Each apartment has its own unique aroma, which can tell a lot about the owners. The smell of sewage in the toilet and bathroom is not the norm, and it greatly spoils the overall impression. Toxins in the air poison the health of residents, cause headaches and irritability.
Many try to mask the sewer odor with air fresheners or enhanced ventilation draft. But in this way they only eliminate the consequence. The problem is much deeper. To put an end to “marvelous aromas” once and for all, you need to understand a little about the sewerage and plumbing device.
Water trap - the main protection against sewer odors
A water lock, a hydraulic lock or a siphon, is an essential element of sewer networks. Its direct purpose is to protect the premises from gases accumulating in the sewer.
The principle of operation of the hydraulic lock is based on the retention of a certain amount of water, which prevents the penetration of odors from the sewage system.
Most often, water is held in the curved element of the tube. This is the simplest and most reliable design. If the pipe is smooth, it does not collect hair and holds a sufficiently large volume of water.
Another thing is the design of the bottle type (knee). It is with him that most often there are problems with the transmission of the smell of sewage. If the glass gets dirty, the water evaporates quickly. And the siphons for showers and baths are too low and can hold a small amount of liquid.
The importance of the proper operation of a fan pipe
A sewer pipe, or sewer riser pipe, also works as ventilation. This is a fragment of the sewer linking the riser and the atmosphere. It provides air flow into the system, which, in turn:
- Helps remove odors
- facilitates the transport of large volumes of water.
Without an influx of air from outside, draining the liquid into the riser provokes a vacuum. As a result, all residents of the apartment building are knocked out by water locks, and the smell of sewage penetrates into the apartments without hindrance.
Why did the sewer smell?
There may be several reasons for the smell of sewage in the bathroom and toilet:
- Water lock is dry. This happens if you do not use the toilet or sink for a long time. Water "cork", which protects the apartment from smells, tends to evaporate.
- Water lock knocks out. Most often this is due to improper operation of the fan pipe or increased load on it. It can be clogged or completely removed by one of the residents of the house. Usually, the upper pipe cuts the fan pipe and plugs it. They mistakenly believe that since no one lives above them, a pipe is not needed. Thus, tenants free up additional space in the toilet. It is a pity that others pay for it with the smell of sewage.
- Hair and wool accumulated in the siphon and pipes. Hair and wool collect dirt on themselves and will soon become an unpleasant odor on their own. In addition, a water-clogged glass seal loses fluid faster. An unpleasant smell from the sewer can begin to seep in a day.
- The tightness is broken. Cracks in pipes, defects in valves and gaskets, leaks in your apartment, at neighbors, in the basement - all this will naturally affect the atmosphere in the home.
- Errors in the installation of the sewer system. Too small slope of the pipes, a large number of unnecessary branches leads to stagnation of wastewater. Possible errors in the location of the valve. If you place it below the floor level, in the cold season, the water in it will freeze, and the smell of sewage gets out.
When leaving the apartment for a long time, cover the drains and the toilet with a lid. This will prevent the rapid evaporation of water from the water trap and, accordingly, the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
What can be done?
If you find a fetid odor in the toilet and bathroom, you do not have to immediately call the plumber. Sometimes it’s easier to eliminate than it seems. What to do? We offer the following actions.
Add water
"Just add water". Here is a simple solution to the problem. True, the council does not always work, but only in two cases:
- They did not use the bathroom, toilet, sink for a long time, and the water lock was dry.
- The stench appears rarely, mainly in the evening, when all the residents of the apartment building return from work. Or the neighbors make repairs for a short time.
Periodically, the load on the sewer system increases. For example, when in an apartment building flush water simultaneously in 3 apartments. Or someone pours a bucket of liquid into the toilet in one fell swoop. All this leads to the knockout of hydraulic locks.
Little can be done with this. It is unlikely that you will convince your neighbors to flush the toilet by the clock, and builders - to take water with you. It remains only to add liquid to the siphon or purchase a check valve.
We clean the siphon and pipes
In order for the water seal to work as it should and prevent the passage of sewage odors, it is necessary to monitor its cleanliness. Audit:
- Shut off the water.
- Unscrew the siphon.
- Remove hair and coat.
- Rinse parts under running water.
- Put the water lock in place.
Put a hair catcher on the drain in the bathroom. Then you do not have to unwind the siphon every time. Catchers in the form of nets and chains are very quick and easy to clean.
Check for leaks
Each tube at the junction is equipped with a sealing rubber. Over time, they crack or may move during installation. This is not necessarily accompanied by leakage. The smell from the sewage system may also indicate a defect. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to check their condition and tightness.
Less often, but it still happens that the reason for the smell to enter the apartment is hidden in the loose fit of the repair plug. You need to check it and tighten it harder. By the way, not all hydraulic locks are equipped with it.
Finally, it is worth paying attention to the correspondence of the diameter of the drain hose of the sewer itself. With a difference in size, the fetid odor will freely enter the room. To eliminate this defect, you need to replace the drain hose with a large diameter or insert O-rings that block the air from the sewer pipe.
We are looking for a leak
If the apartment suddenly smells of sewage, and the smell persists or even intensifies, most likely, a breakthrough occurred somewhere or the pipe leaked. Try to find this place, relying on your sense of smell. Explore the space under the bathroom and sink, behind the toilet. Move the furniture if necessary. The appearance of even a small puddle under the pipe indicates that it has worn out. Replace the part yourself or call a plumber.
Also, a breakthrough may occur not at your home, but at the nearest neighbors. Ask if they have everything in order. If you live on the first floor, check out the basement. Very often breakouts occur in the basement.
We solve the problem with the fan pipe
If the smell of sewage is around the clock, it's time to talk with your neighbors in the riser. If you find a similar problem with other residents, you can safely file a complaint with the Management Company (HOA). You can also:
- Inspect the pipe outlet in the attic. Sometimes it is thrown with garbage. Clean up nearby rubbish and the problem will disappear.
- Arrange with the tenant of the last floor to restore the fan pipe amicably. Often it is dismantled by stupidity, not realizing the consequences. Explain to your neighbor that he will have to restore it anyway. And if it comes to court, you will also demand compensation for the damage caused.
Why is it impossible to mask the smell of sewage?
The air masses that enter the house from the sewer are saturated with hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia and other toxic substances. They are not only “unpleasant to the nose,” but also cause serious health problems. Prolonged exposure to toxins adversely affects the respiratory and nervous systems. Residents of the house may experience frequent bronchitis, rhinitis, fainting, nausea, irritability, and nervous tics.
Air fresheners do not eliminate toxic substances, but only deceive receptors. The air seems clean, although in fact it is not.
Will pipe cleaners help eliminate the smell of sewage?
Such a probability is, if the cause of the smell is in a contaminated water seal. However, it should be borne in mind that “Mole” and similar products do not dissolve hair (but they do well with fat). If the drain is badly clogged, only mechanical cleaning will help.
There are five main reasons for the appearance of a sewer smell in an apartment. To get rid of it, you need to find and fix the problem. The simplest thing that can be is the drying out and clogging of the siphon. In this case, it is enough to clean it and add water. If the reason is different, it would be more correct to call an experienced plumber. The specialist will quickly figure out if there is a leak, whether the pipes are mounted correctly, whether the fan riser works as it should.