Why Does A Newly Installed Toilet Smell Like A Sewer?

A newly installed toilet should clear up any problems with sewer smells, theoretically, at least. However, if the toilet isn't installed correctly, or installed with failing parts, it can leak, causing both water and sewer gas to escape. Have a newly installed toilet that is causing a sewer smell? Try checking out the following common problems to solve the situation.

Sewer gases can escape through the base of the toilet if it isn't secured properly. Fix this by tightening the bolts at the base of the toilet. There may be bolts covering the tops of the bolts. Pry these off with a screwdriver, if present. Take care when tightening the bolts, as over tightening can cause the porcelain to crack. The best method of tightening is to turn the nuts by hand as far as they can go, then another turn or two with a wrench.

If the wax ring wasn't installed, this also leads to a gas leak, even if the toilet looks like it has been properly secured. Wax rings are very inexpensive to purchase at a hardware or plumbing store. To install a ring, remove the toilet by draining and removing the tank, then loosening the flange nuts on the bowl. Press the ring into place around the inlet. Replace the toilet and tank and secure the flange bolts at the base.

An improperly installed wax ring or a bad ring is almost as bad as no ring at all. Rings can be tricky to install, especially for new plumbers. If the plumber who installed the toilet handed the job off to his apprentice, there's no telling where the wax ring may have wound up. In cases like these, the best solution is to remove the toilet, scrape up the old wax ring with a putty knife, install a new one, then replace and secure the toilet.