Problem with replacing toilet


  #1  
Old 03-25-17, 02:32 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Problem with replacing toilet

I am replacing a toilet that constantly got "backed up" and required daily plunging. When I took off the old toilet seat I found something strange in the toilet hole drain on the floor. It appears that someone has puttied the drain hole up halfway. I am not sure why they would have done this. Common sense tells me that is why my toilet was always clogging up. I am concerned about digging this out because I am not sure why it was done and I may be opening up a "can of worms" and causing more problems. Has anyone seen this before or have any ideas for me on how to proceed?Name:  File Mar 25, 4 29 59 PM.jpg
Views: 273
Size:  20.6 KB
 
  #2  
Old 03-25-17, 02:49 PM
ray2047's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 29,711
Upvotes: 0
Received 15 Upvotes on 13 Posts
Looks like there is a build up of something. Is it soft or hard? Almost looks like thinset from when they tiled the floor.

Name:  File Mar 25, 4 29 59 PM.jpg
Views: 270
Size:  43.3 KB
 
  #3  
Old 03-25-17, 03:01 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
It is hard. It probably is thinset but it's placement in the drain hole is intentional. Why? This is what I do not understand. Would they have tried to putty or mortar a piece of PVC pipe in place in an attempt to make the hole smaller? Or repair something?
 
  #4  
Old 03-25-17, 03:56 PM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,657
Received 2,153 Upvotes on 1,928 Posts
The workers maybe wanted to get the thinset off their trowel and the pipe was convenient. Or, maybe there was a smell coming from the pipe and they tried to block it with mortar instead of simply stuffing a rag or using a plug.

Is the black piece part of your drain piping? It appears to be part of an old wax ring that should be removed.
 
  #5  
Old 03-25-17, 04:12 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
The black piece is part of the drain piping. I have already removed all of the old wax ring.
 
  #6  
Old 03-25-17, 04:15 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Posts: 4
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Let's assume that the thinset was added for a reason like possibly a hole or crack in the drain pipe. If that were to be the case and we remove the thinset. . . what is involved in repairing the drain pipe? Would we have to tear out the floor, etc?
 
  #7  
Old 03-25-17, 04:32 PM
ray2047's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 29,711
Upvotes: 0
Received 15 Upvotes on 13 Posts
Even if it was a misguided repair I'd remove it so I could see if there was a better way to repair it.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: