Thanks for responding, Zanne and johnjh2o. The toilet doesn't move around and the water does appear to be coming from thwere the bottom meets the floor. When husband removed the tilet last week to replace the was ring, the wax ring was in pieces. So that does sound like maybe backflow? How do we correct that?
The backflow could be caused by a clog somewhere in the lines, improper incline/decline of the waste pipe, improper venting, and possibly the septic tank clogging.
I think the cleanouts for the plumbing for that area might need to be snaked. Your husband can do it himself when he lifts the toilet again to put on a new wax ring. Sometimes pouring white vinegar down can help.
Is it just the toilet or are you having any other plumbing problems?
*Gurgling in pipes when using the water or flushing the toilet
*Sewage smell coming from drains of other fixtures
*slow drainage of other fixtures
When was the last time you had your septic tank sucked out? If you recall, did you make sure that all of the waste was sucked out and not just the water (the guy I used to hire to drain mine would leave most of the solid waste and some of the water at the bottom every time-- he actually got fined by the dept of health for doing that on some jobs).
Do you flush tissues and "flushable wipes" down the toilet? I recommend NOT doing so as they don't decompose as well in septic tanks as regular toilet paper. Flushable wipes can get stuck in the pipes sometimes.
My best guess is that something is stuck in the drain for the toilet and needs to be dislodged with a snake.
Keep in mind that while any major work on the pipes in the house should be done by a licensed plumber, sewage sucking and such needs to be done by someone who is licensed for sewage. Generally your local Department of Health should have a list of people who are licensed in your area. They are not allowed to give you recommendations, but sometimes they can tell you which ones have had violations/fines.
