If cleaning and air freshener don’t alleviate the smell in your bathroom, calling in a plumber might be necessary. There may be issues with either your shower or toilet drains, the P-trap, or vent pipe.
Behind your toilet sits a curved pipe called the P-trap that contains water to block sewer gases from entering your home and cause unpleasant odors. If this p-trap has become dry and has stopped trapping water properly, this may result in unpleasant sewage odors being released into the home.
Broken Seal
We’ve all experienced it: that horrid rotten egg smell coming from our bathrooms is enough to send shudders through us all, yet could also signal more serious plumbing problems that need attention.
Hydrogen sulfide gases released by bacteria build-up in drain and sewer lines cause the unpleasant stench, as well as headaches, nausea and highly flammability issues that must be quickly addressed by finding their source and having it addressed quickly.
Breaks in your toilet’s wax ring or caulking may allow sewer gases to leak from beneath its bowl and into your bathroom, creating an unhealthy environment. To fix this, first take steps to replace its wax ring; then apply bead or line of caulking around its base as a preventive measure against leakage.
Another simple fix for drain odors is regular drain cleaning using a mixture of white vinegar and bleach. This will help break down any minor blockages as well as eliminate bacteria responsible for creating that rancid sewage smell.
Clogged vent pipes can also contribute to sewer smells, particularly during hotter weather when bacteria multiply rapidly. To address the issue quickly and safely, check that there is an opening in your vent pipe; if it does exist then ensure it isn’t blocked by leaves or bird droppings; otherwise contact a plumber immediately who can safely clear away the blockage.
Dirty P-Trap
Every plumbing drain in your sink, shower tub or toilet contains a P-trap filled with water that helps prevent sewer gas from entering your home. However, when not used regularly enough this water evaporates and allows sewer gases into your bathroom – to prevent this happening regularly use running the water in both toilet and shower for several minutes once every week or two to keep this vital P-trap full of liquid.
If you detect an unpleasant stench from your toilet in any room of your house, it could be due to an issue with the vent that connects your plumbing system’s sewer line in your roof. When this vent becomes clogged up, sewer gasses can escape into your bathrooms and produce that unpleasant scent.
Consider hiring a professional plumber to inspect and clean your vent pipe as well as make any needed repairs to avoid future outbreaks of foul odors in your home.
Dirty toilets can be a source of considerable discomfort in rooms that rarely see use, particularly if it occurs in rarely-used spaces like storage units. A plumbing contractor can quickly resolve your commode-related problems so you can start enjoying that room of your home again shortly – call now to request an appointment!
Blocked Vent
If you still smell sewage when flushing the toilet after checking all three shower, Jacuzzi tub, and sink fixtures but no change has occurred, a blocked vent may be at play. All drains connect to an overhead vent pipe which vents sewer gas out while providing airflow into plumbing system for rapid wastewater flow. When this vent becomes blocked by something such as bird’s nests or blockages of some kind (even some snow) toxic gas will not escape and begin building up in your bathroom instead.
As bacteria proliferate in these crevices and cracks around the base of your toilet, this may cause it to gurgle and bubble after each flush as well as emit that rancid sewage smell. If this problem arises for you, seek professional assistance immediately from a plumber.
Your plumber may need to clear away any obstructions to your vent or replace it altogether, as well as clear away ice dams from gutters preventing water from freely passing through it. They may have to use a special grabbing tool on the roof in order to access these areas quickly.
Dirty Toilet
Toilets may get a bad rep for being filthy, but other objects in your home are actually far dirtier. Your cellphone alone carries 10 times as many germs than its equivalent toilet bowl; and your office chair harbors over two hundred bacteria per square inch!
If the smell of sewage remains after inspecting the shower drain, Jacuzzi tub and sink have all been checked, it could be due to an improperly installed or cut vent pipe that’s sending fumes back into the room. Also important: keeping this area free of debris such as food scraps which contributes to sewer odor.
Over time, the wax sealing ring beneath your toilet may loosen over time and allow odors from the sewer line into your bathroom, creating that familiar rotten egg smell. If this seems likely, try tightening it with a plunger or bathroom cleaner.
If these practical solutions fail to alleviate the foul rotten egg smell, it may be wise to contact a professional plumber for an inspection of your plumbing system. A blocked sewer line can not only be unpleasant, but can lead to potentially life-threatening health risks; prolonged exposure to methane gas produced by waste could cause weakness, dizziness, headaches, loss of coordination and even suffocation.
