Sewer smell in the toilet: why it smells like sewer, how to eliminate the unpleasant smell, why the toilet stinks, reasons for how to remove the smell, get rid of it

An unpleasant odor that appears in the toilet must be eliminated.
It affects the comfort of being in the toilet room and can spread to other rooms. It is not always possible to solve the problem only by using an air freshener. Depending on the cause of unpleasant odors, a suitable method for solving the problem is selected.

We will tell you in this article how to remove unpleasant smell from the toilet.

Causes of unpleasant odors

A bathroom is a necessary sanitary and hygienic space in any apartment or house. To prevent the appearance of foreign odors, special care and sanitary requirements in the toilet are required. If an unpleasant odor from the sewer system still spreads into the rooms, you need to find out what causes the sewer smell in the toilet.

Most often this is due to the following violations:

The pressure in the sewer system is too low.
Incorrect installation and connection of plumbing equipment.
Low efficiency of the ventilation system.

Sewer gases carry pathogens and harmful substances, including hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide, ammonia and much more. Inhalation of such a composition by a person causes irreparable harm to the body, so it is necessary to take urgent measures to identify the causes of its occurrence and look for ways to eliminate them.

In most cases, residents who have no idea about the peculiarities of sewerage work try to solve the problem of how to get rid of the sewage smell in the toilet with the help of modern air fresheners. However, scented aerosols can only kill the unpleasant odor, and not eliminate it completely. To independently decide why an unpleasant odor appears, you need to know the sewerage system in the toilet, have the slightest idea about the composition and operating principle of such communications and the plumbing equipment used.

An unpleasant odor is the result of sewer gases entering from the drain hole of plumbing fixtures when the device is clogged or improperly installed. In addition, there are several other reasons why the toilet smells like sewage in an apartment or private house.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Some useful tips on how to get rid of unpleasant toilet “aroma”.

You need to understand that if an unpleasant sewer smell appeared in the bathroom once, it will soon appear again. Therefore, this problem cannot be left to chance, but must be solved. Timely repair of the breakdown will save your time and money.

Do you have a special method for combating negative “odors” emitted by the sewer system? Do you want to tell us about an effective method or do you disagree with the information presented? Please write comments in the block below.

Problem with the water seal

When the section of the sewer pipe is completely filled with waste water, the water plug is removed. The absence of a water seal or its poor functioning can be called the most common reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the bathroom. A water seal is a water plug in a siphon under plumbing fixtures. It serves as a kind of barrier to sewer gases. In the absence of this barrier, gases freely penetrate into the bathroom and the entire house or apartment smells like sewage from the toilet.

Let's further figure out how to eliminate the smell of sewerage in an apartment if the cause has not yet been found. Each toilet has basic plumbing equipment - a toilet bowl, under which there is also a siphon. In this case, the siphon is a curved pipe in the bend of which liquid can accumulate. Such a water seal serves as a fairly effective barrier to unpleasant odors from the sewer system.

The slightest deviations in the operation of the siphon cause the constant presence of sewage smell in the toilet. If the siphon has ceased to perform a barrier function, then this happened for one of the following reasons.

Lack of draft in the riser, failure of the water seal

This problem is typical for apartments on the upper floors: one day, a persistent sewer smell appears in the bathroom and kitchen.

What's happening? First, you need to explain to the reader how ventilation of a sewer riser works in normal mode.

You've probably noticed that on flat roofs there are pipes with a diameter of 100 (less often - 50) millimeters protruding above the roof level, which are the source of the characteristic sewage smell. These are the conclusions of the sewer risers.

Sewer vents on a flat roof

Inside the riser, due to the relatively high temperature of the wastewater, a draft arises that transports moist vapors and odors outside the house. In winter, evaporation gradually freezes onto the inner wall of a cold pipe, reducing its clearance to zero in a few weeks.

Snow cap on the walls of the sewer riser

What will happen?

The traction in the riser will not go away. However, instead of the atmosphere, it will transport fumes and odors to the apartments of the upper floor through leaky connections of the comb (internal sewage system) with the siphons of plumbing fixtures.

Now let’s imagine a volley discharge of wastewater (in other words, the simultaneous discharge of two toilet tanks or a pair of bathtubs) provided that all connections of the devices to the sewerage system are sealed and the riser is not ventilated.

The flow of water filling it rushes down the riser;
An area of high pressure is formed at the flow front. At the time of draining, many residents notice the appearance of air bubbles in the sink or bathtub;
After the flow passes, a vacuum arises in the riser, sucking water out of the hydraulic valves of washbasins and sinks. After the water seals stop functioning, fumes and odors begin to flow uncontrollably into the apartment - until the moment when the siphon is refilled with water drained into the sink.

Hydraulic seals prevent air from entering the apartment from the sewer.
Mechanism for breaking hydraulic seals

By the way: dismantling the sewer riser above the tee or cross on the top floor leads to the same result as snow caps. Residents of upper apartments sacrifice the ventilation outlet for the sake of a cabinet above the toilet, poorly imagining the consequences of their actions.

Elimination

How to get rid of aromas that are unusual for your apartment:

Ensure that all sewer connections are tight. To connect plumbing priors, rubber cuffs and adapters are used. As a last resort, the connection can be sealed with microporous rubber or any foam insulation;

All sewer connections must be sealed

If odors appear during the cold season, go up to the roof and pour a bucket of hot water into the frozen riser. Re-freezing of the snow cap can be prevented by insulating the riser from the outside;
The missing ventilation outlet of a riser on the roof can be replaced by a so-called vacuum valve - a simple device that sucks in air when the pressure inside the sewer riser drops.

A vacuum valve is installed instead of the ventilation outlet of the riser on the roof

Vacuum valve device

Incorrect installation

If the installation of the siphon was carried out incorrectly, then an unpleasant sewer aroma will certainly appear in the rooms. Consequently, the need arises to solve the question of how to remove the smell from the toilet in the apartment.

When installing a siphon, installing the outlet pipe too high will result in sewer gases passing over the water plug and freely penetrating into the living rooms. Consequently, the siphon will not fully perform its functions. The solution to the problem is to move the outlet pipe 2-3 cm below the water level.

How to quickly eliminate odor

The lack of water in the toilet water seal can be detected with the naked eye. To remove an unpleasant odor, simply drain the water, creating a clean water plug. If the water level in the drain remains low, then the problem lies in improper installation (siphon, drain pipe, etc.).

If the problem persists after filling the water seal, then the ventilation and sewer systems should be cleaned. If you suspect a leak, you should inspect the joints and then wrap them with toilet paper. A change in the color of the adsorbent will indicate a depressurized connection.

If home measures have no effect, it is necessary to call specialists who will determine the area of the leak or improper installation of pipes . To search for damage, special devices are used: thermal imagers, acoustic leak detectors, etc.

If the smell is due to the presence of a hidden sewer leak, then the owners will have to dismantle the cladding and part of the ceiling.

Improved ventilation draft

Cleaning the ventilation duct is performed in the following sequence:

Remove the decorative grille. Clean it from dust, dirt and cobwebs, rinse thoroughly.
Wear gloves and sweep out small and large debris from the ventilation duct.
Clean the canal deeply with a dry and clean toilet brush. Vacuum the remaining dust and cobwebs with a pipe without attachments.
Clean the canal walls from dirt using a damp sponge and scraper. Detergents and chemical solvents are not recommended.
Reinstall the clean decorative grille. Check the ventilation draft.
For more thorough cleaning, you can use a flexible shaft and a stiff brush, the diameter of which is approximately equal to the width of the ventilation duct. The structure of the shaft and brush is put on the drill, which rotates at low speeds. Before starting work, it is recommended to mark the height of the floor with the ceiling on the cable. When the end of the brush hits a solid obstacle and the mark reaches the exit of the channel, the shaft can be removed.

Ventilation needs to be improved.

If there is no draft even after cleaning, then the problem may occur in several apartments or on all floors. To “break through” a ventilation duct in a common building system, you need to call specialists from the management company or the housing office.

Home methods for cleaning pipes

If an obstacle occurs in the pipeline, the water in the water seals is not renewed, and the incoming waste begins to decompose and emit a stench.

You can get rid of the blockage using the following means:

Table salt and soda. The method is only suitable for preventing blockages and gently cleaning the walls of the sewer. You need to pour 150-200 g of salt and soda into the drain, add hot water and leave for 2-3 hours. The product is used to clean sink drains. More effective chemicals are required to dissolve hair and impurities.
Vinegar and soda. The problem may arise not in the bathroom system, but in the apartment’s general sewer system. In this case, the likely cause of the blockage is fatty deposits. They are effectively eliminated with a combination of vinegar, baking soda and hot water. To clean the pipe, you need to remove the metal mesh from the drain hole, pour 100-150 g of soda into it and pour in 200-250 ml of vinegar (6%). After this, close the drain with a stopper and wait 2-4 hours. The last step of the procedure is pouring 1-1.5 liters of boiling water. The cleaned drain is washed with running water.
Soda and plunger. The combination of home remedies and mechanical action allows you to do without strong chemicals. First you need to pour 1 liter of boiling water into the pipe, wait 10-15 minutes and use a plunger. If it was not possible to break through the blockage, you need to pour 150-200 g of soda into the drain, pour 1 liter of boiling water, wait and use the plunger again. The procedure can be repeated 2-3 times.
Plumbing cable. A flexible steel rope with a hook attachment is suitable for removing dense blockages and large debris. To clean the drain, it is screwed in and pushed into the pipe until the obstruction disappears. It is not recommended to pierce corrugated connections with a cable, because a sharp nozzle can tear thin walls.
Chemical reagents. Tornado, Bagi Potchan and Mr granules are used to remove blockages. Muscle, Chirton powder, liquid Mole, DEBOUCHER Active and Synergetic, Sanfor, Chistin, Tiret and Sanox gels. Some products (for example, Tiret) are not intended for cleaning toilet drains. Reagents are poured or poured into the drain hole. After 5-15 minutes of action, the sewer is washed with hot water.

For thorough cleaning, it is recommended to remove the corrugation or disassemble the siphon. Flushing the pipeline section will remove grease, dirt and organic waste from the walls.

Drying the water seal

A long break in the operation of any plumbing equipment leads to the drying out of the water plug. In this case, there is no obstacle to unpleasant odors from the sewer. Eliminating the causes of sewer smell in the toilet can be done easily and simply; it is enough to ensure the flow of water into the toilet or other device until the water seal is completely filled.

In addition, you can reduce the rate of water evaporation during a long absence from a residential building. It is enough to pour a small amount of vegetable oil into the drain hole, which forms a film on the surface of the water. As a result, the water plug will take much longer to dry.

Clearing the blockage

Although we are analyzing the topic of why there is a sewer smell in the toilet, eliminating the blockage of the pipeline in this case is considered as a method of dealing with the cause of the unpleasant odor. Therefore, we will pay special attention to this factor.

Cleaning a clogged toilet Source septik27.ru

The topic of eliminating blockages is quite voluminous and requires careful consideration. Existing methods are classified into several groups: folk remedies for passive cleaning, the use of mechanical accessories, and the use of chemically active drugs. Each of them is effective against a specific blockage, the origin and composition of which (as we know) can differ radically from each other.

Folk remedies against blockages

The simplest and most effective methods for cleaning drains with improvised means are soda, salt and vinegar. The first involves mixing a glass of soda with a half glass of salt and filling the sink hole overnight. Try to sprinkle so that some of the powder falls inside, into the siphon. In the morning, flush the pipe with 2-3 liters. boiling water and 10 l. warm tap water. This composition copes well with fat deposits and guarantees maximum results.

“Good old” remedies for blockages Source sovet-ingenera.com

The second method is done as follows:

Pour 200 g of soda into the drain hole.
Pour 7% table vinegar into a glass.
As a result of mixing, a chemical process will begin and foam may appear in the drain. For maximum effect, you can cover the hole with a stopper, directing the reagents down towards the blockage.
Once the foaming process is complete, pour in plenty of water.

Important! Do not confuse vinegar with vinegar essence, which can corrode the metal plastic of sewer pipes.

All that remains is to rinse with water Source build-experts.ru
Methods provide a 90% guarantee that the blockage will be eliminated. If your case falls into the remaining 10% and the problem remains unresolved, use other methods: mechanical cleaning or more aggressive chemicals.

Mechanical (manual) cleaning

Manual cleaning of a sewer pipeline means using a plunger, a plumbing cable, or dismantling and washing a clogged area (in most cases, a siphon).

Clearing the blockage in the siphon Source manblog.uhouse.ru

How to use a plunger

Water is being filled into the sink.
The plunger is pressed so that the rubber ring fits tightly onto the surface.
Lightly press the handle and sharply lift it up.
Due to the sudden movement of air, the resulting clog is torn from its place and rises out into the sink.

How to break through a blockage with a plunger Source sosedi-online.ru

Advice! When cleaning a two-section sink, you will have to work with two plungers.

Cleaning with a plumbing cable

For ease of work, it is recommended to disassemble the drain.

The cable is unwound and inserted into the pipeline.
You need to wind it up by slightly twisting it in any direction, as if screwing it into a pipe.
When you feel resistance, turn in the other direction and try again.
The action is performed several times. After each removal of the cable, its tip is cleaned of accumulated debris and grease.

How to use a plumbing cable Source netzasorov.rf

Stretched corrugated pipe

Modern plastic siphons are equipped with a corrugated pipe. During operation, the corrugation can stretch and sag, which will lead to the penetration of unpleasant odors into the room. This situation occurs when using electrical tape or adhesive tape as fastening, rather than special clamps. To eliminate the problem of why there is a smell from the toilet, it is enough to correctly position the corrugated pipe and fix it with clamps.

Incorrectly installed corrugated pipe

If the rules for installing corrugated pipes are violated, an unpleasant toilet smell may also appear. In particular, we are talking about the incorrect formation of a bend on a corrugated siphon pipe. Most often, a simple home craftsman does not know how to properly form a corrugated elbow and secure the hose in this position. The solution to the problem is to create the correct configuration of the corrugation and fix it with special plastic clamps. If you have doubts about your own abilities, you can always invite a professional plumber.

What if the plumber made a mistake?

What does a typical housewife do when she smells the smell of sewerage in her home? He begins to thoroughly wash the toilet, pour the most powerful products into it to unclog the drain, or buy good fresheners. But that doesn't help. After all, most often the reason for the appearance of “aroma” is not in poor care of the plumbing, but in its incorrect installation.

Let's look at the reasons associated with improperly installed plumbing.

On the forums, many point out that the “toilet scent” appeared just after replacing the plumbing, pipes or siphon. Naturally, it becomes clear that the main cause of the problem is installation errors. In some cases, you can eliminate the cause yourself. To do this, carefully study how the drain should work and at what level the siphon should be.

The water seal does not work

Various pipes (ventilation and sewer) are connected to the riser, and plumbing fixtures are connected to the pipes using siphons. Look under the sink, bathtub, behind the toilet. See the bent corrugated pipe there? This is a siphon. If you have old Soviet-era plumbing, it will be a steel pipe with an elbow. Whatever the siphon, it serves to form a water seal. Its main task is to prevent the smell from entering the room. A water seal is formed in the knee - a plug, a “plug” of water.

There are also other types of water seals. Water should not accumulate in them. Spring membranes, balls, pendulums, tubes - dry valves - are used as plugs. All these plugs can break off when draining water in one burst. Due to the fact that the water seal does not work or has broken, that is, a water plug does not form, unpleasant odors arise throughout the apartment. Why might the water seal fail?

The siphon is clogged. Because of this, there is an unpleasant aroma throughout the apartment. It is enough to clean the siphon with special means for everything to work, or call a specialist who will remove the blockage.
The bending angle is broken, and the water, which should stop all odors, does not collect there, but leaves. The plumber will simply correct this cause by installing the trap correctly.
Incorrect pipe connection diameter. The plumber also solves the problem.
The water seal can also become empty due to the volley discharge of a large amount of water. For example, if you live in a multi-storey building, then when you flush 3-4 toilets down the riser at once, water from the water seal under pressure can be flushed out. Sometimes this happens if you throw a bucket of water into the toilet. In this case, you may hear a popping sound, which indicates that the water seal has broken. In this case, be sure to add water to the water seal to avoid the appearance of odor.

Attention! If you hear “gurgling” or “croaking” when draining, most likely the water seal has broken. Call a specialist. You can't fix this problem on your own.

Once you eliminate the cause, you will immediately get rid of the sewer smell in your home.

In high-rise buildings they also install a common water seal in the basement or technical floor, which can also fail. This may also be the reason why the toilet in an apartment building smells like sewage.

Siphon clogged

If the siphon is usually clogged, an unpleasant sewer smell may also appear in the apartment. Drains very often accumulate in the siphon elbow, which over time begin to decompose and emit a rather unpleasant aroma. If the water seal is clogged, it must be washed using chemicals that can be purchased at any specialized store. If necessary, the question of how to remove the smell from the toilet can be solved by mechanically cleaning the water seal.

In most cases, corrugated siphons are susceptible to clogging, which is explained by the folded surface of the inside of the pipe. It is in the folds that debris, fat and waste products are retained. To wash the corrugated siphon, complete dismantling of the device is required.

If you install a vacuum valve on the siphon through which the equipment is connected to the sewer system, you can ensure stable operation of the device. With such a valve, the pressure in the sewer system is stabilized.

General Features

Spinning rods with a test rating of 3–12, 3–15, 3–18, 3–20 are classified as light class rods. They are designed for fishing with small baits in the specified weight range. As a rule, many models are considered universal, that is, those that cope well with all types of baits. These include silicone, various wobblers, and spinners. If necessary, such “rods” can be used to perform all kinds of animation techniques, from a banal uniform feed to jerky wiring. They are used for different representatives of ichthyofauna:

asp, chub and ide;
perch and trout;
pike and zander;
grayling, lenok and whitefish;
burbot and catfish;
rudd;
dace, saberfish and others.

Light spinning rods are relevant on small rivers at any time of the year

Among narrow specializations, jig-twitching models are especially popular. They are distinguished by their fast action and increased sensitivity, which allows for the highest quality fishing using jig methods and jerking wobblers, as well as many surface lures.

Clogged sewer pipe

To effectively remove a blockage that has formed in a sewer system pipe, you need to buy a product containing chlorine from a specialized store. To use the drug to solve the problem of how to eliminate the smell in the toilet, you must strictly follow the instructions on the bottle so as not to harm your health. The product must be poured into the drain hole and left for a while. Most often, the blockage dissolves under the effective influence of a modern household product, and the plumbing fixture begins to function normally. If a household chemical product turns out to be ineffective, then you need to use the services of a plumber to clean the pipe.

How to understand that the problem is in the exhaust system

An exhaust system is installed in all rooms where sewerage with water supply is carried out. Find ventilation ducts in the bathroom, toilet or kitchen. They are located under the ceiling and covered with bars. The easiest way to identify problems is in the ventilation system. You can do this yourself.

Check traction

Bring a piece of paper to the channel. It must be held in place by traction. If the leaf falls, it means the ventilation is not working well.
Another way to check if the stench is coming from the ventilation duct is to seal it for a few days. If there is no smell during this time, then you have presumably found the cause.

Ask the neighbors

Often the smell in the apartment begins to be felt after the sewer system has been repaired by the neighbors. Since all pipes in apartment buildings are connected to a common riser, odors can come from neighbors. In this case, their supply line or water seal may be broken, and the smell rises or falls towards you and penetrates through the ventilation shafts into your apartment.

Inspect the reservoir

The common collector, which is located on the technical floor or in the basement, may also become airy or clogged. This can also give an odor into the apartment through the ventilation shaft.

Check the plugs on the pipes

Sometimes the reason why an unpleasant odor appears can be quite simple - the plug falls off the pipe.

Check your pipes. If you see an open hole, check to see if the plug has moved? Sometimes even a small crack is enough for the “aroma” to start coming out. This is especially true for those risers where the fan riser is cut off. It is not recommended to suppress it even in two-story and private houses, not to mention high-rise buildings. Why? The website www.sympaty.net will tell you below.

Inspect the fan riser

The fan riser is a round wide pipe (riser) that should go into the ceiling. It is usually located in the corner of the bathroom or toilet, as if cutting into the ceiling. Often residents of the upper floors cut it off and plug the exit. The smell is not removed from the apartment, but collects in the riser. Then it begins to seep even through small cracks. It is not recommended to cut and plug this riser, especially in apartment buildings.

Firstly, the smell has nowhere to go.
Secondly, under the influence of the force of air, when neighbors below flush the toilet and pour water into the sink, the plug moves. Because of this, the smell begins to wander around the apartment, not only on the top floor, where someone installed a plug, but also on the lower floors. So, if your toilet smells like sewage, and you don’t know what to do, ask your neighbors on the top floor about the riser - is it led to the roof or is it plugged?

Patency is impaired

You can also check on the roof whether the outlet of the riser has accidentally become clogged with debris or whether something has fallen on top of it, or whether it has frozen over in severe frost? To check the conductivity yourself, hold a sheet of paper to the outlet of the riser. If the sheet is attracted, then the pipe is functioning. If not, you need to clean it.

Pipe diameter is not enough

Also, the reason why sewer smells began to spread throughout the apartment may be that a pipe with a wide diameter was replaced with a narrower one. For apartment buildings, this diameter may not be enough; strong pressure can break the water seals. We will talk about them further.

Improper installation of the sewer system in the toilet

Poor performance of plumbing fixtures can be explained by problems with the siphon or clogged sewer system. It is because of the resulting blockage that the clearance in the sewer pipe narrows, which can well be called the reason why the toilet smells like sewer. The absence of a water seal in most cases is explained by mistakes that were made during the process of arranging the sewer system. It is important to understand that plumbing equipment must be installed in strict accordance with installation rules and accepted standards.

When using sewer pipes of small cross-section, it is a violation of building codes. You need to choose products whose diameter corresponds to the volume of waste and frequency of use. In this case, you can count on the normal operation of the sewer system, otherwise a vacuum may occur in the pipe and the water plug may break.

Very often, the cause of failure of normal operation of plumbing equipment is a clogged drain pipe, which equalizes the pressure in the sewer system. A blockage can form due to an ice jam in the winter, which leads to a vacuum in the sewer system. As a result, the toilet smells like sewage. The problem can be solved after the ice layer melts and by installing pipes of larger diameter.

Sometimes the water seal breaks when draining water from the drain tank, as a result, sewer gases freely penetrate into the room. Cleaning the sewer system pipe helps eliminate this cause of unpleasant odor.

Solution methods depending on the problem

Before you start studying the question of how to remove sewer smell from a bathroom or toilet, you need to correctly determine the cause of its occurrence. A correctly detected flaw will indicate what to do about the problem.

To check the operation of the ventilation system, use a regular sheet of paper. It must be attached to the grille covering the ventilation hole. If the leaf holds, the traction is excellent, the problem with the smell is not due to ventilation. If a leaf falls, you need to look for the cause of poor traction; perhaps the channels are clogged. Another popular way to test traction is to hold a lit match. With good ventilation, the flame will deflect towards the shaft.

If the problem is not ventilation, proceed to check the drainage in the sinks and bathtub . Open the taps to full pressure and monitor the flow of water into the drain hole. If the water drains slowly, there is a blockage. If the water drains well, but the smell remains, just pour boiling water down the drain, which will clean out the fatty deposits.

If, after checking the ventilation and pipes, there is no answer as to why there is a sewer smell in a private house, check the pipe joints and the base of the toilet for leaks . Place a clean white napkin under suspicious joints and observe. If it gets wet, the joint is not sealed.

If after all the checks the smell remains, it means that the problem is not inside the apartment, but in the common building riser. In this case, you cannot cope on your own; you need to call plumbers.

Troubleshooting ventilation problems

How to get rid of ventilation problems? The first step is to find the cause of the loss of traction. Often, the efficiency of the hood decreases when:

the channels become clogged;
the bathroom doors are pressed too tightly against the frame;
neighbors on the lower floor installed a powerful fan in the shaft.

When assessing, it should be taken into account that on hot days the draft in the ventilation shaft is worse due to the external warm air, which does not allow the internal warm air to escape. To eliminate the difference, you just need to leave the bathroom door ajar.

To determine the problem, you need to remove the grille covering the ventilation hole, and then use a flashlight to look at the condition of the ducts. If debris is found, it is removed with a wire with a bent end, or with your hands.

If a tight fit of the door leaf is to blame for poor ventilation, you can install ventilation holes in its lower part or trim the lower part of the leaf to obtain a small gap.

If the owners do not want to violate the integrity of the door, it is recommended that they simply do not close the door to the bathroom completely, because a small gap will be enough to ensure air circulation inside the room.

The best solution to normalize ventilation in the bathroom is to install an exhaust fan.

Cleaning siphons and pipes

Among the tools of every owner there is a plunger and a metal cable for cleaning pipes in the sewer system. No experience or special skills are required to work with them.

A plunger is suitable when you need to quickly clear a clogged siphon in the kitchen or bathroom. It cannot cope with more severe blockages, especially those located far from the drain. You can read more about this topic in this article.

When working with a plunger, adhere to the following sequence of actions:

the bathtub or sink is filled with water so that the rubber part of the plunger covering the drain hole is completely hidden;
after this, it is enough to make 5-7 sharp movements with the plunger up and down. Pressure is generated in the drain system, which helps to release the siphon from accumulated debris, pushing it further along the drain pipe;
the plunger is removed and the water is turned on again. If it doesn't go away quickly enough, the operation is repeated.

The cable will help cope with the accumulation of debris in distant sections of the pipe. When working with a metal cable, keep in mind that plastic pipes can be damaged by contact with metal, so it is better to clean the cable only in metal pipes.

Procedure for working with the cable:

the end of the cable is pushed through the drain hole until it stops at the blockage;
when the tip reaches the stop, the cable begins to rotate around its axis counterclockwise. In this way, you can hook the garbage and pull it out, or push the plug into the common house riser;
after completion of the work, the cable is removed and hot water is passed through the drain;
To ensure that the cable retains its shape, after work it should be thoroughly washed, dried and applied with protective lubricant.

You can remove the stench not only mechanically, but also chemically.

The market offers ready-made formulations in the form of gels, liquids, powders or granules. When working with them, you must follow the instructions on the packaging or bottle.

You can also deal with traffic jams using home remedies:

pour 200 grams into the drain. soda and leave for half an hour, after which the pipes are cleaned with hot water;
200 ml of vinegar will enhance the effect of soda. The pipes should also be flushed after half an hour;
citric acid is diluted in boiling water and poured into the drain. You can flush the pipes with hot water after the acid stops forming foam.

Joint repair

Traditionally, flax or fum tape is used to seal threaded joints of plumbing pipes, but to ensure a tight fit of drain pipes, sealant is best suited.

When choosing a sealant, you should pay attention to the composition and purpose. You should only purchase plumbing sealants that will provide protection against fungus.

Based on their composition, sealants are divided into the following types:

silicone. They are highly elastic and do not lose their original properties due to temperature changes;
acrylic. Less elastic sealants, but also excellent at retaining water and not sensitive to temperature changes;
polyurethane. This type of sealant has a pungent odor when it dries, but after curing, the unpleasant odors go away. An additional plus is that this sealant can be painted over;
acrylic-silicone. Suitable for sealing any plumbing elements and repair work.

Before starting work with sealant, it is necessary to dry and degrease the seal area. Apply sealant in a continuous line around the entire circumference of the joint.

You can start using the sewer only after the sealant has completely dried. The drying time for each type is different, so before sealing you need to read the instructions for use.

Poor sealing

If the tightness of sewer pipes or their connection points is broken, an unpleasant odor will also appear in the room. In this case, a section of pipe or a joint with a leak, which is the direct cause of the smell from the toilet, may not be detected immediately; it is necessary to carefully inspect the entire sewer system.

It is worth noting that difficulties in finding problem areas may arise if there is a hidden installation of sewer pipes. If the problem occurs in this particular place, then you can inhale unpleasant odors for a long time. In addition, in such places, after some time, mold forms, which reinforces the negative.

The location where leaks are detected can be different, for example, a leak in a floor slab. Very often, the cause of the problem of why the toilet stinks and the appearance of unpleasant sewer odors is a poor connection between the corrugated element and the drain pipe. If such a problem area is discovered, it is necessary to replace the corrugation and strengthen the tightness of the junction of individual elements. In most cases, silicone-based sealant is used as a sealant when connecting pipes and corrugations. It is the most reliable material for protecting the junction area of individual elements of plumbing equipment.

We act according to schedule

The main condition in the fight against a specific aroma is regular cleaning. Whatever golden detergent is invented, it needs to be applied, it needs to be wiped, washed, it cannot help once and for all.

Wiping from time to time and incomplete cleansing of surfaces from urine leads to the formation of hardening plaque and stone on the toilet. It gives off a persistent odor and to get rid of it, it is no longer enough to simply wipe with a regular product.

Particular attention should be paid to hard-to-reach places - under the toilet rim. There are enough curved spout tools to get there.

Walls and floors also require attention; many small drops remain on them, which are not visible, but over time they eat into the surface and are difficult to remove.

Remembering what needs to be done on Saturday is not difficult when a person works a five-day shift. And if the activity schedule is changing, then it’s a good idea to make a plan for cleaning. To do this, just stick a colorful calendar on the door in the toilet and circle the necessary days.

It happens that even with proper cleaning, the smell remains, especially in old apartments. Most often the reason is cracks and damage from time to time on the pipes. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly examine the sewer pipes and their joints.

Poor ventilation system

The bathroom and toilet are rooms where highly humidified air is constantly present. This is due to regular use of water. To normalize air humidity, it is necessary to install a ventilation system. It also allows you to solve the problem of how to get rid of the smell in the toilet.

Apartment buildings are most often equipped with a natural exhaust system, but its effectiveness is not observed in all cases. You can test the operation of the ventilation system yourself using a regular sheet of paper, which you need to bring to the ventilation hole. If the natural exhaust system works well, the sheet will press against the grille of the ventilation hole, otherwise it will fall to the floor.

A falling sheet of paper indicates a low efficiency of the ventilation system, which is why the toilet smells like sewage. In this case, it is necessary to clean the ventilation ducts. If the desired result is not achieved after preventive measures, more serious measures should be taken and forced ventilation installed.

You can also use a lighter or a lit match. If you bring the fire close to the vent, effective ventilation will draw out the flames. A quiet fire indicates insufficient air extraction from the room.

Most often, an additional fan is installed in an existing ventilation duct and in a ventilation hole in the bathroom.

Installation of a device to eliminate sewer smell from the toilet is carried out according to the following scheme:

Electrical wires are pulled into the ventilation hole.
The mounting points of the ventilation device are marked on the wall.
Holes are drilled in the marked places.
Using special fasteners, the lower part of the fan housing is fixed to the wall.
Connect the power supply wires.
Fix the decorative grille.

To ensure that the forced air exhaust system does not cause problems, you need to clean the ventilation ducts from the accumulation of cobwebs, dust and other debris. It should be noted that fans with a check valve are characterized by the greatest efficiency.

Problems with poor ventilation

In a room with a bathroom, ventilation is arranged to remove odors and moisture. Apartment buildings are ventilated by a built-in duct, which has a connection to all apartments in one entrance.

The stationary channel with natural exhaust has good traction. The bathroom in the apartment is equipped with a grate, which is fixed at the exit to the riser. Over time, dust, cobwebs and small debris accumulate on the surface of the grille.

Eliminating the problem

The grate that goes into the bathroom needs to be cleaned regularly. To do this, you need to remove it; if there is a rough coating, clean it with a scraper.

The nearby walls of the canal should be cleared of debris . Hardened mortar residues or large objects should be removed. Clean the walls of the canal with a toilet brush. Place the washed grate in its original place.

Errors when installing sewer pipes

An improperly assembled sewage system causes an unpleasant odor even in a new apartment or house after almost the first days of use of the toilet or bathroom. The question inevitably arises as to why the toilet stinks in this case.

It is recommended to lay sewer pipes in accordance with certain norms and rules in order to avoid unpleasant moments and unexpected breakdowns. Violation of these standards can cause low efficiency in the operation of the sewerage system.

The main reason why a toilet stinks of sewage in a room is the incorrect angle of the sewer pipes. The solution to the problem in this situation and eliminating the persistent fetid odor is to completely dismantle the sewer system in the house and install pipes at the optimal angle of inclination.

Also, the smell of sewer gases may appear due to poor seals at the junctions of pipes and fittings. This is especially true when using plastic elements in sewerage installations. You can eliminate the reason why the toilet smells like sewage yourself by installing new seals or replacing the gaskets.

In general, the following should be noted: in order to avoid various problems and the appearance of an unpleasant sewer odor, it is recommended to entrust the design and installation of particularly important communication systems to professional craftsmen.

Hidden leaks

Leaks can occur at the junctions of elements, on corrugations or sewer pipes. It is necessary to carefully inspect the entire pipeline using a flashlight. A leak may be indicated by drops of water on the surface of the pipe.

Microcracks can be detected using a soap solution. To do this, apply the liquid to the surface of the pipe using a brush, and then press the flush button on the toilet. Due to the drained water, the pressure in the pipeline increases, and air escapes through microscopic damage to the pipe. Thanks to the soap solution, bubbles form at the crack site. The joints are checked in the same way.

A loose connection of pipeline elements is easy to fix: the joints of cast iron pipes need to be re-caulked, and sealing collars must be installed at the joints of plastic pipes.

If the corrugation is damaged, replace it with a new one, carefully sealing the joint with the pipeline. Silicone sealant is used for this purpose.

Silicone sealant is also used to seal microcracks in plastic pipes, and repairs to cast iron pipes are carried out using cold welding.

Failure to comply with hygiene standards

Compliance with hygiene rules is one of the first rules that allows you to avoid the appearance of unpleasant odors from the toilet in an apartment or house. Most often, the stench is a consequence of irregular cleaning of plumbing fixtures and untimely flushing of waste products. It should be remembered that the sink, bathtub and toilet require regular cleaning using household chemicals.

To care for the toilet, you can purchase a product in specialized stores that kills germs and solves the problem of why there is a sewer smell in the toilet.

Keeping the air clean

keep the air in the toilet clean :

Timely regular cleaning, and periodic general cleaning.
Compliance with the rules of using the toilet - using a brush, rinsing, etc.
Organizing good ventilation in the room.
In case of breakdowns (leaks), timely elimination.
Use of flavoring agents.

Banning smoking in the area will also help keep the air fresh in the restroom.

Household products for eliminating odor in the toilet

To fix the problem, you need to understand why there is a smell in the toilet, what caused it. In some cases, this process can take quite a long time, so you can use products to mask unpleasant odors.

In particular, we are talking about the following:

Automatic air freshening devices or aerosols. A solution for solving the problem of what to do if there is a smell from the toilet is placed in a special bottle that can be mounted on the wall of the bathroom. The devices differ in design and method of application. Aerosols release aroma into the air when you press the device, an automatic dispenser releases aroma in certain portions after a certain time during the day. This option is considered the most effective solution to the problem of how to get rid of the smell in the toilet. However, it is worth understanding that this effect is temporary. Gel air fresheners are an alternative option and can also be mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf. Saturates the room with aroma and eliminates unpleasant odors for 60 days. The disadvantage of aerosols and aroma dispensers is that they temporarily eliminate the cause of odor from the toilet. In particular, they do not contain substances that can kill germs, eliminate pollution and solve the problem of how to get rid of unpleasant odor in the toilet.
A sticker strip or block that can be attached to the toilet. Toilet blocks and adhesive strips can be called one of the effective ways to eliminate unpleasant sewer odor. In addition, the products have antiseptic properties, thanks to which they help in the fight against harmful microorganisms. With each flush, the room is filled with pleasant freshness and aroma. Using hanging blocks filled with a refreshing gel allows you to solve the problem of whether the toilet stinks, what to do, and at the same time clean and disinfect the toilet.
A flavored tablet placed in the toilet cistern. This option can be called quite effective in getting rid of sewer smell. The product is placed directly in the drain tank and can color the water green or blue. When the water is flushed, a pleasant smell spreads into the room, and the inner surface of the toilet bowl is disinfected. By using scented cistern tablets, you can not only get rid of unpleasant sewer gases, but also prevent the appearance of urinary stone and rust on the walls of the toilet. The advantages of this method of solving the problem of how to get rid of smell from the toilet include reusable use (the tablet can lie in water for a long time), simultaneous performance of several functions and an affordable price.
Special care products for country toilets or cesspools. The products that are used if a toilet smells in a private home contain special bacteria that help process the contents of the pit or toilet more quickly and eliminate the unpleasant sewer smell.

The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the sewer system requires urgent intervention and a quick solution to the problem. Eliminating the reason why the smell from the toilet penetrates into the room will not only maintain comfort in the room, but will reduce unexpected costs associated with sewer repairs. In addition, knowing how the sewer system and plumbing equipment works will help you save on the services of professional plumbers.

Finding the reason

Clogged sewer pipe
The main factors causing an unpleasant odor in the toilet:

Incorrect operation of the hydraulic seal.
Clogged sewer pipe.
Errors during installation of the sewer system.
Hidden leaks.
Ventilation problems.

If the stench is felt in the toilet in a private house, then the cause may be a violation of the biological balance of the septic tank. This occurs if the number of anaerobic bacteria is insufficient for the timely processing of waste water and biological waste. Rotting processes begin, resulting in an unpleasant odor, and some of it enters the house through the drainage system. In this situation, special drugs that increase the number of anaerobic bacteria will help. They must be poured into a septic tank.