Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - smelling sewer gas
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noguru
08-22-05, 12:16 PM
I'm helping a friend do some work to his upstairs bathroom so I turned the toilet water on in the downstair bathroom. I believe it has been shut off for two years since he doesn't use it. The entire basement stinks now. Do you think the wax ring could have gone bad due to inactivity? Or could it be a bigger problem? I don't see any water leaking under the toilet.
majakdragon
08-22-05, 08:07 PM
It sounds more like a bacteria problem than anything else. The toilet sat for a long period of time so it had plenty of time to grow. I would try using bleach in the bowl (and possibly the tank with a weak solution). Using bleach in the tank can destroy the seals and gaskets. Try pouring a stronger bleach/water solution down the overflow pipe in the tank to get the solution to the flush-holes in the rim. Good luck.
noguru
08-22-05, 09:47 PM
Thanks Majakdragon! I'll try it!