An unpleasant odor in the house is a sure sign that something is wrong with the sewer system. And it’s good if this is a sign of a local breakdown that can be easily fixed. The smell may also indicate an incorrect design of the discharge pipelines, which can only be corrected by completely re-laying them. Let's find out why the house smells like sewage and how to deal with it.
Causes of odor
The appearance of a stench in the rooms is always an extremely unpleasant surprise. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon.
Errors in system design and installation
Most often, the problem arises when communications are designed or carried out with errors. This may be an incorrectly selected pipe diameter; a ladder with a water seal height lower than calculated in the project; incorrect slope of the pipeline, which leads to stagnation of water or its reverse flow and entry into the siphon and, consequently, to an unpleasant odor. A possible way to eliminate such errors is to dismantle the old system and assemble a new one, or in some cases, replace problematic components.
So, if the required diameter of the pipes or the slope of the pipelines is not maintained (2-3 cm per 1 m of length), there is a risk of blockages in excessively flat areas, but if the slope of the pipe is too large, the mass fills the entire section of the pipe. When liquid moves behind it, a vacuum (vacuum) is created, which literally sucks water out of the water seals in plumbing fixtures. And if there is no water in them, then the fumes from the sewer pipes easily enter the bathroom premises. It becomes clear why the sink and other plumbing fixtures smell like sewage.
A similar failure of the water seal occurs when too much liquid is released at once. Sometimes this can be fixed by moving the connection point of the reset source. For example, the water seal began to fail after connecting the washing machine drain to the washbasin siphon, which is connected to the drain pipeline by a rather narrow corrugation. If you move the connection point of the washing machine directly to the sewer pipe or to the riser, then failure of the water seal in the washbasin can be avoided.
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Removing odor from the washing machine quickly and easily
Faulty ventilation
When pumping wastewater in the sewer channel, a vacuum arises, which must be compensated by the flow of air through the drain riser or sewer aerator. Otherwise, the plumbing water seals will fail. Therefore, due to lack of ventilation or improper operation, the room may stink. Let's look at the problem in more detail.
When water moves in the riser, the formation of a vacuum is prevented by organizing an air flow from the outside - through a fan pipe (the upper part of the riser, which is discharged to the roof) with a ventilated duct, or through a sewer aerator (non-return valve-air intake) with an unventilated riser. In the latter case, it is also necessary to install a ventilation duct that removes gaseous fermentation products from the house sewage system (septic tank).
If for some reason the outlet openings of the fan riser or ventilation duct become clogged, the normal operation of drainage is also disrupted. If the drain riser is clogged (for example, fallen leaves have gotten into its outlet hole), then the smell will appear periodically when a large amount of water is discharged (for example, from a flush tank). If the outdoor ventilation duct is clogged, the aroma will gradually seep through the water seals.
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How to get rid of smell in an apartment: causes and solutions
Errors in the operation of siphon units
This is one of the common reasons why the toilet smells like sewage. The smell appears due to improper installation and operation of siphons of plumbing fixtures. This is the name of the unit in which a water plug is formed, preventing sewer gases from entering the room.
If water does not flow through the siphon for a long time (several weeks), the liquid in the water seal may evaporate and it will begin to leak odors. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly (1-2 times a month) discharge water through each siphon and drain, or immediately install a unit with a dry seal. Such models usually cost several times more, but they never dry out.
Blockages and leaks
If the pipeline is clogged, the system may not function properly, resulting in a stench. Another reason is leakage of drains or a violation of the tightness of the connections, from which unpleasant-smelling air leaks out. Restoring normal operation is achieved by clearing the blockage or repairing the leak (replacing the gasket).
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Unpleasant and dangerous
The smell coming from the sewer can not only be unpleasant, but also dangerous to human health. How can it be harmful? Your attention should be drawn to the fact that water with waste flows through sewer pipes, and this, in turn, means that hydrogen sulfide will occupy the main place in the variation of odors. Slightly less noticeable, but no less unpleasant and dangerous, are the odors of ammonia, methane, carboxylic acids, etc. All these aromas can significantly spoil human health, so it is better not to encounter them unless absolutely necessary.
Where did the unpleasant smell in the bathroom come from? Let's figure it out
So, if an unpleasant smell from sewer pipes suddenly appears in your bathroom or toilet, you need to immediately look for the cause! A persistent odor in your bathroom can cause problems both in the internal wiring of the apartments and in the general system of the house. In the latter case, it is not the residents of the house who must correct the situation and troubleshoot problems, but the mechanics of the utility organization that services your home.
How to eliminate sewer smell in the bathroom, kitchen, toilet
We have looked at the main reasons why there is a sewer smell in the bathroom and other rooms. Almost all of them can be eliminated on your own. Let's talk about how to do this correctly.
Elimination of design and installation errors
If the stench appears after a major renovation or installation of new communications, it is worth assuming that the problem is due to poor design. Unfortunately, correcting errors in this case is very labor-intensive and expensive. It is necessary to dismantle the communications and reinstall them, but without any defects. Sometimes partial dismantling and alteration of individual components is “shown.”
So, for example, in the absence of inspection hatches through which inspection and repair of communications are carried out, they are installed in the process of partial dismantling. In more serious cases, it is necessary to redesign the system. If you have no experience in carrying out such work, it is better to entrust it to specialists.
How to deal with hidden leaks
One of the most common problems that cause unpleasant odors in the toilet and bathroom is poor tightness of connections and damage to pipes. That is why, when you enter the bathroom and feel an unpleasant odor for the first time, you need to inspect all the pipelines and their connections to plumbing fixtures as soon as possible.
Identifying the location of a leak can sometimes be quite difficult, since sewer pipes are located very secretly. It is especially difficult to detect leaks in interfloor pipes. Since there may be no other obvious signs other than a terrible smell. To eliminate such a leak, the pipe must be sealed or replaced with a new one.
It is necessary to install only high quality pipes in the bathroom
If you are planning to replace sewer pipes, you can use the following measures to prevent leaks:
- Assemble the sewer pipeline exclusively from high quality pipes.
- When installing, try to use as few joints as possible. After all, it is in these places that leaks occur most often.
- When new sewer pipes are installed, care must be taken to ensure that pipe connections do not end up in hard-to-reach places. Otherwise, fixing the next breakdown will be much more difficult.
- It is imperative to waterproof the walls and floors.
Agree, preventive measures are quite simple, and by adhering to them, you can say goodbye to such a phenomenon as an unpleasant odor in the toilet or bathroom for a long time.
Not sewerage, but ventilation
Sometimes there are cases where the cause of a bad smell in the bathroom is not the sewer system, but a malfunction in the ventilation. In ordinary apartment buildings, ventilation systems operate on natural draft. So this craving alone is not always enough.
Very often the cause of bad air can be ventilation in the house.
You can check whether the ventilation is working effectively using a very simple test. You need to bring a piece of paper to the ventilation grille. In the case when the draft is normal, the leaf will be held by the air flow. If there is no traction, the leaf will simply fall. Ineffective ventilation always leads to the formation of fungi and mold, and this, in turn, affects the appearance of a not too strong, but quite persistent and nasty odor.
The ventilation problem must be solved! To do this, you can invite specialists to your home and clean the ventilation ducts.
Or organize forced ventilation yourself. This can be done by installing a fan in the existing duct. We really hope that our article will help you get rid of the unpleasant sewer smell in the toilet and bathroom. To prevent this terrible problem from happening again, experts recommend carrying out preventive work from time to time. Good luck in your fight against unpleasant odor!
Violation of tightness
A persistent smell of sewage appears in the room as a result of a leak in the system. In this case, the user must carefully inspect the utility lines and identify leaks. A common reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor is considered to be a leaky connection between the corrugation and the sewer inlet. If such a defect is detected, replace the corrugated tube and carefully adjust the joining parts using a layer of silicone or sealant.
Ways to maintain aroma
You can create a pleasant atmosphere in the toilet without resorting to household chemicals.
Chopped soap bars
Toilet soaps have a strong aroma. A few bars of soap in the toilet will mask the unpleasant odor.
Coffee beans
Coffee beans have a bright and persistent aroma that lasts for 1-2 days.
Fragrant herbs and spices
Spices (cinnamon, cloves) and herbs (wormwood, tansy) have a strong and pleasant aroma. The persistent smell lasts for a week. Glass containers are used for storage.
Essential oils
Essential oils, when evaporated, drown out any odors.
Flavoring based on improvised means
The flavoring is easy to make yourself.
Vodka and essential oil
An air freshener is made from vodka (50 milliliters), water (15 milliliters) and a few drops of any essential oil. The liquid is sprayed through a spray bottle.
Water and white vinegar
A mixture of white vinegar and water has a pleasant smell that lasts for one to two hours.
Gelatin, salt, essential oil
The aromatic gel is prepared on the basis of gelatin. Gelatin is poured with water until it swells, then heated over low heat until completely dissolved. Add a tablespoon of salt and 20 drops of essential oil (optional). For gelling, place in the refrigerator. The frozen gel is cut into pieces and laid out into molds.
Rice
Rice is poured into a metal canned vegetable cup and soaked in an aromatic composition: essential oil/infusion of spices/herbs.
Citrus peel
Orange and lemon peels are placed on the bottom of a glass jar, filled with vodka, closed with a lid and left for 2 days. The resulting liquid is poured into a spray bottle and used as an aerosol.
Application of moisture absorbers
The problem with the appearance of odors from the toilet lies not only in improper use of the toilet, but also in the presence of mold in the room. Pathogenic microorganisms appear here due to high humidity. To localize this problem, it is recommended to use moisture absorbers, special store-bought substances in powder form.
Advice! An example of a desiccant agent is silica gel. This substance contains toxic particles, so it is placed out of the reach of children and pets.
It is recommended to store silica gel briquettes in plastic containers. Plants, such as ferns or lilies, will help absorb excess moisture in the bathroom. These crops not only regulate humidity, but also help get rid of a strong unpleasant aroma.
Improper installation of communications
If residents who have moved into a new house feel a not-so-pleasant “aroma” in the rooms, perhaps the builders or DIYers made mistakes when installing the sewer system.
Due to violations associated with the laying of pipes - especially non-compliance with the angle of inclination, which is prescribed in the standards, wastewater in the pipes can stagnate, causing a specific odor.
When laying a sewer system, it is important to comply with engineering requirements: all work must be carried out in strict accordance with current regulations
A radical way to get rid of the stench will be a complete replacement of communications with the installation of a new system in strict accordance with technical specifications.
In some cases (when using metal-plastic pipes), the situation can be saved by adjusting tightened pipe connections, replacing gaskets, and installing specially selected sealing collars.
In order to prevent clogging, it is periodically necessary to flush the sewer system, the rules for which will be introduced in our article.
Problems in the public network
If a wastewater leak occurs at the level of common building networks, there will be an unpleasant smell on the lower floors of an apartment building. Cracks in the riser are indicated by:
- foul odor from the basement;
- wet wall behind which the pipeline passes;
- dampness in the bathroom.
It is impossible to cope with the problem on your own. If you suspect a malfunction in the general building network, you should call workers from the housing office, who must identify and repair the breakdown.
A leak in a common sewer pipe cannot be ignored. Dampness in the bathroom will lead to the formation of mold, which poses a health threat.
