When my wife and I went into this home, we noticed that all 4 toilets had a black gunk (for lack of a better word) in the toilet bowl drain. They are completely empty except for this black stuff. I wish we would have looked in the tanks. It isn't in any other drain in the house that we can see. The listing agent says the toilets have been winterized. The house has been vacant for about 6 months now. Is this a serious issue? Any idea what it could be? Thanks for your help.

Doubtful that it's serious, most likely just a by-product of a dry toilet that has not been used in a while.

Any toilet is going to develop 'scum' over a period of time. Not enough to ever be noticed. But if it stops being used and flushed on a regular basis there is bound to be some residue. The same is true if there had been some anti-freeze added to the tank and bowl - over time and non-use some of it will become not too pretty.

Not serious - probably just some minerals that stained the toilet once the water evaporated. CLR or bleach should take care of it.

Could be black mold or even chemicals from water supply reacting in any galvanized pipes. Especially might be the case if you are on well water (similar thing happened to a friend who left their rural home vacant for a summer).

With regular use of the water, the issue should go away...after cleaning of course.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Conrad,