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Author:
apollostreet (CT)
hello, I hope this is the right forum to ask this question. about a month ago we had our bathroom completely redone. we put in a new shower, sink, toilet and tile floor. since then we have had an ongoing issue with sewer flies, aka drain flies. there is also a very strong sewer smell. we have city water and there is no septic tank. I am thinking that the wax ring didn't seal properly and perhaps the flies and smell are coming from beneath the toilet. we have had the bottom of the toilet taped up for a week and are going to replace the wax ring tonight. at first, after taping it off, the number of flies and the smell seemed to decrease but both returned about 2-3 days later. the flies are always on or around the toilet which makes me think that's where the source is. but if this is the case then how are they getting through the tape? is it possible that they are coming from the shower or sink eventhough both are new? I did the scotch tape trick over both those drains and left it there overnight and there were no flies stuck in it. any insight that anyone has on this matter would be greatly appreciated. thank you so much!
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Author:
srloren (CA)
You could have a defective toilet with cracked trap inside. You are possibly not getting a proper trap seal in my opinion. Pull the toilet and inspect up inside the trap with a mirror on a collapsable handle also inspect inside the bowl looking up into the trap for signs of cracked or missing china piece. You may not see totally all that you need and if this is the case you can iliminate this this as the problem by replacing the toilet. Another posibility is any other traps in this bathroom that you can access. Make sure the have water in them. There have been known cases where with a long tailpiece, water falling so far down to the trap can cause a siphon action and not allow the trap to stay full enough to make the seal. All the best in your detective work. Hope you find a solution.
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Author:
Doug E. (CA)
did the remodel include new tile floors?
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Author:
apollostreet (CT)
yes, it did. prior to that we had laminate flooring so the space between the flange (I think that's what it's called?) and the toilet is a little wider than it was before. we just lifted the toilet off and the wax ring wasn't even touching it. we are putting in a thicker wax ring now and I hope this solves the problem... although I still don't know how the flies were getting around the tape, so I guess time will tell.
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Author:
Doug E. (CA)
best to use a flange extension to bring it up so that it is above the floor.
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Author:
packy (MA)
contact the inspector who inspected the job. they will be very helpful.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
"....we just lifted the toilet off and the wax ring wasn't even touching it..." Bingo. Problem solved.
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Author:
nicholas123 (FL)
At least you don't have sewer mosquitos. My toilet is off and every time I remove the rag in the drain hole in the floor half a dozen mosquitos fly out.
I live in south Florida so I am an expert when it comes to flies. Those flies were already in your house when you laid down the tape. They were probably hanging out in your closet and returned to the toilet because they missed the smell.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
I concur. Sewer flies enter a house thru more entry points then a drain alone. After all, they are flies.
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