Sewer smell in the toilet, what are the reasons and how to eliminate it

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An unpleasant odor can appear in any room where there is a sewer system. As a rule, such problems occur in toilets, less often in kitchens and bathrooms. In order to eliminate the smell of sewage from the toilet, apartment residents liberally use cleaning chemicals, air fresheners and other achievements of civilization. But they are only able to mask the sewer “aroma” for a short time, without eliminating its cause. Let's figure out what to actually do about such a problem. What means to use, how to remove the stench without problems in a private toilet?

How to deal with bathroom odor

Once the cause of the stench has been established, measures can be taken to eliminate it.
If we are talking about an apartment building and the problems, for example, a blockage, are in the general building drainage system, then it is necessary to involve employees from the management organization. If faults are localized inside an apartment or in a private house, you need to remove them yourself or with the help of hired specialists.

If it is discovered that the sewer system was installed with violations, then it will be necessary to completely redo it or make changes to some areas. To do this, it is better to call an experienced plumber.
Leaks often occur at joints. The pipelines must be disconnected and reconnected and sealed. If the leak occurs due to a violation of the integrity of the pipe, then it is necessary to seal the crack and subsequently replace the damaged area.
The accumulation of condensate on the pipe due to temperature differences is prevented by insulation.
The operation of the siphon can be restored in various ways, the choice of which depends on the cause. This could be clearing a blockage, eliminating sagging corrugations using clamps, pouring hot water into a pipe to defrost ice, or restoring the permeability of a ventilation pipe.
Air ventilation cleaning is carried out by a specialist. If movement is free, but moisture removal is not enough, then you can install a grille with a fan that removes air forcibly.
When the stench comes from the washing machine, it is necessary to run a dry wash in the boiling mode with detergent. After this, thoroughly wipe the drum and cuff. Another measure is to clean the drain pump and hose.
Blockages in sewer pipelines are eliminated using special means and cables. There are even electric pipe cleaners used by professionals.

The main causes of stench in the bathroom are blockages and leaks in pipes, as well as problems with sewer ventilation and siphons.

You can troubleshoot problems yourself or with the help of specialists. But prevention, which includes several measures, is much more effective.

When installing sewerage, it is necessary to avoid a large number of joints and turns and place them in accessible places

It is important to use pipelines and fittings of the correct diameter, high quality and observe the installation slope

Do not throw construction waste, rags or other waste into the sewer that will cause pollution. It is worth regularly cleaning the siphon and sewer pipes. It is recommended to install grease traps after kitchen sinks and dishwashers. If the pipeline runs in places where there is a temperature difference, then it needs to be insulated. Entrust the installation of the entire sewer network to professionals. If you have to leave your home for a long time, it is recommended to pour a little vegetable oil into the siphons, which will prevent the evaporation of the liquid.

Following these simple rules will help prevent the occurrence of odor.

Leaks

Leaks can be hidden or obvious.

If a puddle or wet place appears under the pipe, this indicates a depressurization of the pipe.

But it happens that pipes are hidden behind furniture, plumbing fixtures or hidden in boxes. Using a flashlight and a dry rag you can identify the leak. Even if the pipes are in a box, the inspection should be done through the inspection window.

If there is a leak, the damaged area is replaced.

To minimize the occurrence of leaks, you should

Inspect the system regularly

When installing, minimize the number of turns and connections

Keep joints in the free access area as much as possible.

Install the main line from quality products.

Select the diameter of sewer pipes in accordance with SNiP

Following simple rules will help reduce the risk of leaks.

Water seal failure

When figuring out why the toilet smells, we cannot forget about the most unpleasant possibility for us. It is unpleasant primarily because its cause is outside our apartment. Therefore, there will be long and unpleasant communication with neighbors and utility services.

Cause

What happens when the toilet flush button is pressed on your riser in one of the apartments?

A stream of water and various unappetizing substances rushes down. In this case, the flow blocks the entire cross-section of the riser or most of it.

As a result, a front of increased air pressure is driven down the riser in front of it, and a vacuum is created immediately behind it.

Under normal conditions, excess air is forced into the basement and then through the sewer drain (horizontal pipes) into the well. Of course, if the sewerage system is laid correctly, without counter-slopes, and is not clogged.

From above, air is sucked from the roof through a riser that opens above the roof level into the atmosphere - the so-called fan pipe.

Now let’s imagine that the sewer system below is filled with water due to improper installation or blockage, and the neighbors above, during the repair process, dismantled the leading riser, in their opinion, to nothing.

Alternatively, it was simply clogged with snow in the harsh winter.

Air from the area of high pressure will be partially displaced into one or more apartments through the riser directly through the water seals. A loud gurgle will replace the persistent aroma of sewerage.
In the area of low pressure, water seals from the upper part of the riser, on the contrary, will be sucked in. As a result, until the siphons are refilled, the sewage system will open directly into the toilet and bathroom.

The greater the height of the water seal, the less likely the events described are. This is why odors often appear after replacing a toilet.

Solution

How to remove unpleasant odors in this case?

Strictly speaking, these problems are within the competence of housing offices. You pay for their solution by monthly paying money for utilities to the cash register.

However, you can try to fight on your own.

If your basement drain is clogged, the most obvious way to solve the problem is to unclog it. We will refrain from describing the details; cleaning methods themselves deserve a separate article.
With a counterslope, a temporary solution is to make a simple inspection device (cleaning out the riser in the basement). A steel plate is cut to the size of its lid, onto which a pipe is welded at an upward angle. As a result, air will escape, but drains will not flow onto the floor.

If you have a plastic riser and the same revision, remaking it will be even easier.
In winter, go up to the roof and find your riser. The easiest way to navigate is by the entrances. Is it overgrown with snow and ice? Just pour a bucket of hot water on top of it. In order not to repeat the procedure constantly, wrap it outside with foam rubber or rags.

The main cause of sewer smell in winter.

We will leave the inspection of the neighbors' riser on the top floor at your discretion. In the author’s humble opinion, housing developers should definitely be doing this.

And also: soda and spices

It is also worth keeping in mind that many of the spices that everyone has in their home can perfectly cover up odors. To be convinced of this, just open the shelf in the kitchen where these very spices are stored. In addition, baking soda perfectly neutralizes odors. All this can also be used as an air freshener. True, unlike the methods given above, both soda and most spices will clean the air for about an hour, even in such a small room as a toilet.

If you want to learn even more interesting things, then you should definitely read about 8 useful habits of housewives whose home is in perfect order.

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Improper installation of the sewer system

If the sewer pipes are initially installed incorrectly, then unpleasant odors will not take long to appear. To get rid of them, you will have to install a new pipe, which will cause homeowners to suffer great inconvenience and financial costs. But the situation will be even worse when it turns out that the cause of the smell is the incorrect slope of the pipes, which does not comply with established standards. Therefore, everything that is flushed from the toilet does not move through the pipes as it should, but gets stuck in the sewer system, causing an unbearable sewer smell in the toilet. The only way out of this situation is to completely reinstall the pipes.

It also happens that the pipes are not tightly connected to each other. Dealing with this problem is much easier than with the previous two: sealing collars are installed on the joints of plastic pipes, and in the case of cast iron pipes, the joints need to be minted again.

It is not recommended to independently troubleshoot problems due to poor installation of the sewerage system, since only a plumber who knows his job can successfully handle such complex work. Moreover, this is fraught with new negative consequences, where the unbearable smell may seem like “flowers” compared to possible “berries”.

When installing sewer pipes, pay attention to the degree of slope

Malfunctions in the functioning of the water seal

An unpleasant odor may also occur due to problems with the siphon or water seal. The device is a curved pipe that is filled with water. It is located under the plumbing fixture. The liquid in the siphon prevents the two spheres of gas from mixing, so the smell from the toilet does not penetrate outside. But if the device malfunctions, air flows out of the drain pipes without any obstacles.

Recommended reading: Drawing up a sewer flushing report

The functioning of the siphon may be impaired for the following reasons:

due to increased pressure in the pipes located behind the water seal (then, along with the smell, liquid with bubbles will appear in the toilet);
due to the fullness of the entire space of the drain pipe, due to which its contents will fall into the siphon and cause an unpleasant odor.

If the drain becomes clogged. the siphon will fill with wastewater. In this case, the only way that can help is to clean the pipeline itself with a cable specially designed for this purpose.

When pipes pass through cooled areas, icing and blockages can occur in these areas during the winter. Then several buckets of hot water poured into the toilet can help so that it melts the ice and the waste liquid can pass freely, and with it, the smell disappears.

It happens less often that the siphon fills up because the diameter of the pipes is so small that the waste liquid cannot pass any further. Then homeowners only have to replace the pipes.

A clogged water seal also causes odor to leak from the toilet. Fats, debris and hair settle there, breeding bacteria and spreading stench. This reason, which does not require special skills, can be eliminated independently. For this purpose, a special device is made, the so-called “doll”: a bag is sewn from thick fabric that can fit into the toilet, filled with sand and tied tightly with a rope at the top. The finished “doll” is held by a rope, lowered into the toilet and water is poured into it several times. It is advisable for the doll to go as far into the depths of the toilet as possible. Using water pressure, it will clean the siphon well. At the end it is simply pulled out with a rope and thrown away. The water seal is now clean.

Another reason why your toilet smells like sewer is if the toilet has not been used for a long period of time. In this case, the water in the siphon dries up and the blockage of air from the sewerage system is canceled, as a result of which a stench appears in the apartment.

Checking the water seal in the sewer

Pipe leaks

If the pipes start to leak, this can also cause an unpleasant odor. Sometimes it can be very difficult to notice this, since traces of leakage are practically invisible. To ensure a quality inspection, all pipes are checked using a flashlight.

Particular attention should be paid to their joints. To prevent this problem from occurring:

install only high quality pipes in your apartment; waterproof the toilet; when installing the pipeline, pay attention to the number of joints: there should be as few as possible; It is not recommended to install communications in hard-to-reach places.

Bay leaf

Finally, the most effective and proven method was and remains the good old bay leaf. For the average toilet, you don’t even need to burn a whole leaf; half is enough. This product covers up all other “flavors” so well. Simply smoke the leaf indoors or set it on fire and place it on a plate. The result will be noticeable in just a few minutes.

Why does the toilet smell like sewer, how to get rid of the smell

Engineering systems such as sewerage have existed for centuries. At first they were gutters filled with waste, and then they turned into almost sealed systems, as in the photo, which do not cause their owners much trouble. But periodically, wastewater treatment structures become faulty. Therefore, sometimes situations arise in which you have to wonder why the toilet smells like sewage. In this case, it is necessary to determine the cause of the odor and eliminate the breakdown.

Matches

Unfortunately, many citizens in the vast expanses of our fatherland smoke. No, overpowering obscene odors with the “aroma” of cigarettes is not a good idea when there is more than one person living in the house. However, such comrades probably have matches in their house. So, a few burnt matches will perfectly eliminate unnecessary odors, even very strong ones. Of course, there will be a burning smell in the toilet, but in most cases it is much more pleasant than what may remain after a person relieves himself. You will have to cut down about 5 matches.

Smell from the sewer in the apartment - we inspect and eliminate it

The smell of sewage in an apartment appears for various reasons. Sometimes it occurs due to long-term use of plumbing, or the reasons may be more global in nature. What happened in your case, let's figure it out together.

Often, the smell of sewerage in an apartment becomes a problem for the entire house and arises from the residents’ ignorance of the rules for operating drainage systems. The first reason is the water seal being pushed out. This problem occurs when three local drainage systems in a toilet are drained simultaneously. In this case, the amount of air sucked from the ventilation system is not enough to ensure the free fall of water in the riser. Therefore, a weak water seal is pushed out, which leads to the destruction of water plugs and the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the pipes.

In practice this rarely happens. But a one-time drain of a large amount of liquid (15–20 liters) after washing floors or carrying out repairs is a frequent occurrence. Therefore, we recommend draining the water in portions. This problem poses a great threat to residents of the lower floors; for them, a volley discharge leads not only to disruption of the water seal, but also to compression of the water inside the riser, and as a result, a geyser is formed and the pipe breaks.

Problems with the water seal often lead to odor.

With the onset of winter, problems with pipes become a headache for many. The reason for this is the narrowing of the pipes due to frost and icing of the ventilation system of the riser. All this leads to a decrease in the clearance of the pipes, disruption of the water seal, blockages and the spread of odor from the sewer. There is a solution. Clean the common outlet from the riser from ice, scald the drainage system with boiling water.

The hidden problem of unpleasant odor in the sewer system, which you may not even be aware of, is often caused by neighbors on the top floor. They cut off part of the common riser, install a plug or make a narrowing, installing a drainage system that is 2 times smaller instead of a standard pipe. Such manipulations simplify repairs, but do not make life easier for others. As a result, it is obvious why the bathroom smells like sewer. Complete or insufficient ventilation leads to the already familiar problem with the water seal and the appearance of odors.

Instead of a plug, we recommend installing a vacuum valve on the pipe. This device allows air to flow freely inside the riser, but not to escape out, preventing the water seal from breaking.

Sewerage in the basement

The presence of an unpleasant odor on the lower floors is a sign of a faulty sewer system in the basement. As a rule, the pipes become clogged and damaged, which leads to wastewater leakage and the spread of “odors” into the residents’ apartments. In such cases, you cannot do without the help of utility services. Call the experts and ask them to fix the problem, because, in addition to the unpleasant odor, malfunctions and leaks of central sewerage systems can lead to dampness, erosion of the foundation and its destruction. Upon completion of the repair work, you should thoroughly ventilate the basement to get rid of excess moisture.

Improper installation of sewer pipes

It happens that a strong sewer smell appears in the toilet or bathroom almost immediately after moving into a new apartment or house. In this case, the cause of the stench must be sought in an improperly installed sewage system. Today, there are specific standards for laying sewer pipes that must be observed during installation. If there is a breakdown in the sewer, you will have to re-install the pipeline, which will entail considerable costs.

Often an unpleasant odor in the bathroom appears due to improper connection of sewer pipes. If accepted installation standards are violated, the system will not be able to operate properly.

The stagnation of wastewater and the appearance of a persistent fetid odor is caused by improper placement of sewer pipes, or more precisely, by failure to maintain the optimal angle of inclination.

The error can only be corrected by dismantling the system and installing sewer pipes at the correct slope. If plastic elements are used, it is necessary to repair pipe connections that are not tightly tightened. It is enough to install sealing cuffs or change gaskets.

Nowadays, home owners prefer to construct buildings themselves. In this case, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to entrust the development of a utility network project and the installation of a sewer system and plumbing equipment to specialists.

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

This problem is typical for apartments on the upper floors: one day, a persistent sewer smell appears in the bathroom and kitchen.

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

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

Sewer vents on a flat roof

Inside the riser, due to the relatively high temperature of the wastewater, a draft arises that transports moist vapors and odors outside the house. In winter, evaporation gradually freezes onto the inner wall of a 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 will not go away. 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 the siphons of plumbing fixtures.

Now let’s imagine a volley discharge of wastewater (in other words, the simultaneous discharge of two toilet tanks or a pair of bathtubs) provided that all connections of the devices to the sewerage system are sealed and the riser is not ventilated.

The flow of water filling it rushes down the riser;
An area of high pressure is formed at the flow front. At the time of draining, many residents notice the appearance of air bubbles in the sink or bathtub;
After the flow passes, a vacuum arises in the riser, sucking water out of the hydraulic valves of washbasins and sinks. After the water seals stop functioning, fumes and odors begin to flow uncontrollably into the apartment - until the moment when the siphon is refilled with water drained into the sink.

Hydraulic seals prevent air from entering the apartment from the sewer system

Mechanism for breaking water seals

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

Elimination

How to get rid of aromas that are unusual for your apartment:

Ensure that all sewer connections are tight. To connect plumbing priors, rubber cuffs and adapters are used. As a last resort, the connection can be sealed with microporous rubber or any foam insulation;

All sewer connections must be sealed

If odors appear during the cold season, go up to the roof and pour a bucket of hot water into the frozen riser. Re-freezing of the snow cap can be prevented by insulating the riser from the outside;
The missing ventilation outlet of a riser on the roof can be replaced by a so-called vacuum valve - a simple device that sucks in air when the pressure inside the sewer riser drops.

A vacuum valve is installed instead of the ventilation outlet of the riser on the roof

Vacuum valve device

Ventilation problems

Ventilation problems A musty smell in the toilet combined with the stench of the sewer system are signs of a malfunction in the ventilation system. Insufficient ventilation of the bathroom can also lead to health problems and mold on surfaces of the room with high humidity.

You can find out if there is a problem with the ventilation using a simple test: you need to attach a sheet of paper to the ventilation grille. During normal operation of the system, the sheet will be held on the grid, even if you remove your hand. If the paper falls, the traction force is not enough.

You can increase the air exchange rate by organizing forced ventilation. To do this, you will need a built-in household fan, which can be purchased at a hardware store. It is mounted inside the ventilation duct.

Another option is a blocked channel. If the ventilation is clogged in that part of the system that is located directly at the exit to the apartment, you can clean it yourself. But if the riser is blocked, you will have to call specialists who will carry out work to clean it. Doing this yourself in an apartment building is problematic: work must be carried out from the roof.

Fire

As you can already understand, smoke and fire are your best friends in the fight against toilet aromas. However, if you burn 5 matches for each trip, then you won’t have enough boxes. It’s much better to just burn a piece of newspaper or paper in the toilet. The method, frankly speaking, is not the safest. Therefore, you should think about how to protect your home from the possibility of fire. It is best to burn the paper in a small bowl or plate.

Sewage smell in the bathroom

Incorrectly installed sewer system

The smell may appear due to improper installation of pipes. To avoid odor, be sure to check that all pipes are connected correctly and that all connections are tight enough

It is very important. If the installation of pipes was carried out a long time ago, you need to change the gaskets and select a sealing collar for the pipes

To prevent unpleasant odors, you should regularly flush the pipes in the bathroom.

Washing machine

An odor may appear if the washing machine was installed incorrectly. If the drain hose is installed incorrectly, it will become a source of unpleasant sewer odor. To correct the situation, it is better to route the drain hose not into the sewer, but into the toilet or sink. Also, the smell is inevitable when the washing machine drain pump filter is clogged. Look in the powder compartment.

If you do not pay attention to cleaning the machine, over time, plaque and mold appear in the washing powder tray, which contributes to the development of microbes and an unpleasant odor. It is enough to periodically clean the machine using special or homemade products and set the temperature to high to get rid of the fungus

Pipe burst

In an apartment, a pipe may burst due to joints that are not treated with sealant. An obvious and invisible pipe leak in the central distribution will provoke the leakage of gases and moisture into the room. In older houses, the problem of unpleasant sewer odors is more noticeable. Especially on the lower floors of multi-story buildings.

If there is a problem with the pipes in the basement distribution, you need to contact the housing office, since the situation is considered an emergency, and the pipes should have been changed long ago. You need to act immediately, as a leak poisons the air and promotes the proliferation of microbes. A pipe break in an apartment is usually noticeable. Especially if it is an old apartment with old wiring. Cracks and fistulas appear in cast iron pipes.

Ventilation problems

A lot depends on the ventilation of the premises. If it is not functioning properly, an unpleasant odor is inevitable. You can check whether the ventilation in your home is working well by placing a sheet of paper against the ventilation hole. If the paper does not stick to the wall, the ventilation is faulty. You can improve air circulation by installing an additional fan in the hole. If there is such a fan and the smell does not disappear, then you need to call specialists who will clear the blockages in the ventilation ducts.

Poor quality plumbing

Cheap plumbing elements are made from not the highest quality materials, and therefore wear out quite quickly. If you ignore a leaking faucet in the kitchen or bathroom for too long, it will eventually begin to rot, so you should at least change the gaskets regularly to keep your faucets clean. An unpleasant odor in the bathroom may appear due to stagnation of water in the toilet cistern. Therefore, it is recommended to clean your plumbing fixtures with disinfectants to prevent foul-smelling deposits.

Faulty siphon

The siphon should be located 23 cm below the water level in the water seal. A clogged siphon can also cause an unpleasant odor. To prevent the appearance of stench, it is enough to install the siphon correctly and keep it clean. From time to time it would be good to clean the corrugation and siphon from contamination with a disinfectant.

Drying out and failure of the water seal

The water level in the water seal is very important. If there is not enough water, the smell is released and the water seal cannot neutralize it. This situation can arise if the pressure in the sewer system increases sharply. For example, if you pour a bucket of water into the toilet after washing the floor. A large volume of liquid can cause the water seal to fail and gases to escape.

Neighbors upstairs

Residents of the upper floors can cut off the wide ventilation pipe during repairs and replace it with a thinner one. This will disrupt the operation of the ventilation system in the entire multi-story building. If you cannot reach an agreement with your neighbors, you will have to call the housing office workers. The width of the pipes is prescribed in regulatory documents and cannot be changed, because a wide pipe in a small bathroom hurts someone’s eyes.

It is necessary to take into account that the ventilation goes outside, and if it accidentally becomes clogged or frozen in cold weather from above in the attic or on the roof, this will cause an unpleasant odor in the home. Any problems can be solved, but to do this you need to find out in time what is causing the unpleasant odor. Have you encountered such a problem?