Where can bad smell come from in the bathroom?

How to understand that the problem is in the exhaust system

An exhaust system is installed in all rooms where sewage is carried out with a water supply. Find ventilation ducts in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen. They are located under the ceiling and covered with bars. The easiest way to identify problems in the ventilation system. You can do it yourself.

Check traction

• Bring a sheet of paper to the channel.It must be held in place by traction. If the sheet falls, then the ventilation is not working well.
• Another way to check if the stench is coming from the ventilation duct is to seal it up for a few days. If there is no smell during this time, then presumably you have found the cause.

Ask the neighbors

Often the smell in the apartment begins to be felt after the repair of the sewer system, which was carried out by the neighbors. Since all pipes in multi-apartment buildings are connected to a common riser, then smells can come from neighbors. In this case, their supply or water seal may be broken, and the smell rises or falls towards you and penetrates through the ventilation shafts into your apartment.

Examine the collector

The common collector, which is located on the technical floor or in the basement, may also become airy or clogged. This can also give a smell to the apartment through the ventilation shaft.

Check pipe plugs

Sometimes the reason for which an unpleasant smell appears can be quite simple - a plug flies off the pipe.

Check your pipes. If you see an open hole, check if the plug has moved? Sometimes even a small gap is enough for the “aroma” to start to come out. This is especially true for those risers where the fan riser is cut off. It is not advised to turn it off even in two-story and private houses, not to mention high-rise buildings. Why? The site will tell below.

Examine the fan riser

A fan riser is a round wide pipe (riser) that should go to the ceiling. It is usually located in the corner of the bathroom or toilet, as if crashing into the ceiling. Often, residents of the upper floors cut it off, and the exit is drowned out. The smell is not removed from the apartment, but is collected in the riser.Then it begins to seep even through small cracks. Cutting and jamming this riser is not recommended, especially in apartment buildings.

• First, the smell has nowhere to vent.
• Secondly, under the influence of the force of air, when the neighbors flush the toilet from below, drain the water into the sink, the plug moves. Because of this, the smell begins to walk around the apartment, and not only on the top floor, where someone put a plug, but also on the lower floors. So, if your toilet smells like sewage, and you don’t know what to do, ask your neighbors from the top floor about the riser - is it brought out to the roof or is it muffled?

Violated patency

You can also check on the roof to see if the exit of the riser is accidentally clogged with debris or if something has fallen on top of it, has it been frozen in severe frost? To check the conductivity yourself, hold a piece of paper to the outlet of the riser. If the sheet is attracted, then the pipe is functioning. If not, it needs to be cleaned.

Missing pipe diameter

Also, the reason why sewer odors began to spread throughout the apartment may be that the pipe, which was wide in diameter, was replaced with a narrower one. For apartment buildings, this diameter may not be enough, strong pressure can break the water seals. We will talk about them further.

Lack of draft in the riser, failure of the water seal

This problem is typical for apartments on the upper floors: one far from perfect day, a persistent smell of sewerage appears in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

What's happening? First you need to explain to the reader how the ventilation of the sewer riser works in normal mode.

You have probably noticed that on flat roofs, pipes with a diameter of 100 (less often - 50) millimeters protrude above the roof level, which are the source of the characteristic sewer smell. These are the conclusions of the sewer risers.

Ventilation outlets for sewers on a flat roof

Inside the riser, due to the relatively high temperature of the drains, a draft arises that transports wet fumes and odors outside the house. In winter, evaporation gradually freezes on the inner wall of the cold pipe, reducing its clearance to zero in a few weeks.

Snow cap on the walls of the sewer riser

What will happen?

The traction in the riser is not going anywhere. However, instead of the atmosphere, it will transport fumes and odors to the apartments of the upper floor through leaky connections of the comb (internal sewage system) with siphons of plumbing fixtures.

And now let's imagine a volley discharge of wastewater (in other words, the simultaneous discharge of two toilet bowls or a pair of bathtubs), provided that all connections of the devices to the sewer are tight and the riser is not ventilated.

1. A stream of water filling it rushes down the riser;
2. A region of increased pressure is formed at the flow front. At the moment of draining, many tenants notice the appearance of air bubbles in the sink or bathtub;
3. After the passage of the flow in the riser, a rarefaction occurs, which sucks water out of the hydraulic valves of washbasins and sinks. After the water seals have ceased to function, fumes and odors begin to enter the apartment unrestrictedly - until the moment when the siphon is refilled with water drained into the sink.

Hydraulic shutters prevent air from entering the apartment from the sewer

The mechanism of failure of hydraulic locks

By the way: the dismantling of the sewer riser above the tee or cross on the top floor leads to the same result as snow caps. Residents of the upper apartment sacrifice the ventilation outlet for the sake of a cabinet over the toilet, having little idea of ​​the consequences of their actions.

elimination

How can you get rid of odors that are unusual for your apartment:

1. Make sure all sewer connections are sealed. To connect plumbing priors, rubber cuffs and adapters are used. In extreme cases, the connection can be sealed with microporous rubber or any foamed insulation;

All sewer connections must be airtight.

1. If the smells appeared in the cold season, go up to the roof and pour a bucket of hot water into the frozen riser. It is possible to prevent the re-freezing of the snow cap by insulating the riser from the outside;
2. The so-called vacuum valve can replace the missing ventilation outlet of the riser to the roof - a simple device that sucks in air when pressure drops inside the sewer riser.

Vacuum valve installed instead of riser vent to roof

Vacuum valve device

Toilet odor removers

Before finding out the cause of the sewer smell in the bathroom and repairing the breakdown, it is recommended to use special household products that will temporarily eliminate the unpleasant odor:

• Refreshing air automatic aroma dispenser or aerosol.
• Sticker strips or blocks that are attached to the toilet.
• Flavored tablets for the toilet cistern.

For a country house and a summer residence, special products are used to care for country toilet bowls and cesspools.

The preparations contain bacteria that help to quickly process all the contents of the toilet, eliminating the unpleasant smell of the sewer. The most commonly used brands are: Saneks, Bioforce Septic, Septic Shock.

No. 1 - microspray and aroma dispenser

Both tools are attached to the wall of the bathroom. Their difference is that the microspray gives out the aroma after pressing it, and the aroma dispenser releases it automatically during the day. In this case, the aroma is served after a certain period of time and in a dosed amount. Popular brands include Glade, Airwick.

The automatic aroma dispenser is a universal tool that can eliminate unpleasant odors of any origin, but only for a while

An alternative option is a helium air freshener. It can be attached to the wall of the bathroom or placed on a shelf. It deodorizes the room with pleasant aromas for 60 days.

All of the above remedies superficially and temporarily solve the problem of an unpleasant sewer smell in the toilet, but they are not able to kill germs, remove pollution and eliminate the cause of the stench.

No. 2 - flavored tablets for the tank

An effective remedy to get rid of sewer odor is flavored tablets. They sink into the toilet bowl.

After each descent of water, the tablet refreshes the bathroom with a pleasant aroma, effectively disinfects it and prevents the appearance of urinary stone and rust on the walls of the toilet bowl.

The advantages of flavored tablets over alternative means are the possibility of reusable use, the performance of several functions at the same time and an acceptable price.

Flavored tablets used in the toilet cistern can turn the water green or blue.

In the modern market of household chemicals, high-quality products of trademarks are especially popular: Svezhinka, Rio, Snowter, Bloo, Liaara.

No. 3 - sticker strips and blocks

To eliminate odors in the toilet, blocks and sticker strips that are glued to the toilet are often used. They deodorize the air and have antiseptic properties, helping to fight harmful bacteria. In contact with water, they provide a pleasant freshness in the room.

The most popular sticker strips are Domestos and Toilet duck. They are designed for long-term action - approximately 450 contacts with water.

Hanging blocks with a refreshing gel are effective in combating unpleasant odors. They perform several functions at once: deodorize the air, wash and disinfect the toilet. The blocks are easy to refill and have a capacity of 100 washes. The most popular: Domestos, Bref, Toilet duck.

Smell coming from the washing machine drum

It indicates that in the cuff of the hatch designed for loading laundry, or in containers for falling asleep washing powder and other detergents "settled" colonies of extremely unhealthy varieties of fungus and mold. The most common reasons for the appearance of these uninvited "guests" are as follows:

1. Frequent use by the owners of washing modes with low water temperatures.To get rid of pests in this case, it is necessary to fill the machine with a special odor-eliminating agent and carry out a washing course with the highest water heating.
2. Clogging the drain pump with cloth, hair and other materials that very quickly begin to rot and exude an unpleasant odor. Cancels the problem of its quality cleaning.
3. Blockage in the drain hose. If such a trouble occurs, the hose must be cleaned.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with Odor neutralizers in the apartment A general recommendation for preventing the appearance of fungus and mold in the washing machine is to air it (and at the same time the entire bathroom) after each washing process.

There are a lot of reasons for the appearance of unpleasant sewer "aromas" in the apartment. Before you fix the problem, you need to accurately determine its source. Only by determining it, it is possible to remove sewage odors for a long time with the highest quality (on your own or by means of an organization servicing the house).

How to clean with special compounds?

On the shelves of hardware stores there is a wide range of household chemicals intended for cleaning plumbing.

For those who want to quickly restore the whiteness of the walls of the toilet bowl, you should pay attention to those products that include formic or hydrochloric acid, sodium sulfate or carbonate salt. They are the best to cope with the yellow plaque of the urinary stone.

TOP 3 most effective chemical compositions:

DOMESTOS gel PINK

Cleaning agent, the special formula of which helps to quickly remove dense limescale, urinary stone, all types of microbes and bacteria.The average cost is 125 rubles. (volume 0.75 l). Reviews read here and here.

PROFIT SANI-GEL

Gelled acid concentrate. In just ten minutes, without residue, it dissolves lime deposits, urinary and soapstone, removes rust, and disinfects the walls of the toilet bowl.

BATH EXTRA

An extra-strong cleaner with a thick gel formula. Without residue dissolves old, ingrained pollution of limestone and urinary stone, rust. Eliminates unpleasant odors and disinfects toilet bowl walls. Leaves no streaks after rinsing. The average cost is 180 rubles. (volume 1 l). Find reviews here.

Toilet cleaners are used strictly following all the manufacturer's recommendations, without exceeding the contact time of plumbing surfaces with aggressive chemical compounds.

How to remove a urinary stone in the toilet, the video will tell:

What can be the source of bad smell?

It is impossible to immediately indicate the only reason why an unpleasant smell in the toilet arose, since they are very different. The first thought that visits households is that a pipe has burst somewhere and sewer water enters the pipes of a private house. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the most common factors leading to a similar problem.

Sometimes water can stagnate in pipes due to improper connection of the sewer network to the sanitary unit. This happens because the hydraulic shutter starts to work incorrectly. To avoid this, you should make a slight slope when installing pipes, which will serve as a barrier to the spread of unpleasant odors throughout the house.

Another cause of sewer smell can be improper connection of the washing machine to the drain system.For example, if a drain hose is inserted after the siphon, which will lead to the fact that there are no barriers to “aromas”, the smell will accordingly penetrate into the equipment drum.

You should also devote time to sewer pipes, which, if installed incorrectly, can let in smell from the sewer. During installation, it is necessary to adhere to the established norms for the slope of pipes, otherwise the pressure inside the system will break through the water barrier, and the smell of sewage is provided.

The cuff on the drain of the structure can also lead to similar problems. Since the material of its manufacture is rubber, during operation this part may crack or even burst. The ideal solution, if the toilet smells like sewage for this very reason, would be to buy a new cuff, but for a temporary fix, it will be enough to fill the cracks with sealant.

The problem may still lie in the formation of cracks in cast-iron pipes, of course, if any. Long-term operation leads to rotting of cast iron, as a result, not only smell from the toiletbut also a sewer break. To prevent such problems, risers and sewers should be checked from time to time, and they should be replaced in a timely manner.

Prolonged non-use of sewerage also leads to problems. For example, if the owners left for a long time, then upon arrival they may be caught by the smell of urine in the toilet. Ordinary oil, which must be poured into the drain hole before leaving, will help to avoid such consequences.

Problem Prevention

It is necessary to deal with the problem of unpleasant odor as soon as it appears, but it is best to take preventive measures to prevent such situations:

• install nets on the drain holes, they will trap most of the debris and prevent clogging;
• periodically you need to rinse the plums with boiling water - this helps to clean the pipes and multiply bacteria;
• Flush the pipes once a quarter with household chemicals - this will prevent the formation of congestion;
• change pipes that have served their useful life in time - this will allow you to do without leaks.

Once every 1-2 months, flush the sewer with soda or household chemicals.

If there is a smell from the sewer, immediately find its cause and get rid of it in the ways described above. Eliminating this unpleasant problem will have a beneficial effect on your mental and physical health.

A clean bathroom will keep you comfortable.

Poor ventilation

Poor ventilation contributes to the stagnation of air in the toilet or bathroom, as a result of which they are filled with fumes from the sewer, which is unpleasant for residents. Often, natural draft hoods are used in hygiene rooms, but they are ineffective, as they are regularly clogged with debris.

Bathroom ventilation system

Experts recommend installing forced ventilation devices powered by 220V. They quickly remove not only unpleasant odors from the room, but also moisture after taking water procedures.

Important! Cleaning natural ventilation requires the involvement of specialists with professional equipment (these are additional financial costs that not everyone can afford).

To check the natural extract for performance, you can use a candle or a piece of paper. If ventilation is at the proper level, the sheet will stick to the grate, and the flame from the candle will deviate towards it.

How to get sewer smell off your hands

After repairing breakdowns in the sewer network or plumbing, you may encounter another problem: the smell remains on your hands and haunts. Even working in rubber gloves does not guarantee the absence of such a nuisance. And it seems you wash your hands with fragrant soap, but there is no sense. Try one of the following methods.

1. Alcohol is a disinfectant, it will help to quickly wipe the sewer smell from your hands. If it is not available, wipe the skin with vodka, cologne or other alcohol-containing liquid.
2. Rub a few sprigs of parsley in your hands. Its essential oils have a strong aroma and persistence.
3. Food acids also perfectly interrupt odors. Wipe your hands with a piece of fresh lemon or a cotton swab dipped liberally in table or any other vinegar.

After any of these methods, wash your hands under running water and lubricate with a mild cream (it's just great if it has a citrus smell - this way the effect will be achieved faster).

Even rubber gloves don't always save your hands from sewer smells.

Problems with the operation of the water seal

The most common reason why the sewer smells in the toilet is considered to be a malfunction of the water seal. The siphon, installed under the toilet, has a water plug that acts as an obstacle to the flow of aroma from the waste system.If the specified cork is absent, the smell will be able to spread freely first in the bathroom, and then throughout the apartment.

The siphon, located under the toilet, is made in the form of a curved pipe. In this part, a certain amount of water accumulates. It is the water seal that is assigned the role of an effective obstacle to the spread of an unpleasant odor. Therefore, the smell of sewage in the toilet, what causes and how to eliminate it is worth understanding after checking the performance of the water seal.

toilet water seal

The functioning of the siphon

If the functioning of the siphon is significantly impaired, the dwelling will be constantly filled with a sewer smell. Therefore, it is worth studying the main problems associated with a malfunction of the hydraulic seal and the inability of this part to fulfill its assigned duties.

1. Siphon installation errors. Mistakes made during installation work with a water seal can provoke a specific aroma from the sewer into the room. Often, when installing a bottle siphon at an inflated distance, an outlet pipe to the riser is mounted. In the indicated situation, gases from the sewage system will “crawl” over the water plug and spread throughout the bathroom and the entire apartment.
2. Drying of the water plug. When the toilet is not used for a long time, the water plug dries up. This becomes the answer to the question why the toilet smells like sewage. In this case, the problem is fixed quickly. It is enough to achieve the flow of water into the hydraulic seal until the knee of the part is completely filled.Drying of the water plug is considered to be a fairly common occurrence in bathrooms that are not used for their intended purpose. However, it is possible to eliminate the cause of an unpleasant odor without the help of specialists and in the shortest possible time.

Corrugation stretching

When the siphon is a plastic product connected to the system with a corrugated pipe, the appearance of a specific aroma is associated with the sagging of the corrugation. That's why the toilet smells like sewage. What to do in this case? Often, this situation occurs when a simple adhesive tape or insulating tape is used to fasten the knee, and not special clamps prescribed by technology. The owner of the apartment, in the process of choosing a corrugation for connecting a toilet bowl, must take into account the likelihood of stretching the part over time. Simply put, you should not save on corrugation if you don’t want to “enjoy” sewer aromas throughout the apartment after a few months.

Wrong installation

Incorrect installation of compressed corrugations, due to which the toilet smells like sewage. What to do and why it smells? The fact is that a smelly smell from the sewage system will appear in the bathroom due to a violation of the technology for installing a compressed pipe. In the indicated case, we are talking about insufficient bending during the formation of the siphon. When installation work is carried out by an inexperienced plumber or on their own, very often the corrugated pipe does not bend at the knee, and is not fixed in the indicated position. That is, the bend of the pipe will not be sufficient to create an obstacle to the spread of unpleasant gases.

It is important to understand that, in addition to fragrant problems, errors in the installation of corrugations can lead to malfunctioning of the entire plumbing complex.

Siphon clogged

Clogged water seal

Banal debris that clogs the siphon will also affect what stinks like sewage in the toilet. What do and why flavor? The fact is that waste water settles on the inner walls of the knee and decomposes over time, releasing a soulful aroma in the process. If the problem is a clogged water seal, then to eliminate the cause of the smell, the part is simply washed. If the blockage is strong, then it is recommended to use special chemicals sold in specialized stores for washing. In some situations, manual cleaning of the part may be required. If a bottle type siphon is installed in the system, then it is easy to clean without removing.

Poor ventilation system

The bathroom and toilet are rooms where there is constantly highly humidified air. This is due to the regular use of water. To normalize the humidity of the air, it is necessary to install a ventilation system. It also allows you to solve the problem of how to get rid of the smell in the toilet.

Apartment buildings are most often equipped with a natural exhaust system, but the effectiveness of its work is not observed in all cases. You can test the operation of the ventilation system yourself using a regular paper sheet that you need to bring to the vent. With the high-quality operation of the natural exhaust system, the sheet will press against the grille of the ventilation hole, otherwise it will fall to the floor.

A falling sheet of paper indicates a low efficiency of the ventilation system, so the toilet smells like sewage.In this case, it is necessary to clean the ventilation ducts. In the absence of the desired result, after carrying out preventive measures, more serious measures should be taken and forced ventilation should be built.

You can also use a lighter or a lit match. If you bring the fire to the vent, then effectively working ventilation will draw in the flame. A calm fire indicates insufficient air extraction from the room.

Most often, an additional fan is installed in the existing ventilation duct and in the vent in the bathroom.

Installation of a device to eliminate the smell of sewage from the toilet is carried out according to the following scheme:

• Electrical wires are pulled through the vent.
• Mounting points for the ventilation device are marked on the wall.
• Holes are drilled in the marked places.
• Using special fasteners, the lower part of the fan housing is fixed to the wall.
• Connect power wires.
• Fix the decorative grille.

In order for the forced air exhaust system not to cause problems, it is necessary to clean the ventilation ducts from the accumulation of cobwebs, dust and other debris. It should be noted that the most efficient check valve fans.

Ways to get rid of sewer smell

The first thing that the owners of the apartment should do is to establish the cause of the unpleasant smell. If the problem is in the installation, then you should contact the professionals. If the reason lies in the malfunction of the hood or the depressurization of the pipes, you can try to fix the problem yourself.

Professional

A person must soberly assess his own abilities.If there is no desire or skills to engage in such work, it is better to contact a professional workshop, where they will definitely help solve the problem of unpleasant amber throughout the apartment.

There are several situations when the help of a plumber is needed:

• improper installation (violations during the installation of plumbing and ventilation can lead to the spread of a terrifying “aroma”, you will have to completely redo the system);
• lack of proper exhaust (it is very easy to check, just attach a sheet of paper to the grate of the ventilation shaft - it should be attracted by air flows).

If the owners decide to change the old system to a new one, it is better to entrust the work to professionals. This will give strong confidence in the quality and durability of the work done.

Folk

If the cause of the stink is a clogged drain, leaking pipes, or other simple problems, you can deal with them yourself using folk methods. There are quite a few of them, and each hostess can choose the right one for herself specifically.

First you need to establish the location of the blockage. This can be done by checking the drain in the bathroom, sink, toilet. Only after that it is recommended to take up cleaning products, including folk ones.

Our grandparents, mothers and fathers did not have the opportunity to use expensive cleaning products and used improvised products to effectively clean the bath from blockages:

• table salt (just pour a large amount of salt into the drain pipe, and after a couple of hours rinse with a stream of hot water);
• table vinegar + baking soda (for cleansing, you will need 5-6 tablespoons of baking soda, which are also poured into the drainpipe of the bath, then in a thin stream, trying not to damage the enamel, pour table vinegar; closing the drain with a cork, leave it overnight; in the morning it will be enough to rinse draining with plenty of warm water);
• Alka-Seltzer tablets (effervescent tablets are dipped directly into the drain pipe and table vinegar is poured in a thin stream, two minutes is enough for the dirt to be easily removed; rinse with plenty of warm water).

The slightest doubt in one's own abilities should be the reason for inviting a professional plumber. Only an experienced master is able to give a guarantee of getting rid of the sewer smell in the apartment.

Problems in the apartment

In the event of a sewer system malfunction in your apartment, an unpleasant odor can be felt only in those rooms where plumbing fixtures are installed: bath, toilet, kitchen. The reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant persistent odor are usually as follows:

Invisible leaks. If in your bathroom, or toilet sewer pipes cast iron, perhaps at the junctions of their joints, or cracks appeared in other places. It should be noted that damage may appear on pipes that are embedded in the floor or walls. That is why it is quite difficult to find the place of the alleged leakage. Implicit leaks can also appear if plastic pipes are installed in the bathroom.
Leakage. In this case, an unpleasant smell can appear not only in the bathroom, but also in the kitchen. In order to find the cause of its appearance, you need to carefully check all connected sinks, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures at the time of poor tightness.
old siphon

Particular attention should be paid to siphons. There must be water in the elbow of the siphon

If the siphon is old and has not been used for a very long time, the water could dry up. It also often happens that clogging of siphons becomes the cause of an unpleasant odor. In the knee of the siphon, human waste products can accumulate: pieces of soap, hair, fat, food particles. All this garbage can sooner or later begin to decompose, from where an unpleasant odor appears.
Another equally rare reason for the appearance of a terrible sewer smell in the bathroom is the improper operation of the sewer ventilation system. In the event that the fan pipe is blocked by something, the functionality of the water seals is disrupted. So, during the descent of a large amount of water (flushing the water in the toilet), a vacuum may occur in the sewerage system, as a result of which water leaves the siphons. It is the absence of water plugs that allows unpleasant odors and fetid gases to penetrate from the sewer into the apartment.

As you can see, there are more than enough reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant smell in the apartment. Each of the situations described above requires an individual approach, which is why they must be considered separately.

Unpleasant and dangerous

The smell emanating from the sewer can be not only unpleasant, but also dangerous to human health.

How can it be harmful? Your attention should be paid to the fact that water with waste flows through the sewer pipes, and this, in turn, means that hydrogen sulfide will occupy the main place in the variation of odors.Slightly less noticeable, but no less unpleasant and dangerous smells of ammonia, methane, carboxylic acids, etc.

All these aromas are ways to spoil a person’s health, so it’s better not to encounter them without special need.

Where did the bad smell in the bathroom come from? Let's figure it out

So, if an unpleasant smell of sewer pipes suddenly appeared in your bathroom or toilet, you need to look for the cause without delay! A persistent smell in your bathroom can cause problems, both in the internal wiring of apartments and in the general system of the house. In the latter case, it is not the residents of the house who should correct the situation and troubleshoot, but the locksmiths of the utility organization that services your home.