Hidden Causes Of A Smelly Bathroom

If you find yourself holding your nose every time you walk into the bathroom, don't think you're not doing a good job cleaning. The reason for the foul odors could be something much harder to detect, like a plumbing issue. If you've been dealing with a stench you can't fix, learn about some of these common plumbing concerns so that you can make the right repairs. 

Dry P-Trap

The U-shaped pipe you see underneath the bathroom sink is known as the P-Trap, which helps keep the odorous gases within the drain line from traveling out the drain. However, the drain can only perform this task when there is a small amount of water resting in the P-trap. When you don't use the sink regularly, the water evaporates, which in turn allows the gas to escape. If the smell is coming from the sink, see if using the sink more often will reverse the problem. 

Clogged Toilet

People often think that when there is a clog in the toilet, the water will back up. Yet, it's possible to have a small clog that still allows some water and waste products to pass through. If the clog is due to a small buildup of waste, it should be no surprise that the issue will lead to odors. While toilets can often self-correct a minor clog, this is not always the case, so it's a good idea to contact a plumber. 

Poorly Installed Vent Pipe

If you put your DIY hat on to correct a vent pipe in your toilet and now you detect a foul odor, it's highly likely that you did not install the vent pipe correctly. The goal of the vent pipe is to ensure that the sewer gas from the toilet is vented outside your home. However, if the vent was not installed precisely, some of the gas can instead seep into the bathroom. Have a plumbing professional correct the placement of the pipe. 

Damaged Wax Seal

As a toilet ages, so does its wax seal, and there is little you can do to stop the process. As it wears, it begins to loosen, which in turn allows the sewer gases to escape into the bathroom and create a bad odor. In addition to a bad smell, a sign of a loose wax ring is a toilet that rocks whenever you sit down on it. Just as with the vent pipe, it's best to let a plumber repair this for you.

Don't avoid using your bathroom. Instead, contact a plumbing professional who can get to the bottom of the issue and help you freshen the space up. Reach out to companies like Doctor Drips for more information.


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