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Foul Toilet Odours
Have you ever walked into your bathroom only to notice a sewer smell coming out of your toilet? It's not only a highly offensive smell, but it's similar to that of a rotten egg, and this can cause you nausea or even headaches. Foul odours from a toilet indicate potential structural damage or other problems. Many people keep air fresheners in their bathroom, but this is only a temporary solution to the problem.
Whenever your toilet starts to stink, it's essential that you find the cause immediately. But what must you do when your toilet starts to stink? There are quite a few areas to check, and they include the toilet, sewer lines, vent pipes, the sink, and even the shower drain. In this article, you'll find out why your toilet stinks and potential solutions to this problem. The smell from a toilet is the last thing anyone wants to breathe in.
When your toilet starts to stink, there might be a problem in the vent pipe, the drain, water heater, seals, or other toilet components. A build-up in the drain or the sink can equally cause your toilet to stink. If you check and fix all these areas, and your toilet still sinks, then it means you should call a professional.
It can be surprising for a supposedly clean toilet to give off an offensive smell, which can only leave you uncomfortable. For this, you may need to perform deep drain cleaning and clean other toilet components like the toilet bowl. However, you'll need stronger measures if the smell persists after cleaning. Here are the potential reasons why your toilet stinks and solutions you should consider trying.
Evaporated Water In P-Trap
Sometimes the smell may be from a toilet that is not frequently used, like a pool house toilet or even the toilet in your guest room. You may also notice your toilet smelling whenever you return from a long vacation. In both cases, it's an indication that there isn't enough water in the p-trap.
This is one of the simplest issues to resolve. The p-trap is the pipe at the back of your toilet that dips down and goes up to form a "p" shape. It ensures that sewage gasses do not go back into the house. For the p-trap to function appropriately, it must contain enough water.
When a toilet is not used frequently, the water in the p-trap will evaporate, making way for the sewage gas to go into the house.
Solution
To solve this problem, you only need to flush the toilet a few times so that it can trap enough water to prevent the gases from coming up.
Clogged Toilet Drain Or Pipe
The offensive smell coming from your toilet could be because your toilet drain or pipe is blocked. To ensure that this does not happen, you must avoid flushing items like wipes, dental floss, cotton swabs, and condoms.
Solution
First, check that none of these items is blocking the way, and if you're sure, you can then check the toilet's flapper and tank water level to check if anything is blocking the way.
Check The Water Level In The Tank
You need a lot of water in your toilet to flush waste successfully. Therefore, the tank should always contain enough water to prevent the toilet from clogging. Here's what you should do to check the level of water in the tank:
- Lift off the tank lid
- Locate the mark inside the tank that shows the amount of water the tank should contain
- Adjust the float if the present water level is not enough. The float will go up if the water level rises until the flow of water into the tank is closed.
Solution
How do you change the float?
- Identify the type of float you have
- For tanks with a large rubber ball device, you'll need to slightly adjust the arm of the float ball upwards to allow more water into the tank
- If there's an adjustment screw above the fill valve, you only need to turn the screw in a clockwise direction to raise the float
- Call a professional if it's not any of the two cases
Check The Toilet's Flapper
If you check the hole within the toilet tank, you'll see a small rubber seal. The seal is called the flapper, and each time you flush your toilet, you'll notice the chain lifting the flapper to let the water rush into the toilet bowl. The flapper tends to seal off the hole whenever the toilet is not in use, preventing water from leaving the tank.
If the chain in the flapper is too short, water will leak out of the tank, reducing the amount of water you need to flush the toilet properly. If you continuously flush your toilet with insufficient water, it will cause it to clog.
Solution
To adjust the flapper's chain, you only need to remove it and hook it to the hole closer to the flush level. Ensure that there's enough space in the chain to allow it to open fully whenever you flush your toilet.
Don't hesitate to replace old or damaged flappers, and for this, you may need to call a professional.
Bacteria In The System
Microorganisms from sewage can attach to the rim of the toilet tank or bowl and start to multiply. This is a common issue in areas with a hot and humid climate. To check if the problem is due to growing microorganisms, open the tank lid to see if the smell worsens.
Solution
The first thing to do is to make a diluted solution of bleach, and here's how to do it:
- Get a mask, waterproof apron, and rubber gloves to mix the bleach in cold water. The mix should contain 1 part of bleach and 99 parts of water.
- Prepare the mixture in a well-ventilated environment
- Never mix bleach with toilet detergents as it can cause dangerous reactions. The best thing is to first use detergents and then rinse thoroughly before applying the diluted bleach.
- Discard the diluted bleach after 24 hours
Getting rid of bacteria in the toilet bowl:
- Add the diluted bleach into the flush valve or overflow pipe
- Allow to sit for 30 minutes before flushing the toilet to release the bleach and remove the bacteria and stink
Getting rid of bacteria in the tank:
- Drain the water in the tank
- Scrub the walls of the tank with a brush and the diluted bleach
- Allow for 10 minutes before you wipe the walls
- Add more water to the tank and flush three more times
You might be tempted to go overboard with the vinegar and bleach solution, but this will only cause the toilet to corrode and worsen the sewage odour problem. If you're not comfortable with creating a bleach solution, you can call a professional for assistance.
Vent Pipe Problem
Vent pipes are used to connect the toilet to the roof, which helps in ventilating and removing the sewage smell. The vent pipe also allows air to enter the toilet system and allows the easy flow of wastewater through the pipes.
A poorly designed vent pipe will clog easily and cause the sewer gas to be trapped. How do you solve problems resulting from the vent?
Solution
There are a couple of things that can block the vent pipes. It may be a bird's nest, in which case you may need to call a professional plumber to check and clear it out. The plumber may also need to ensure that the vent pipe is in good shape.
The ideal thing is for the vent pipe to have a downward slope to ensure that solids and liquid don't get stuck in the pipe. A vent pipe that doesn't slow downwards well enough will get clogged quickly, and you may need to call a plumber to fix the issue.
Damaged Sealing Ring
The sealing ring is the component located below the toilet, and its function is to keep urine, faeces, and other waste out and ensure that they don't grow bacteria in cracks and crevices. A broken, loose, or damaged sealing ring will cause the toilet water to slip through cracks, leading to an offensive odour or sewer smell.
Solution
Thoroughly inspect the sealing ring for cracks and apply a caulk if there are cracks to cover up the exposed region. If you don't see any visible damage, you can check if the toilet rocks or wobbles or call a plumber to replace the seal.
Gurgling Of The Toilet Or Sink
This is also a common reason why toilets stink. Whenever you hear the gurgling of the toilet or sink, and you observe yucky water, it indicates a sewer issue. This issue requires prompt attention, and you may need to call a professional. The professional will be able to carry out a thorough inspection of your sewer to ascertain what the issue is.
The interesting thing is that the inspection only takes a few minutes, and it mainly involves turning off the water supply in your home and turning it back on to flush the system. A sewer scope camera is usually used for this process, and it makes it easier for the plumber to identify cracks and clogs in the sewer.
In general, the best time to call a professional is when you have diagnosed the problem and you are still unable to handle the problem. An example of a situation where you may need to call a professional is if there's damage in the sealing ring or a problem in the vent pipe.
Smelly Toilet, Smelly Problem
A toilet smell can be very unpleasant and even harmful if it's not attended to as quickly as possible. This is why it's important to start investigating the problem as soon as you notice it. You might want to first check a few things, as we have mentioned above. You can follow them to troubleshoot the problem. However, if you are not comfortable with fixing a smelly toilet yourself, do not hesitate to call a professional plumber.
