I have replaced countless toilets and have never come across this. I replaced a toilet in a condo. It is on the ground floor and is last unit on the run. There was a problem with brown water leaking out around the base on occasion. I figured the wax ring was crooked and we would reset the toilet. When I pulled the toilet the wax ring was smashed to one side. When I cleaned up the old ring the flange was not mounted to the floor it was raised about 1/4 inch, but it was solid. While cleaning the rest of the wax water started leaking out under the flange from the space between the slab and the waste pipe. I used a flashlight and looked inside and out side of the pipe. The pipe was clear and dry. I didn't see any light inside the pipe when holding the flashlight out side. Let me also add that I never smelled sewer at all. The brown water leaking out was actually brown with dirt not human waste. There has never been a problem with backup at this location either. Could this be a slab leak? Or a supply water leak? If the original toilet had been siliconed to the tile I don't think this small amount of water would have leaked out. Also if the flange was properly secured to the floor- without the space I don't think the water would have leaked out. Should there ever be a large amount of water around a waste pipe?

Definitely looks like a slab leak. Was it raining outside or had it recently rained when you noticed the water coming up? It is also possible it is an incoming water line leak.
The flange needs to be securely anchored down. Any time there is a possibility of flange movement, I will choose a rubber flange gasket over a wax one.

I was afraid there was a slab leak. I understand the flange should be secure to the floor. The customer wouldn't allow that right now. She wanted it put back like it was. If I finish this job I will definitely use the silicon ring.

Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.



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