Hi.
Hope someone has a suggestion. This is a septic tank household.
There is a septic smell around the base of the toilet, but it is not constant.
Sometimes it can be really bad, then it disappears altogether.
It can go a week and no smell, then it will smell for a couple days, then stop again.
I am thinking the toilet seal is bad, but wouldnt it smell all the time?
The exhaust pipe appears to be clear, also.
Also, when it smells, there is no smell in the basement , and it doesnt appear to be leaking anywhere, either in the bathroom, or directly under the toilet in the basement.
No smell in any of the drains, in any other rooms. Also no smell around the other toilet.
The only thing is there were some drain pipes replaced in the basement for the sink in the bathroom, and ajoining laundry tub sink.
Thats when the problem started.
We would hate to take the toilet off, and repace the seal, unless we know for sure that is what it is.
I just think it would smell all the time if it was a bad seal???
Thanks for any suggestions!
jt45

 

It seems that you have everything covered. What may happen is that if the seal is bad, when the toilet is flushed it lets a little air relieve through the seal and thats where the smell is coming from. It then dissapates to return later. Good luck and let us know if you find the source.

 

Could be something siphoning water out of the toilet bowl, at the frequency of, say, how often you empty a full kitchen sink. A certain amount of water must stand in the bowl to block sewer gas. Noticed anything?

 

The water level in the toilet bowl is always the same after it is flushed, and fills back up again.
It's very odd, at first we thought it was because the toilet isnt flushed as much during the week--[no one home-at work-], but I am home Mondays, and it was used just like on a weekend, and no smell.
Could it possibly have something to do with the exhaust pipe, and the temperature outside? Or if it is windy or not?
Just grasping at straws here........ maybe a crack in the exhaust pipe that may be affected by the weather?
But then again, the smell is comming from the base of the toilet when it does smell??
jt45

 

Maybe I can help you "grasp those straws". The vent (think you called it an exhaust) pulls air into the main drain line when any water using fixture is used. The air facilitates drainage. The water seal in your toilet is above the wax seal. When ANY water is put down ANY drain, air is pulled down the vent pipe. If the wax seal is bad, it would allow sewer gas to come through any defect. The toilet is usually connected real close to the vent pipe as they are the same size pipe. This means that ANY air pulled down for venting is going past the wax seal portion of the vent. With the possible exception of a cracked drain line, I think it is the wax seal. If you need guidance changing it, reply back. It's a relatively simple job and can be done by a novice in an hour. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info.
We may be changing the seal this weekend, although there has been NO SMELL all week long.
It doesnt appear a hard task--just a pain in the ***~!
I called it the exhaust, although I usually just say the stink pipe, but thought that was a little crude...............
jt45