Few people can tolerate the persistent unpleasant smells in a bathroom, especially the pungent odors of sewage, urine, or even rotten eggs. While bathroom smells may seem like a common issue, this does not mean you should simply tolerate it. If you have tried cleaning your toilet but still cannot get rid of the smell, the problem may be more complex than it seems. Often, this indicates that your toilet may have the following issues:
- P-trap Failure
- Pipe Clogs
- Inadequate Flushing
- Bacterial Accumulation
- Ventilation Issues
- Damaged Seals
In this article, Giving Tree Home will take you through the root causes of these common problems and how to solve them with the right approach. Let’s dive in!
P-Trap Failure
Many people may not be familiar with the P-trap, but it is a crucial component of any plumbing system in your home. This “unsung hero” silently ensures your bathroom air stays fresh.
The P-trap is a pipe shaped like the letter “P” that retains a small amount of water at the bottom. This water barrier is designed to block the return of foul-smelling sewer gases into your bathroom, keeping the air fresh.
However, the P-trap is not foolproof. Over time, if it is not used regularly, the water in the trap can evaporate, causing it to lose its odor-blocking function. In more severe cases, the pipe may crack and fail to retain water, rendering it useless.
Solution:
- If the water has evaporated: Simply flush the toilet several times to restore the water barrier in the P-trap.
- If the pipe is cracked: Do not attempt to fix it yourself if you lack professional plumbing knowledge. The best course of action is to contact a professional plumber for inspection and repair.
Pipe Clogs
Some homeowners may view the toilet as an “everything-eating” abyss, discarding all sorts of items into it and flushing them away. However, this is a bad practice. Once a pipe is clogged, not only will drainage be slow, but it will also cause smells.
Solution:
If your toilet is clogged, you can use a plunger to clear the blockage. Here are the simple steps:
- Position the plunger head tightly against the drain hole.
- Apply downward pressure to expel the air.
- Quickly pull the plunger upward, utilizing atmospheric pressure to help clear the pipe. Repeat this process several times to usually restore the flow.
Prevention:
To avoid future blockages, only dispose of toilet paper in the toilet. Items like wet wipes, food, or other debris should go in the trash. This will not only protect the pipes but also reduce the risk of smells and save you from unnecessary hassle.
Inadequate Flushing
A toilet requires an adequate amount of water to effectively flush waste. If the flushing is inadequate, the remaining waste will contribute to the persistent urine smell in the toilet. The internationally recognized standard for toilet flushing is between 0.8 and 1.68 gallons. Therefore, when purchasing a toilet, make sure it meets this standard. However, even if your toilet meets the standard, inadequate water flow from the tank can still lead to poor flushing, which is typically caused by a low water level in the tank.
Solution:
Lift the tank lid and check the water level marker inside to ensure the tank has enough water for a proper flush. If the water is insufficient, you can try the following:
- Find the float mechanism inside the tank (typically a float ball or float cup).
- For a traditional float ball, gently adjust the float arm upward to allow more water into the tank.
- For a float cup valve, locate the adjustment screw at the top of the fill valve, and rotate it clockwise to raise the float and increase the water level.
Bacterial Accumulation
The toilet is a breeding ground for bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium difficile. Every flush generates millions of tiny water droplets (aerosols) that carry bacteria, which can spread around the toilet and, over time, multiply, causing foul smells.
Solution:
If your toilet is very dirty and has accumulated rough urine scale, a thorough cleaning may be necessary:
- Prepare a disinfectant by mixing 1 part bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) with 99 parts cold tap water.
- Empty the tank and pour the disinfectant into the tank’s overflow tube, letting it sit for 30 minutes to disinfect.
- Use a scrubbing pad to clean the inside of the tank, then flush to empty the tank.
- For the toilet bowl, use a toilet brush and toilet cleaner, focusing on rough or dirty areas where bacteria are likely to thrive.
- Regularly clean the toilet bowl with an antibacterial cleaner to prevent bacterial buildup and reduce the smell.
Ventilation Issues
The toilet’s drainage system usually relies on a vent pipe that runs through the roof. This pipe ventilates the drainage system, expels sewer gases, and allows air to enter the system to ensure wastewater flows smoothly into the main sewer line. However, if this vent pipe becomes blocked or poorly designed, the gases cannot escape, potentially causing smells to spread.
Solution:
Check the vent pipe design to ensure it slopes downward appropriately to prevent liquid or solid waste from accumulating. If a blockage exists, it’s advisable to hire a professional plumber to thoroughly clean or replace the pipe to restore functionality.
Damaged Seals
The seal at the bottom of the toilet serves not only to secure the toilet in place but also prevents sewage gases from leaking, stops urine and waste from seeping into cracks, and prevents bacterial growth in these hidden areas. If the seal becomes loose or damaged, sewage gases may leak through cracks, causing unpleasant smells in the toilet.
Solution:
Lightly rock the toilet to see if it wobbles. If it does, the seal may be loose, and you may need to replace it. If no wobble is detected but cracks or damage are visible on the seal, apply caulk to seal the exposed area temporarily.
Ending
Maintaining a clean toilet and ensuring the system operates properly is key to preventing smell issues. By implementing the common solutions mentioned in this guide, you can effectively eliminate most toilet odors. Lastly, we recommend using scent tablets or air fresheners to create a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere in your bathroom. This is exactly why we launched the G3-T71W: in addition to traditional automation features, this smart toilet also includes an aroma diffusion function, creating a spa-like bathroom experience for you.
