Hello all,

I have a problem and was hoping for some guidance... lately all of my toilets have been smelling really bad.

We have 3 toilets in the house, 2 full baths on the upper level, and a powder room on the main.

The main bath on the upper level is the worse of the 3. It doesn't get much usage even, but I make it a point to flush it at least once in the morning and once in the evening to alleviate some of the odor. This toilet also flushes poorly, it's slow, and clogs easily - it's an older model.

The other two were recently re-fitted with new wax gaskets because I put down new laminate tile floors. I'm always a stickler for making sure that a new gasket goes on whether it looks like it needs one or not. They are both new efficient models and flush well, but still smell.

We have cleaned them all several times with lysol, bleach... they don't appear moldy at all, but still smell.

Any suggestions? I'm starting to wonder if the sewer is backed up under our house. Should I be concerned about methane or gas poisoning?

W?

Whenever I get a complaint about toilets that smell bad I always give the wax seals a hard look. Because the bowl has a throat that extends down past the flange you wouldn't get any leakage but by raising the floor level it's very possible that a small gap exists allowing sewer gas to escape. Re check the seals and double if necessary. Good luck, Tom

Tom is correct about checking the wax ring. I also believe you may have a parially plugged vent stack. A bad ring should not cause the toilet to flush poorly but a bad vent can cause the smell and the bad operation. Rod from the roof if it is safe to get up there. Run at least 25 ' of rod down the stack. Add about 10' more for each floor of the house if it is multileveled.

I was also told to check the seal around the base of the toilet if there is a smell near the toilet.

Paul, If the wax seal were working you wouldn't have to check the caulk. Pull the toilet and replace the wax seal. Good luck, Tom