With a leak in this seal sewer gas will find its way out from under the toilet. Identifying the cause of the odor helps you determine its source. Sewer smells in your bathroom can result from a few different issues so youll need to spend a bit of time in the room to sniff out the source.
The bad news is that any number of things can cause a sewage smell in your bathroom and it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the odor.
Sewer smell in basement bathroom. A wobbly toilet can be the single reason for your sewer smell if the seal is compromised you could have waste water seeping from the seal causing a sewer smell. You are filling the trap seal in case its dried out or the water has become nasty over time. Both may require licensed plumbers and specialized equipment. Whether youre dealing with an ongoing sewer smell in a basement or a sewer gas smell in a bathroom that just has not gone away it may be time to consider a sewer inspection by professionals who can recommend sewer repairs or a sewer line replacement.
If you smell sewer gas in your basement the most likely culprit is a dried out water trap. Congrats you did the right thing by pouring water in the drain. The most common reasons are a backed up sewer cracked or rotted pipes that leak clogged drains pipe connections are too loose the vent pipe is backed up or too short there is an old wax ring or a dry trap. Damage to sewer lines can occur where the pipes are not visible such as in walls or under flooring.
The greatest and most difficult to fix cause of sewer smells in basements can be from broken or cracked sewer lines. If thats the case youll have to remove the toilet and replace the wax ring. A certified plumber will be able to address these very common lingering issues. I have seen cases where there is a crack in the p trap and the water slowly drains out of the trap and you get sewer gas coming.
This wax ring can occasionally leak sometimes because of a rocking toilet that has broken the seal. Sewer odor in bathrooms has several different causes. Because of this hiring a plumber who specializes in finding leaks may be necessary. Another culprit for a sewer smell in bathroom could be a bad wax ring seal between the toilet flange and the base of the toilet.
With regards to your basement floor drain. If the toilet rocks use plastic shims between the stool and the floor and caulk the joint. Plumbing drains that lead to a sewer system have a p shaped trap designed to hold a small amount of water providing a seal to keep sewer gas from seeping into the air. Once youve identified where the odor is.
Over time the water evaporates and the smell is allowed to escape.
