[HelenAg]

Please help. Next to our basement toilet is a pipe that goes into the ground. It has a collar on it. We followed it and believe it to be the waste vent. Problem: there is leakage around where the pipe enters the floor. It is very slow, but it is waste water. What is wrong? I shall call a plumber first thing Monday, but I am anxious to know what this is and how expensive it will be to repair. Thanks.

[speedball1]

This sounds like a leak at the lead and okum poured and caulked joint in the cast iron. If that's where it's leaking from it may be a minor repair consisting of simply recaulking the joint.
Good luck, Tom

[HelenAg]

Yes, it appears there is some deterioration near the collar. I sure hope that you are right. Any other folks with some ideas?

[hkstroud]

Show us a picture.

[HelenAg]

I can't give you one. Try to imagine it. It is a 4" pipe next to the basement toilet that is leaking poopy substance.

[hkstroud]

Got that part. The question is where is the leak? Tom is assuming the leak is from the joint itself. He is probably right but seems strange if this is a vertical pipe. I'm suspecting a cracked or split pipe. Can you verify?

[HelenAg]

The pipe has not leaked for several days. It has been dry.

[speedball1]

Have someone caulk the lead joint. (see image). Good luck and I hope that's all it is. Tom

[HelenAg]

I have been checking all week and the area around the pipe is bone dry. I have a theory that maybe what I saw was knocked over toilet brush water? (No one owns up, but it is possible) If there were a leak, even small, wouldn't I have seen something all this week? As I say, it's bone dry. Helen thanks.

[stew_1962]

I'm with Speedball on this one - only one more angle to cover. Maybe the line backed up momentarily and leaked up through the caulked joint. Since the blockage cleared, it hasn't done it since - or until it happens again. Keep an eye on it every time you flush - if solid waste doesn't sweep through the line quickly, it will cause a momentary backup behind the solids until there is enough water behind it to push it on down. Meanwhile, it will likely come up through the leaky joint.

[HelenAg]

Here it is days later and still no water seeping. I just wonder if that toilet bowl container didn't fall and spill. Bone dry around the pipe, bone dry about the toilet and floor. Hmmmmm.

[mygirlsdad77]

If its not leaking at this time, and you aren't getting any sewer gas smells, id say you are correct, water was spilled. I wouldn't worry about it any more unless you see water on the floor again. Come on back if you do and we will try to help.

[HelenAg]

Thank you very much. All help was much appreciated. Helen