CaptainAdcap

I am looking for a reliable mechanic at a fair price in the Pattaya/Jomtein Beach area to install new front struts in a Ford 4 door. It also needs a rear bumper replacement. Yes one mechanical, one collision work. Any recommendations? Anyone in Bangkok? A big THANKS for your consideration and time in advance...

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Why was he denied entry to the kingdom? Overstay?

No overstay. They did not like his "visa history". Evidently it was very common in 2018/2019, cracking down on visa runners. 

A big THANKS in advance for your time and consideration !!! I have been in TH for several years. Tourist visas, with visa runs. I attended college, education visas and I worked for an NGO, volunteer visas. I have to go back to CA to get a new passport and see family. I will apply for a 60 day tourist visa there. Is there a period of time out of country, TH, that will minimize the ire of immigration officials upon re-entry at the BKK airport? 1/2/3/6 months? Am I better served to re-enter via a border crossing or one of the other "local" airports? THANKS !!!

PS I ask this because a Canadian friend of mine who lived here for years, visa runs, special visa, was denied entry at BKK in 2019 having a 60 day tourist visa in hand. Evidently, many people were denied entry in 2018/2019 because of their "visa history". Stepping out of TH for 1 day only works for so long if your under age 50. 

Just wanted to say THANKS to everyone who helped me and posted their ideas on the subject. Since I am only here 6 months, Mai mee pan ha. I will just live with it and the owner can do as he wishes. After trying numerous things, talking to residents here, it was as I suspected, NO WAX RING OR GASKET SEAL from drain pipe to toilet drain, IT IS A MUST !!! Silicone or cementing the base of the toilet is not even necessary if a wax seal or connecting gasket is used (wax seal will outlast a rubber gasket 3x.) Yes, a silicone seal is nice as far as critters go, but unnecessary if a wax seal is used. Again a big THANKS to all, don't throw out those wax seals !!!

P.S. When I installed my toilet back home it was recommended to throw out the small wax seal that came with the toilet and that you buy the BIG & IMPROVED WAX SEAL (300 baht). I guess bigger is better or at least capitalism is alive and well ????

On 11/12/2019 at 3:52 AM, Chazar said:

a  frequent  occurrence with the cack quality workmanship here..................first thing thais do............throw away the  wax  seal..not need  mai....want it done well.do it yourself, heres mine

EXACTLY !!! I have yet to "yank" the toilet. It appears it may cost me. I am convinced that no seal/gasket from toilet to drain pipe was used and the cement seal they use (toilet to floor, saw an old toilet being thrown out, along the street) is improper or insufficient to trap odors. The problem of not using a seal/gasket from toilet to drain pipe is not only the smell and health hazard but the eventual water migration that will damage my neighbors ceiling. THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING MY SUSPICIONS...throw the wax seal out...damn.

1 hour ago, Greyhat said:

It usually works for me but I've been trying for the last 3 days and it just tells me

I assume this is because this is my first report since I extended my visa. It was due yesterday but I'll go in next week as I understand there's at least a 1 week grace period.

I got the same message, it will be my first 90 day report also.

4 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

I didn’t suggest that a seal was not required, just pointing out that a WAX seal is not a requirement and in some toilets impossible to use.

SORRY, I am just a bad monkey today, I think those bathroom fumes are effecting me. Confucius say "flinging poo, makes fingers smell like <deleted>."

BTW A <deleted> is a measure of information - usually on a computer. One <deleted> equals one byte. A <deleted> is used to measure corrupt data, bad programming and rubbish. 

1 hour ago, JAS21 said:

I think the possibilities are ...

 

Floor drains ... I note in the hot weather I very frequently need to top up ...also worth checking that there is actually a seal and that the bottom piece has not been set too low, so actually no seal.

 

As previously mentioned if it has been set on white cement or grout then have the screw holes been filled.

 

Look here, page #3 for how to us the Cotto Kit ...  

 

In my experience it can be very diffult to use the wax seal...no wonder Thai Plumbers sling it. I reset the Maids toilet just on waterproof grout after I retiled the floor.  Her <deleted> is quite big and it has actually got somewhat bigger over the years, and yet my installation is still intact.

 

THANK YOU ! I installed my first toilet in my condo, with a upgraded wax seal in Farang Land, all by my lonesome. It was tricky, but very easy. Easier I am sure with 2 people putting the toilet over the seal. Those toilets are heavy !!!

ตูด deleted? Everyone has one, I think...

4 hours ago, david555 said:

And keep it with water filled ….

OK !!! Have one in the bathroom. Heard about this also in other posts. So I need to flood it with water? I will try that, THANK YOU !!!

2 hours ago, impulse said:

I'm with Lopburi3.  Normally, the smell is coming from another drain open to the lines.  Shower or floor drain would be the first things I'd check.  In many past cases, putting a wet towel over one of those eliminated the smell.  Not a solution, mind you.  Just a diagnostic check before chasing down the wrong alley.

 

In some places I've stayed, I could tell if it was windy outside by whether the bathroom smelled of sewage.  And that smell wasn't coming from the toilet.

 

 

Going to try that, thanks. Eliminate all possibilities. Removing this toilet will not be fun. Actually the maintenance guy will do it, under my supervision of course. I am renting, why do I care? Do the right thing...LOL

2 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

 

an Example where a wax ring cannot be used

 

OMG... like an idiot I should have looked up the model of my toilet.

http://tech.kohlerthai.com/product-detail.php?mode=kohler&ib=1&ic=1&is=3&id=130

Just now, sometimewoodworker said:

That is true in some places (US) not in others. It certainly is neither universal nor an absolute requirement. 

A seal of some kind is a MUST HAVE. It can be wax, rubber, cement, silicone chalk. If not sealed, smells, health hazard, and more importantly, water seepage that leads to structural damage to your neighbors ceiling and/or foundation of your toilet floor. Wax has worked great in many climates for the life of a toilet. Rubber gasket and silicone probably holds up well. Cement and silicone seal, I would argue, short lived especially if the unit is used intermittently.

" The biggest SARS outbreak in Hong Kong spread through the plumbing in an apartment complex after visits from a man sick with the disease, a health official said Thursday. " IMPROPERLY SEALED TOILET, so I was told...

5 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

I agree if talking about using that system but that is not how it is normally done here - the base of the toilet itself is air sealed with white cement to prevent water or gas escape - when this is done wax seals are not needed.

Great, thank you. Cement cracks, especially if not used. This place was empty for at least a year, never used, I think the cement cracked. Cement loves water, especially in the curing process. Thank you my friend.

This is proper "Western" toilet installation. It works and it's simple. Toilet connects directly to drain pipe, no smell, no gas, no leakage, and no pan, whatever that is...

21 minutes ago, Artisi said:

I had one toilet with smell problem, it was usual Thai installation being bonded to the floor, took a lot of time and investigation to locate the smell source but beat it finally,

one of the two hold-down bolt at the rear of the pan wasn't sealed off, a 2 minute fix-up using some spare silicone sorted out the problem. 

I have seen this answer many times. Pan ??? Never heard of this pan. The bolts should be adhered to the floor. I guess if there is a pan underneath the toilet that contains sewage, I guess so. Is this standard CONDO construction?

1 hour ago, Skallywag said:

I would suspect "gases" being trapped and released from your toilet

Shower, sink, toilet need to have a "vent pipe" to remove gases from their drains and facilitate drainage

Since it is a "new" condo am thinking the vent is blocked/partially blocked. 

Something the builders would need to correct or someone qualified on Building management 

Worked construction and remodels for 10 years with my brother who has a General Contractor

The top three signs your plumbing vent is clogged include:

1. Sputtering, gurgling toilets. When airflow is inadequate in a vent because of size or blockage, the plumbing pressure will be greater than the air in the bathroom. 
2. Slow drain.
3. Strong sewer gas odor.

3 Yes, my problem. 1 and 2 no. What about no or poor seal between toilet and main drain pipe?

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

At great risk (not living in a condo) will point out the wax seal has nothing to do with smells and may or may not be used - traditional method has been to seal toilet to floor but seals are often provided these days so expect some are being used.  Are there bolts holding toilet down?  If not suspect a normal cement seal.

Normal source of bathroom smells is shower or room drain.  If an odor stopping type may only require adding some water to make good seal - if not may have to cover with something or replace with odor preventing type.

I strongly disagree. The seal prevents gases and possible toilet flushed material from escaping from the drain. Its like a scuba mask, keeps everything air contained, water out. " Between the toilet and the flange is a wax seal. The wax keeps water from leaking as it passes from the toilet to the drain pipe. It also seals against foul sewer gas odors. A wax seal will often last the life of the toilet, 20 or 30 years, without needing to be changed. "

Does anyone have FIRST HAND experience with Thai CONDO toilet installations? I live on the 8th floor, brand new place, and my toilet smells really bad. It could be the water, gases, or I suspect, no seal from toilet drain to toilet drain pipe. The bottom of the toilet is caulked, silicone I imagine, it appears rust colored. I have tried the blue tablets, no help there. Please only respond if you have actual FIRST HAND CONDO toilet installation knowledge. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Do they actually use the rings below or other wax/paraffin seals?