewer odor that suddenly started in our bathroom. At least I think it's a sewer smell (and not a dead animal). The odor seems to be coming from the toilet. The toilet bowl appears firm and secure, but the wax ring has not been replaced in many years. I know how to replace the ring but I understand that the problem might also be the vent. What test might I perform to discover if the vent is working properly and not blocked? Also, do you have any other thoughts on what the problem might be?

It doesn' sound like a vent. A wax seal can contain water but allow sewer gas to pass as it ages. I would change out the wax seal and see if the problem doesn't go away. Good luck, Tom

It doesn' sound like a vent. A wax seal can contain water but allow sewer gas to pass as it ages. I would change out the wax seal and see if the problem doesn't go away. good luck, Tom


Hi Tom - it took me a while but I am now sure that the foul smell (a sewer/dead animal type odor) in our bathroom is coming from the hot air/AC duct on the floor. The smell is not strong at the base of the toilet or any of the drains. It is strong at the vent. Furthermore, the same smell now drifts out from one return vent in the wall of our family room when the furnace is not on. The return vent is situated at the top of the wall almost directly above the oil furnace about 20 feet away from the bathroom vent. Now here's the rest of the mystery - the smell seems to fade and disappear when the furnace is on at both vent locations. But as soon as the furnace fan stops, the smell reapears and drifts out from both vents. No other vents in the house seem to be affected - we have smelled every one of them wth the furnace fan off. I can understand the possibility of a dead animal near one vent (the bathroom), but why aren't we getting the smell at the other vents besides the family room. The vents are all connected together by a common duct system aren't the
Thanks, Doug