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Sewage Smell in Bathroom?
Discovering your bathroom plagued by a sewage smell is more than just an inconvenience; it’s a red flag signaling underlying issues that demand immediate attention. This unwelcome aroma can arise from various plumbing problems, ranging from simple fixes like a dry P-trap to more complex issues like sewer backups or a full septic tank. Each cause impacts the comfort of your home and poses potential health risks, underscoring the urgency of addressing the problem.
Our exploration into the common culprits behind this foul odor reveals practical solutions that homeowners can implement and when it’s crucial to call in professional plumbers. Whether it’s a matter of routine maintenance or an emergency fix, understanding the root causes and remedies is essential for restoring the freshness and safety of your bathroom environment.
Join us as we delve into why bathrooms can start smelling like sewage and how to effectively counteract this issue, ensuring your home remains a clean and pleasant space.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Regular Maintenance Prevents Odors: Ensure regular water flow through all drains to prevent P-trap evaporation, which can lead to sewage smells.
- DIY Fixes Can Be Effective: Simple actions like cleaning shower drains and using home remedies can address many causes of sewage odors.
- Identify and Address Common Culprits: Dirty P-traps, clogged drains, and damaged toilets are frequent sources of bathroom sewage smells.
- Professional Help May Be Necessary: Consulting a professional plumber ensures accurate diagnosis and resolution for persistent issues.
- Preventative Measures Save Time and Money: Regularly inspect and maintain plumbing vents and septic systems to avoid complex problems.
1. Dirty or Dry P-Trap
Dirty or dry P traps are the most common cause of a sewer smell in your bathroom or toilet. The P trap is a u shaped pipe located at the back of your toilet and is fitted to all sinks and drains. It traps water to form a barrier between the air in your bathroom and the sewage gases. If you don’t use any of these regularly, the water in the p trap can evaporate, leaving your bathroom with that foul odor.
🧰 The Fix!
The most common problem has the easiest fix. Run water into the offending drain to fill up the p trap, and the problem should disappear. You can also run a cleaning mixture such as bleach or baking soda to remove any build-up.
📗 Related Reading: What Is a P Trap and How Does It Work?
2. Clogged Shower Drains
Hopefully, everyone in your family showers regularly. After a while, pieces of dead skin, soap, gels, hair and all sorts of stuff can clog your shower drain. If you think your shower is suffering from that dreaded sewer smell and is not draining correctly, you probably have a clogged drain.
🧰 The Fix!
Another easy one for the DIYer can be a little disgusting, depending on what’s stuck in your drain. Every husband I know loves pulling a mixture of his wife’s hair and other gunk out of a shower drain.
First, pop off the shower drain cover and pull out any debris that is accessible. If it looks significant, you can use a plumbers snake or auger to remove the gunk. Next, use a drain brush for that disgusting biofilm that forms around drains. Then pour a mixture of boiling water and vinegar slowly into the drain. Once complete, add 1 cup of baking soda and let it sit for about 2 hours. Then flush with hot water.
📗 Related Reading: Got a Smelly Shower Drain? Your DIY Fix It Guide!
3. Damaged Toilet
The toilet itself can be a source of sewer odors. Wear and tear over time and knocks against it can cause sewer gas leakage. Also, if it’s a toilet in a part of your home that doesn’t get used that often, the p trap could be suffering from the same problem.
Another major problem is the wax ring sealing or caulking at the toilet’s base. This can come loose, causing gas to escape. Also, cracks in the toilet bowl can cause moisture to build up and invite bacteria to the party, which could also cause foul odors.
🧰 The Fix!
If it’s the P trap, follow the same guidelines above for your toilet. If it’s a broken seal around the base, you can easily reseal or recaulk it though this may be masking a bigger problem. If you have a major leak, you will know about it. Some caulking is not going to mask that.
✅ PRO TIP: Don’t forget to leave a small section open at the back for moisture leakage when caulking.
The smell might come from where the toilet seals to the drain pipes. If this is the case, it requires the removal of the toilet, which is best left to your local plumber.
📗 Want to learn more about whether to caulk or not, check out this article: Should You Caulk Around a Toilet?
4. Gurgling or Bubbling Toilet
A bubbling or gurgling toilet is never a good sign. A range of problems can cause this and is best left to the professionals. Gurgling sounds are the result of negative air pressure in the plumbing system. This is due to a blockage somewhere in the sewer system.
We have a great article dedicated to this problem, and you can learn more about it here: Toilet Gurgling? Your Quick Fix It Guide!
🧰 The Fix!
Follow the troubleshooting process in the article listed above. It will probably require a sewer inspection with a sewer scope if it’s more serious than a clog in the toilet bowl.
5. Clogged Drains
Drains can suffer the same fate as your shower drain. Though it’s less susceptible to stuff that comes off you in the shower, it can also get clogged. Maybe you have kids that love to stick things down drains, or there’s a build-up of toothpaste and other gunk.
🧰 The Fix!
Check out this article on how to fix a slow-draining sink. How to Fix a Slow Draining Sink. The process is similar to how you would fix a clogged shower drain.
6. Clogged Plumbing Vent
The vent pipe is how your home’s plumbing system breathes. If it gets blocked, the sewer gases will backup into your system and make your bathroom smell like hot garbage. No air fresheners in the world will be able to mask this smell. Gurgling toilets are a clear giveaway for this problem.
🧰 The Fix!
We covered this in our article on gurgling toilets, so feel free to check that out. Here’s the link again: Toilet Gurgling? Your Quick Fix It Guide!
7. Bacteria Build Up
As I’m sure you know, your home sewer system is the perfect place for bacteria to grow. So if you have any of the problems listed in this article, these can pave the way for the bacteria associated with the smell to make their way into your bathroom, especially in hot weather.
🧰 The Fix!
Bleach is a great way to kill these bugs. Keeping your drains and toilet clean with a bleach solution can greatly reduce bacterial growth. Pour some bleach into your toilet’s top tank and give your toilet bowl a good scrub that can help with the bad bathroom smells.
📗 Related Reading: Is Toilet Water Clean?, and Help! My Bathroom Smells Musty. What Should I Do?
8. Sewer Backups
If you notice a strong sewage smell after heavy rainfall, it’s most likely caused by a sewer backup. When it rains heavily, the excess stormwater puts pressure on your municipality sewerage system, which can cause backflow from the main line and into your home’s drain lines.
If the water pressure is not high enough to flood your home, it can be high enough to push sewage smells back into your home, causing that foul smell.
🧰 The Fix!
If this is the problem, it’s out of the average homeowner’s hands. This is a problem for the city to fix if it’s a continuing problem during heavy rains. If it’s just gas making its way into your home, it’s best to wait it out.
If it’s a continuing problem, install a backflow valve in your sewer lines to prevent future backflow. This will require a call to your local professional plumber.
📗 Related Reading: How to Find the Main Sewer Line in Your House
9. Full Septic Tank
If you live away from the city and are not connected to the municipal sewer system, you probably have a septic tank. When your tank or leach field becomes full, you may notice the smell and the associated gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from your toilet. Your toilet will also struggle to flush correctly.
📗 Related Reading: Does Every House Have a Septic Tank?
🧰 The Fix!
Empty it! This is a simple fix. It’s good practice to regularly check the levels of your septic tank to ensure this doesn’t happen.
✅ PRO TIP: Add a calendar reminder to check it out at times, depending on your usage level. A larger family will require a more regular inspection.
⭐ Can Sewer Gases Make You Sick?
Sewer gases can pose a health risk if left untreated. This gas can be a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and methane gases. Not only is it flammable, but it can also cause health problems if not dealt with promptly.
📗 Related Reading: What Does Sulfur Smell Like? A Homeowners Plumbing Guide
⭐ When to Call a Professional Plumber
Navigating the challenges of a bathroom that smells like sewage can be daunting, but with the proper guidance, it’s manageable. This article has provided a comprehensive overview of common causes and solutions for sewage odors in your bathroom, from simple DIY fixes to identifying when professional intervention is necessary.
Phyxter Home Services stands at the forefront of addressing such plumbing concerns, leveraging years of expertise to offer insights and high-quality solutions. Our commitment to excellence ensures that you receive the best advice and service for all your plumbing needs.
For more insightful articles on plumbing and to discover how Phyxter can assist you with any plumbing issues, visit our blog. If you’re in the Okanagan Valley or nearby, don’t hesitate to contact Phyxter Plumbing Services. Let us help you maintain a clean, fresh-smelling bathroom today.
📗 Related Reading: DIY Guide to 15 Common Plumbing Problems & Solutions
