A common problem that many households and commercial building managers complain is a foul smell emanating from their toilet. The sewer like smell comes immediately after use, though there are reports that some toilets reek like a sewer even when it has not been used. You would think it is a hygiene issue but on the contrary, it is sewer gas escaping through your toilet from the drain line. The smell is irritating, and it can cause the whole house to smell like a sewer.
Not only is the sewer smell unpleasant, but it is also unhealthy, and it can cause diseases and upsets since it contains bacteria and methane. The smell could lead to headaches and more severe ailments, and worse still, methane is combustible, and you could be staring at an impending fire in your property. If you start noticing sewer smells coming from your toilet, you had better start mitigating the issue as soon as possible to avoid paying huge plumbing and healthcare bills. In this guide, we look at why your toilet smells like a sewer, and what to do about it.
What Is the Course of the Sewer Smell?
This is a plumbing issue primarily caused by a faulty p-trap. This is the U-shaped pipe that holds water in it to provide a seal preventing sewer gases from going up in your toilet. Let us look at the problems arising with the p-trap that could cause the sewer gas to get into your toilet.
A Leaking P-Trap
If your p-trap leaks, it will not be able to hold enough water to make a proper seal. In this case, check for any leaks by looking for a pool of water behind your toilet. The water is not only a health hazard, but it could cause mold build up on your floor.
Infrequent Use
The toilets that are hardly used, the guest toilet, for example, will cause the evaporating of the water in the p-trap. This then causes the gases to seep into your toilet and consequentially, the whole house. Make sure that you flush the toilet at least once a week, and more frequently during the warm months of the year.
Blocked Vent Pipe
One of the crucial parts of a plumbing system in the modern era is the inclusion of a vent pipe. This pipe acts as the system’s air intake to feed air into the pipes. If the toilet’s vent pipe is blocked, it will force some of the sewer fumes to backtrack into your toilet, hence the foul sewer smell.
Loose or Broken Seal
The drainpipe attaches to the toilet through two different seals. If either one or both are loose or damaged, then the sewer smell will waft through your toilet easily.
Damaged Toilet
The reason for the foul sewer smell could be due to a damaged toilet after the aggressive use of the drain snake. This causes cracks around the bolts that hold down the toilet to the floor. The sewer gas penetrates through the cracks.
Call a Professional or Do It Yourself
With the volatile economic conditions, it is always better to take on the handiwork of your home if you have the skills and the time. However, some things such as dealing with the foul smells from your toilet are better left to the professionals with years of experience, proper training as well as the right tools for the job.
Calling a professional will save you money and time, allowing you to run your program as scheduled. Besides, untrained armatures may aggravate the situation and leave you with a severely damaged toilet. Here is what to look for in a professional plumber to fix the foul sewer smell in your toilet.
License and registration
This is the most crucial factor to check for when hiring a plumber. It shows that the authorities recognize their services. Go a step further and check their bond papers in case the problem worsens.
Experience
There are different kinds of plumbers specializing in the installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing systems in various rooms in a home or commercial building. Ask them about their experience in handling bathroom and toilet plumbing as well as whether they have dealt with such a problem in the past.
Customer Testimonials
The best plumbers to call and handle the foul sewer smell emanating from your toilet, are those within your locality. Ask friends, family, and colleagues to recommend a plumber they have used in the past. This way, you will get a chance to ask about the quality of services of the various toilet and bathroom plumbers.
Do They Have a Working Website?
One of the requirements when doing business in the modern age is that companies and experts must have a website. It provides insight on how professional they are as well as the scope of the services they offer.
In conclusion, do not wallow in problems, when you could have it fixed in a few minutes or hours. Get in touch with a plumber at a time of your convenience to fix the foul smell.
