We have a standard in ground septic system. About 2 or 3 years after
installing a new toilet (over the concrete slab) it started to emit a
septic-type odor that lasts for weeks and then fades away only to come back
again. We can't seem to trace it and the bowl is clean. Could septic odor be
coming through a wax seal? Thanks in advance.

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:48:43 GMT, "Bill Rah" wrote:

We have a standard in ground septic system. About 2 or 3 years after
installing a new toilet (over the concrete slab) it started to emit a
septic-type odor that lasts for weeks and then fades away only to come back
again. We can't seem to trace it and the bowl is clean. Could septic odor be
coming through a wax seal? Thanks in advance.


imho:

If you have a water seal in the bowl, it would only seem like break in
the piping/seal integrity. One thing, septic systems are usually
vented, and so is your sewer lines, so a SWAG is that you aren't
getting the full force of the septic system, but are smelling your own
pipes.

I had a seal failure once, I found it because of a weird smell, and
verified it by sealing up the house, and turning on every exhaust fan.
Soon the 'weird smell' was fully recognized. yummy.

Good luck, and fill us in on what you find, and do.

later,

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com

"Tom The Great" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:48:43 GMT, "Bill Rah" wrote:

We have a standard in ground septic system. About 2 or 3 years after
installing a new toilet (over the concrete slab) it started to emit a
septic-type odor that lasts for weeks and then fades away only to come
back
again. We can't seem to trace it and the bowl is clean. Could septic odor
be
coming through a wax seal? Thanks in advance.


imho:

If you have a water seal in the bowl, it would only seem like break in
the piping/seal integrity. One thing, septic systems are usually
vented, and so is your sewer lines, so a SWAG is that you aren't
getting the full force of the septic system, but are smelling your own
pipes.

Yes, that's exactly what is smells like...as if I am smelling the inside of
the pipe.

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:49:52 -0400, Tom The Great wrote:

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:48:43 GMT, "Bill Rah" wrote:

We have a standard in ground septic system. About 2 or 3 years after
installing a new toilet (over the concrete slab) it started to emit a
septic-type odor that lasts for weeks and then fades away only to come
back
again. We can't seem to trace it and the bowl is clean. Could septic
odor be
coming through a wax seal? Thanks in advance.


imho:

If you have a water seal in the bowl, it would only seem like break in
the piping/seal integrity. One thing, septic systems are usually
vented, and so is your sewer lines, so a SWAG is that you aren't
getting the full force of the septic system, but are smelling your own
pipes.

I had a seal failure once, I found it because of a weird smell, and
verified it by sealing up the house, and turning on every exhaust fan.
Soon the 'weird smell' was fully recognized. yummy.

Good luck, and fill us in on what you find, and do.

Worst case scenario your septic field is leaking/flooding into the ground.
I knew a guy who finally traced a stink in his basement that came and went
to
over watering up hill in his back yard. This was bringing sewer smells up
under
his slab.

There's no smell on the outside. This toilet (& sink and shower) are on its
own 500 gal tank. We just found the tank about a month ago. We are the
second homeowner and the tank was buried without visible access tubes. Since
the clean-out plug is still intact (i.e. not punched out) I presume it has
never been cleaned in 26 years. I'll have it pumped but everything still
works though. I'll dig around the 'poop chute' between the tank and the
house and make sure it's not broken.

I'm with Gary. Seems like it's time for a new wax ring.

"DragonKnight" wrote in message
news:8160ca05f6a5a938fc391f68a3a63f8f@homerepairli ve.com...
I'm with Gary. Seems like it's time for a new wax ring.

Agreed. That seems to be the likely culprit.

Thanks to everyone.

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 15:54:54 GMT, "Bill Rah" wrote:


"Tom The Great" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:48:43 GMT, "Bill Rah" wrote:

We have a standard in ground septic system. About 2 or 3 years after
installing a new toilet (over the concrete slab) it started to emit a
septic-type odor that lasts for weeks and then fades away only to come
back
again. We can't seem to trace it and the bowl is clean. Could septic odor
be
coming through a wax seal? Thanks in advance.


imho:

If you have a water seal in the bowl, it would only seem like break in
the piping/seal integrity. One thing, septic systems are usually
vented, and so is your sewer lines, so a SWAG is that you aren't
getting the full force of the septic system, but are smelling your own
pipes.

Yes, that's exactly what is smells like...as if I am smelling the inside of
the pipe.



Then if the toilet is functioning properly, then you might want to
have your installation/piping checked.

I did this, I yanked off my toliet and found the 2-3 rings installed
failed. The multible rings were because the previous installer didn't
rise up the closet ring to meet the new floor tile's level. Oh also,
to coverup the damaged closet ring. The work looks like it was a
DIY'er, he missed the sizing of the hole in a tile, and decided to
bang the ring over a 1/4". Boob.

So be prepared for quick check turn iinto a larger job.

later,

tom @ www.BlankHelp.com