Having a toilet that gives off unpleasant odors is no fun for anyone. Avoid the problem or solve it with these tips.
Toilets are a marvelous invention that freed us from the need for outhouses, but do occasionally come with their own host of problems. An outhouse may have been a pain in the butt to get to, but it wouldn’t clog and flood your bathroom. One of the major drawbacks of the outhouse which occasionally toilets suffer from as well i is the smell. There is nothing worse than a stinky toilet smell, and the bottom line is that it shouldn’t smell, generally. Assuming the smell isn’t from a lack of cleaning or a pile of stinky gym clothes, however, there are actually some reasons that your toilet might be smelling bad, and (thankfully) ways to fix or prevent it.
Lack of Use
If the stinky toilet is one that is in an often unused area, like the basement, this could be the cause of the stink. Toilets have water in the bowl that forms a seal and keeps the sewer gasses trapped in the pipe system. If toilets go unused for a while, the water evaporates and the gasses can escape up into the bathroom. Prevent this by periodically flushing toilets so the water level stays up.
Blockages
Blockages in the pipes can build up over time, and then when you flush the toilet, you smell them. These can eventually lead to full clogs, which is a big issue. If you suspect that blockages are causing the bad smell from your toilet, call a plumber to come out and inspect your pipes and clean your drains if needed.
Wax Seal
There is a wax ring that makes a seal between the toilet and the sewer pipe at the floor. This seal makes it so that the air from the toilet and the sewer odors are pushed out through the pipe when the toilet is flushed. If the wax seal is broken, those odors can escape back up into the bathroom. If this is the case, water damage is likely the next effect you will notice. Another hint that this is your issue is if the toilet rocks, even just a little. If your wax ring is broken, it will need to be replaced as soon as possible by a professional plumber.
Get in Touch With B&D Today!
Dealing with any plumbing concerns that require a professional to step in? Struggling with an absolute plumbing emergency that can’t wait? Let B&D Plumbing know. B&D Plumbing Inc. services the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Get in touch with us by calling (301) 595-1141 or follow us on social media includingFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. As a small, family-owned business, we understand how important your home is—and we offer exceptional service that matches!