I recently had my roof replaced,the roofer installed a standard lead boot vent which replaced the nearly four foot tall vent that had been there. Shortly after this the toilet on the second floor stopped working. It would slowly drain, I tried using the dish soap and hot water and also the plunger. Water would slowly seep away. I also tried doing the 5 gallon pail of water flush which resulted in water coming through the ceiling below the bathroom. I finally called the plumber he snaked the toilet and it flushed normally for a couple of days. Then the same issue where the bowl would just fill up and slowly seep away. I think I broke the wax seal when I tried plunging as water does seep onto the floor around the toilet after Flushing. I told my plumber that it wasn't working again and about the roof & vent being replaced. He recommended having someone come to blow out the air vent on the roof because something from the roofing project may have fallen into the vent. This will cost about $500 on top of the $110 already charged to snake the toilet. if the blowing out of the air vent does not solve the problem he said it might be a problem with the toilet itself needing to be replaced. There is a smell of sewer gas which I know is an indication of the broken wax ring. I have tried to use toilet auger twice myself but water still will not drain. I don't understand how the toilet could be snaked and work and then suddenly not work. I have been told there is no reason to have a 4 foot stack on the roof for the air vent but I don't know why it was there. Also from what I have read even if the vent going to the roof is clogged it shouldn't keep the toilet from Flushing . I don't know which way to go it seems like this project will cost hundreds of dollars before I figure out what is wrong. But I do need to do something about the smell of sewer gas & get the toilet working. Any help or ideas would be appreciated!!



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>I think I broke the wax seal when I tried plunging as water does seep onto the floor around the toilet after Flushing.

This strongly implies a clog remains BEFORE the T. A clogged vent would not build up sufficient pressure to burst the wax ring.


>he snaked the toilet and it flushed normally for a couple of days. Then the same issue...

This implies there was a clog and that he PARTIALLY cleared it.


>From what I have read even if the vent going to the roof is clogged it shouldn't keep the toilet from Flushing

What you read was wrong or misinterpreted. But this does not sound like a roof vent issue, because the slow drain returned. Unless he snaked the vent too.


Three years ago our tennant told us they had a super slow toilet drain, they had cleared it before with drano (into the septic tank ) but the slow drain had returned. I tried a big bellows plunger, which turned the slow drain into a total stoppage. When I removed the toilet I found 18 inches of solid clog (ugh). My bellows plunger had compressed the mass into a solid clog. Very nasty mess to clear. Tampon at the bottom.

That sounds like a terrible clog!! =(
Thank you for sharing.
So would your advice be to remove the toilet and try opening the clog from that position? Sorry I am a complete novice at Plumbing and I have lost my faith in the plumber that I first tired. He did not try to open the roof vent only did the snaking from inside the toilet



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You said you think you broke the wax ring. Toilet removal is in your future regardless.

The wax seal had to be marginal if plunging broke the seal. Reset the toilet with a Jumbo wax ring if the flange is level with the tile or lower. Yes, a clogged roof vent will prevent a toilet from flushing properly.
The way to check is to remove the trap on the lav sink in the same bathroom. If the toilet flushes normally, you need to clear the roof vent. If it still does'nt flush right, you have a partially clogged drain line.