No, not going to break into that song by Lynyrd Skynyrd... just describing the odor I smelled when I opened the bathroom door at an Inspection the other day! The fact that both bathroom doors were closed means they probably knew about it and decided to limit the area that the odors would pass to. I know, I know, but nobody was living there. Actually, in this house it was double trouble!
It was sewer gasses, and plenty of them! I guess I could have burned off the fumes... but I was afraid to light a lighter while I was in the room...lol. Both of the toilets in this house were loose on the floor. These toilets need to be removed, replace the bolts and wax rings and re-tighten to the floor. Sometimes the flange that the bolt heads slide into gets bent or broken and that needs to be replaced or repaired as well, they break much easier if it's a plastic or PVC flange.
This one showed signs that it has been leaking... yuk! You would think that the occupants would be able to detect this and make the repairs, but it looks like it's been that way for a while! It's not that huge of a chore to make the repair.
You have to shut off the water source and remove the water line, flush the toilet to get the excess water out of the tank. Then remove the bolts on the base on both sides, then merely lift it off the bolts. It is pretty heavy, so some help would be... helpful! Then you must clean up the old wax and gook from the flange so you can inspect that for damage. If it's ok, install the new bolts, they are shaped like a "T" and slide into the slot in the flange. Install a new wax ring, clean off the bottom of the toilet, removing the old wax and re-install the toilet. Re-install the water supply line, turn on the valve and presto! It would be a good idea to inspect the valve and flapper in the tank before turning back on the water, and there's a gasket in between the bowl and tank, it could leak there as well.
Not that big of a job, but if it's too much for the casual homeowner, I'm sure your local plumber would do it for you for a small fee... Don't try to pass it off on the buyer, I'm sure his crack Home Inspector will find it. All he has to do is follow his nose!
Ooooh that smell.... can't you smell that smell!
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