A question for plumbers

[Bob-tx]

In one of our bathrooms, we have a sewer gas odor. It is coming from around the commode, not from the shower, sinks or tub. I am guessing it is probably a bad wax ring, but I am not able to tackle the job myself.

I called a plumber, and he told me they had to run a 'smoke test' to determine the problem. He said I had to notify the fire department they were going to run the smoke test, that is the law (????). I asked how much that cost. "$300"!!!!

Then I asked how much to change the wax ring without the smoke test. He said they won't do that unless they first run the smoke test.

I think it's a rip off. Surely, it wouldn't take more than an hour to replace the wax ring, and even at an inflated price, that should not be over $100.

Question: Is this a normal procedure, or a rip off?

Thanks for your advice.

Bob-tx

[notbob]

Sounds like a rip-off to me.

First, I'd call the city and ask if it is, in fact, "the law", and second, I'd ask if I could do my own smoke test. Can't be too hard. Just find your cleanout and insert smoke bomb. Also, you might try calling a couple more plumbers.

nb

[EXT]

If you are willing to pay to pull the toilet and re-install with a new wax ring, why do you need a smoke test. The only use it could have is to identify a leak in the piping or the wax ring, but it would seem more logical to do the test AFTER replacing the ring, to ensure that the seal is good. Also, wouldn't the responsibility to call the fire department belong to the plumber not you. I would call the plumbing inspector to check if they have such a crazy law and the reason for it, it sounds rip-off to me.

[HeyBub]

I vote for rip-off. (Can I cast two votes?)

Just for grins, call the fire department and ask whether a so-called "smoke-test" is normal to test a toilet.

Just where in Texas are you?

[Home Guy]

Commode?

Would it kill you to just say toilet?

Call another plumber (or call the same one in a few days) and just say that you've got a small leak around the base of your toilet and you'd like them to come over and put a new seal on it.

Don't mention anything about a sewer gas odor.

[dadiOH]

Will they blow out the telephone line at the same time? :)

[dpb]

Well, if it were sewer gas, the trap should be full and block it, ring or no. In that case would have to be something else which is what he would be looking for...

If it is indeed the was ring that has failed, there should definitely be at least hidden signs of some leakage if it's bad enough to have created odor it's had to either been very small for a while or large enough to make stinky...

I'd be looking more closely for the evidence first methinks...altho your diagnosis/guess is likely ok, I'd think it observable.

[A. Baum]

Any person who can follow simple instructions can change their own seal.

[Brian V]

The trap is in the toilet itself which is above the ring. If the trap was in the waste pipe itself your statement would be correct. It can absolutely be ring.

[Brian V]

The trap is in the toilet itself which is above the ring. If the trap was in the waste pipe itself your statement would be correct. It can absolutely be ring.

[clare]

Have to respectfully dissagree here. IF the toilet was installed with one of the better ring seals, there will be NO water leakage unless the pipe is plugged and it backs up, because the better rings have a tapered sheild on them that directs the flushed water and debris past the seal - so a leaky seal can stink and still not leak.

The trap, if you look at ANY north american toilet, is ABOVE the seal, so can be full of water and functioning, and still alow gas to leak past a bad ring seal.

Chances are better than 90% it's a bad seal, unless it is an old house with badly corroded cast iron plumbing - in which case all bets are off - and I wouldn't even waste the money on the smoke test - just get the plumber to pull out ALL the cast iron and replace with plastic.

[A. Baum]

Most anyone who can shit in a toilet can change the seal.

[A. Baum]

330 million in the USA and you know of one dozen? You're kidding right?

[A. Baum]

And what? Can't find a friend to help you when hundreds of dollars are involved? Go f*ck yourself you moron.

[The Daring Dufas]

When we use a smoke bomb to check air conditioner duct work for air leaks, we notify the fire department as a mater of common sense.

TDD

[A. Baum]

Now why would you do that? I could see tossing a smoker inside the heat exchanger of a furnace to check for cracks but not the duct work.

[krw]

As long as you're in there, do the whole job and replace the tank gasket and flapper seat. Only lift a piece at a time.

[aemeijers]

Speaking of shit, yer full of it. 1/3 of this country is obese, which often includes a reduced ability to lift things, especially in small spaces, not to mention many people can't see well enough to do the close work of fussing with the bolts, assuming they can even get down on the floor to get to them, and get back up. Add in the common complication of the shutoff valve being frozen or rotted, and the downside gets big fast. So, yes, anyone who is in halfway-decent shape and HAS SEEN IT DONE BEFORE can R and R a toilet. But if someone is not a regular tool user, or doesn't even own the tools, and the house is over 20 years old, I always recommend they get a plumber. I do tell them to watch and learn, though. If the house only has one bathroom, and there is a SWMBO and rug-rats involved, I strongly recommend a plumber- there is no postponing things when the family needs to pee. And Murphy being Murphy, even if you start early on Sat when the Borg is open, there will be unexpected complications. Any real plumber will have the 20 most common parts on his truck.

[Bob-tx]

What a narrow minded statement. I am almost 80, and have a hard time getting around, let alone kneeling and bending.

But thanks for such wonderful advice.

Bob-tx

[The Daring Dufas]

There is actually a spray chemical we use for checking heat exchangers, it's sprayed into the return air and if the flames on the burners change color a leak is indicated. When I've checked out the duct work at a large building such as a grocery store with large exposed duct work, the smoke bombs work well to show where the air leaks are.

TDD