Why does my bathroom smell funky? Every time I enter the space, there is a bad, almost imperceptible odor in the air. I have washed my entire bathroom, scrubbed the toilet bowl, poured bleach and water into the shower and sink drains, yet the smell refuses to go away.
Could someone please explain what’s going on here?
Alright, here is the lowdown.
As distressing as sewer odors in your bathroom may be, it is a fairly common problem in homes, says TRI Property Management experts. Apart from the obvious discomfort to your family and the risk of feeling embarrassed if a visitor had to use the bathroom, this problem is not a big deal. Unless, of course…
The problem is so bad that sewer odors are wafting through your home. In that situation, you may have a brewing sewer line emergency, and you should call a plumber at once. Problems like that, if not dealt with promptly, often result in sewer backups in your home.
No need to panic if this is not happening in your house. Back to our subject, if your bathroom smells like sewage, there are five possible reasons. Below, we explain each of them, with the telltale signs of their presence and the steps to solve them.
5 causes of sewer odors in your bathroom
- Dry P-Trap
A P-Trap is a U-shaped pipe found underneath sinks and most drains in your home. It seals the drainpipe by trapping water inside its U-shaped bend, creating a barrier between the two sections of the drainpipe on either side of the bend. This keeps sewer gases from entering your home.
However, sometimes the water inside the P-Trap will dry out, leaving the way open for sewer gases to invade your home. Other times, the P-Trap may leak or become clogged with debris, which will also compromise its ability to keep sewer gases out of your home.
If a toilet or sink in your home is infrequently used, you may want to inspect the P-Trap.
- Bacterial growth inside your drains
Bacterial growth in drainpipes can cause sewer odors in your bathroom, especially if it is a form of bacteria known as Biofilm. Biofilm is a black slime found in most drains. It does not cause major problems unless there is more organic matter and moisture trapped inside the pipes.
In order for Biofilm to flourish within a drainpipe, it needs significant deposits of hair, soap scum, other debris, sluggish water flow due to clogs, and the right temperature. If there are no strainers or plugs installed in drains to catch hair and soap scum, you may have Biofilm in your pipes.
To get rid of Biofilm, call a professional plumber to clean your pipes by hydrojetting them.
- A broken toilet seal
Wax rings are found beneath the toilet seat. They seal the point where the toilet connects to your sewer line. This ensures that sewer gases and water do not escape from the toilet drain into your home. If the wax ring is broken, you will smell sewer odors inside your bathroom.
If the toilet’s wax seal is broken, in addition to the sewage odors in your home, you may see signs of water leakage at the base of your toilet. It is also possible that the toilet seat will become slightly shaky. Fixing this problem is as simple as replacing the wax ring.
Because this process entails removing your toilet, it is best handled by a professional.
- Blocked or damaged vent pipes
Vent pipes help to balance air pressure inside your drainpipes. They ensure smooth flow of wastewater through the drainpipes and sewer lines by providing a way for toxic sewer gases to escape from your drainage system to the outdoors without entering your home.
If your vent pipes are blocked, trapped sewer gases will find their way out of the system through the drain openings in your home (toilet, shower, and sink drains). Blocked vents may cause gurgling sounds in your drains and also prevent your toilet from flushing completely.
To check for this problem, a professional plumber can climb your roof to inspect the vents.
- Clogged or broken drainpipes and sewer lines
Severe sewer and drain line blockages can cause sewage odors in your home. Typically, if this is the root of the problem, the smell of sewer gases will also be present outside your home. Cracks and major leaks in your sewer line may also cause sewer gas odors in your home.
To know if sewer line clogs are the reason for the issues in your home, have a professional plumber inspect your sewer line using a technique known as sewer camera inspection. If the sewer line is indeed blocked, you can remove the debris by hydro jetting the sewer line.
Were you able to find the cause of the sewer odors in your bathroom from these five potential causes? If not, there is still hope. Call us today, and we will send one of our experts to thoroughly inspect your plumbing to find the hidden cause of your plumbing problems.