The smell of sewage in the bathroom: what are the reasons and how to eliminate

Take a scented bath or an invigorating shower, put yourself in order in the morning or relax before going to bed - the person begins his day with the bathroom and ends with it. The bathroom as a zone of comfort, hygiene and beauty must perfectly match its purpose. Cleanliness and order play a crucial role here, and the appearance of an unpleasant odor can ruin everything. Let's try to figure out why the bathroom smells of sewage and how to eliminate this smell.

There may be several reasons, from local clogging of the pipe to malfunctions in the general sewer system of an apartment building. The main thing is not to try to mask the problem with air fresheners, but to make a decision to get rid of it radically.

Malfunctions in a common sewage system

Problems in the sewer layout of the house can cause an unpleasant smell not only in the bathroom, but throughout the apartment, as well as in the entrance. In this case, solving the problem on their own will not work. A municipal organization or other management company is responsible for the central sewage system. Therefore, your actions are limited to the following:

1. Leave a request to the responsible organization to identify and resolve the problem.
2. Wait for its execution and check the result.

Problems with sewage in the apartment

The cause of an unpleasant smell in the bathroom may be the incorrect connection of the sewer wiring to the central node. Sewerage, as a pressureless system, functions due to the inclination of the pipes. And if at the stage of construction of the house mistakes were made during the installation of the wiring, the following problems may appear:

• failure of the water lock in the siphons of sinks, showers or bathtubs, preventing the spread of odor from the sewer;
• breakthrough or leakage of pipes.

Important! Only the correct angle of inclination of the sewer pipes will ensure the normal operation of the sewage system in the apartment. For pipes with a diameter of 50 mm, the minimum slope is 0.025, normal - 0.035. For pipes with a diameter of 110 mm, the minimum slope is 0.012, normal - 0.02. The slope is calculated in centimeters per linear meter of pipe.

How to solve the issue

Unfortunately, in this case, it will not work to get rid of the problem by small means. You can temporarily remove odor by replacing the water seal or sealing the breakout site. But sooner or later it will be necessary to radically solve the problem. In this case, efforts and means are evaluated at the level of overhaul: you will have to tear down part of the tile and reinstall the sewer.

Problems with siphon (water seal)

All sinks, showers, bathtubs and toilets are equipped with a siphon. It works on the principle of a water lock - a water plug, which serves as a barrier to the penetration of odor from the sewer. If the siphon fails, a sewer odor may appear in the bathroom.

Causes of siphon malfunction and solutions

Incorrect installation

If the nozzle in the siphon of the sink or bath is installed higher than necessary, this may cause that the smell from the sewer will go over the water trap and through the hole in the sink penetrate the room. It is necessary to position the pipe 2-3 cm below the water level so that the water seal can perform its task.

Lack of water in the siphon

This situation can occur after prolonged non-use of the sink or bath. It is enough to let running water run for a few minutes and the siphon will fill up. And if you plan to leave for a long time, you can pour grams of 100-200 vegetable oil into the drain hole of the sink. The oily film will not allow the water to evaporate, and the bathroom will not smell bad.

Siphon clogging

In order to prevent odors from the drain hole, it is necessary to periodically disassemble and clean the siphon.

The following available remedies are suitable as a prevention of blockages:

• 4 tablespoons of soda to fill in the drain and pour a glass of hot water;
• soda, poured into the sink sink, pour half a glass of vinegar. Close the drain hole with a stopper so that the resulting foam actively works inside;
• ½ cup salt dissolved in ½ cup hot water and pour into the drain. Wait 10 minutes and clean with a plunger.

Tip: it’s not recommended to abuse specialized means to eliminate blockages, as the aggressive chemicals they contain corrode the rubber seals on pipe joints.

Disruption of the water seal

A water trap can be torn off due to a large slope of the sewer pipes, their diameter too small, freezing, or foreign objects getting into the fan pipe (ventilation riser). What to do:

• Install a siphon with a vent valve. The valve opens when the water is drained, and additional air enters the system.
• Clean the fan pipe. A blockage in the ventilation drain makes air communication in the sewer system impossible, and an outlet for unpleasant odors is the discharge of your sink or bath. Community workers should identify the cause of the clogged pipe and eliminate it as soon as possible.

Siphon defect

Any chipping or layering can cause the siphon to malfunction. Before buying, you need to check the siphon for defects.

Tip: when choosing a new siphon, give preference to a more complex device with an angular design that can hold a water shutter better than a simple design in the form of a curved pipe.

Sewer leaks or poor pipe tightness

The cause of the disgusting smell may be a pipe leak due to improper sewer wiring, chips or pipe wear.

What to do if the pipe is plastic:

Find a leak: inspect the joints and pipe along the entire length.

If leaking at the junction:

• clean the joint from dirt and cement;
• to dry;
• wrap with special winding;
• grease with sealant;
• Do not use sewers for several hours.

If the leak is located along the length of the pipe, the best solution is to replace it. In the case of a plastic pipe, this is quick and inexpensive, and compromises in the form of clamps and gaskets are a temporary solution.

A small hole in the cast-iron pipe can be sealed with an aluminum clamp and a piece of rubber. If the damage is serious, replace the pipe section.

Tip: if no leaks are found, for complete certainty and to eliminate this reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor, it makes sense to reseal all joints of sewer pipes. To do this, replace the rubber seals and treat the joints with sanitary silicone.

Inadequate bathroom ventilation

Poor ventilation is the cause of condensation on pipes, mold and an unpleasant odor. The bathroom must be equipped with a forced ventilation hole. Decorative openings at the bottom of the bathroom door will serve as an additional source of air and also help get rid of moisture. Significantly improve air circulation throughout the apartment will allow windows with micro-ventilation. High humidity will be compensated and no unpleasant odor will occur.

From time to time it is necessary to check the suction draft of the ventilation hole with the attached sheet of paper: if the draft is good, the sheet is held on a grate. Otherwise, feel free to contact the Housing Office with a request to check the ventilation.

findings

Whatever the reasons for the occurrence of a sewer smell in the bathroom, you can still give general tips:

• always opt for quality materials and plumbing;
• when repairing, use the services of professionals, with independent work - competent instructions;
• take preventative measures;
• Do not make a temporary fix to a permanent fix.