Sewage smell in the bathroom or toilet? These methods will help remove it!

Each apartment has its own unique aroma, which can tell a lot about the owners. The smell of sewage in the toilet and bathroom is not the norm, and it greatly spoils the overall impression. Toxins floating in the air poison the health of residents, causing headaches and irritability.

Many people try to mask the sewer smell by using air fresheners or increasing the ventilation draft. But in this way they only eliminate the investigation. The problem is much deeper. To put an end to “wonderful aromas” once and for all, you need to understand a little about the structure of sewerage and plumbing.

The water seal is the main protection against sewer odors

A water seal, also known as a hydraulic seal or siphon, is an essential element of sewer networks. Its direct purpose is to protect premises from gases accumulating in the sewer system.

The principle of operation of the water seal is based on retaining a certain amount of water, which prevents the penetration of sewer odors.

Most often, water is held in a curved piece of tubing. This is the simplest and most reliable design.If the pipe is smooth, it does not collect hair and holds a sufficiently large volume of water.

Another thing is the bottle-type design (knee). It is with this that most often problems arise with the passage of sewer odor. When the glass gets dirty, the water quickly evaporates. And siphons for showers and bathtubs are too low and hold a small amount of liquid.

The importance of proper operation of the drain pipe

A vent pipe, or a sewer vent riser, also works as ventilation. This is a fragment of the sewer system connecting the riser and the atmosphere. It provides air flow into the system, which, in turn:

• helps remove unpleasant odors;
• promotes the transport of large volumes of water.

Without an influx of air from outside, draining liquid into the riser provokes a vacuum. As a result, the water seals of all residents of the apartment building are knocked out, and the smell of sewerage freely penetrates into the apartments.

Why does it smell like sewer?

There may be several reasons for the appearance of sewage smell in the bathroom and toilet:

• The water seal is dry. This happens if you do not use the toilet or sink for a long time. The water “plug” that protects the apartment from odors tends to evaporate.
• The water seal breaks. Most often this happens due to improper operation of the drain pipe or increased load on it. It may be clogged or completely removed by one of the residents of the house. Usually the vent pipe is cut off and a plug is installed by residents of the upper floors. They mistakenly believe that since no one lives above them, there is no need for a pipe. This way, residents free up extra space in the toilet. It’s a pity that others are paying for this with the smell of sewage.
• Hair and fur have accumulated in the siphon and pipes. Hair and fur collect dirt and soon become the cause of an unpleasant odor. In addition, a water seal cup clogged with hair will lose liquid faster. An unpleasant smell from the sewer can begin to seep out within a day.
• The seal is broken. Cracks in pipes, defects in valves and gaskets, leaks in your apartment, in your neighbors, in the basement - all this will naturally affect the atmosphere in your home.
• Errors in the installation of the sewer system. Too little slope of the pipes and a large number of unnecessary branches lead to stagnation of wastewater. There may be errors in the location of the water seal. If you place it below floor level, during the cold season the water in it will freeze and the smell of sewage will get outside.

When leaving the apartment for a long time, close the drain holes and the toilet with a lid. This will prevent the rapid evaporation of water from the water seal and, accordingly, the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

What can be done?

If you notice a foul odor in your toilet or bathroom, you don’t have to immediately call a plumber. Sometimes eliminating it is easier than it seems. What to do? We suggest you do the following:

Add water

"Just add water". Here is a simple solution to the problem. True, the advice does not always work, but only in two cases:

• The bathtub, toilet, and sink had not been used for a long time, and the water seal had dried out.
• The stench appears rarely, mainly in the evening, when all the residents of the apartment building return from work. Or the neighbors have been doing renovations for a short time.

Periodically, the load on sewer systems increases. For example, when in an apartment building water is drained simultaneously in 3 apartments.Or someone throws a bucket of liquid into the toilet. All this leads to knocking out the water seals.

There's not much you can do about it. It is unlikely that you will convince your neighbors to flush the toilet every hour, or the builders to take water with them. All that remains is to add liquid to the siphon or purchase a check valve.

Cleaning the siphon and pipes

In order for the water seal to work as it should and prevent the passage of sewer odors, it is necessary to ensure its cleanliness. Conduct an audit:

1. Turn off the water.
2. Unwind the siphon.
3. Remove hair and fur.
4. Rinse the parts under running water.
5. Replace the water seal.

If, in addition to the appearance of an odor, you notice that the water has begun to drain poorly, it makes sense to also clean the pipes. For this you will need a special cable. How to use it is shown in the video:

Place a hair catcher on your bathroom drain. Then you won't have to unwind the siphon every time. Catchers in the form of meshes and chains are very quick and easy to clean.

Checking the tightness

Each tube at the junction is equipped with a rubber seal. Over time, they crack or may move during installation. This is not necessarily accompanied by leakage. An odor coming from the sewer may also indicate a defect. Therefore, it would be a good idea to check their condition and tightness.

Less often, but it still happens that the reason for the penetration of the smell into the apartment is hidden in the loose fit of the repair plug. You need to check it and tighten it tighter. By the way, not all water seals are equipped with it.

Finally, it is worth paying attention to the correspondence of the diameter of the drain hose to the sewer itself. With a difference in size, the fetid odor will easily enter the room.To eliminate such a defect, you need to replace the drain hose with a larger diameter or insert o-rings that block the air from the sewer pipe.

Looking for a leak

If your apartment suddenly smells like sewage, and the smell persists or even intensifies, most likely there has been a break somewhere or a pipe has leaked. Try to find this place using your sense of smell. Explore the area under the bathtub and sink, behind the toilet. Move furniture if necessary. The appearance of even a small puddle under the pipe indicates that it has worn out. Replace the part yourself or call a plumber.

Also, a breakthrough may occur not at your home, but at your closest neighbors. Ask if everything is okay with them. If you live on the first floor, visit the basement. Very often, breakthroughs occur in the basement.

Solving the problem with the drain pipe

If the sewer smell persists around the clock, it’s time to talk to your neighbors in the riser. If you find a similar problem with other residents, you can safely file a complaint with the Management Company (HOA). You can also:

• Inspect the pipe outlet in the attic. Sometimes it gets littered with garbage. Remove nearby trash and the problem will go away.
• Amicably agree with the tenant of the top floor to restore the drain pipe. It is often dismantled out of stupidity, without realizing the consequences. Explain to your neighbor that he will have to restore it in any case. And if the case goes to court, you will also demand compensation for the damage caused.

There are five main reasons for the appearance of sewer smell in an apartment. To get rid of it, you need to find and fix the problem. The simplest thing that can happen is the siphon drying out and becoming clogged. In this case, it is enough to clean it and add water. If the reason is different, it would be better to call an experienced plumber. A specialist will quickly figure out whether there is a leak, whether the pipes are installed correctly, and whether the drain riser is working properly.