Every homeowners takes special care when it comes to the bathrooms in their home. Realters have said that bathrooms and kitchens sell houses. On any home show on television the bathroom always seems to be the focus. Even with the best plumbing and the nicest bathroom a homeowner can experience problems that are out of their control.

One of the more common issues that homeowner, s face when it comes to their bathroom is the smell of sewage coming from the bathroom drains. The smell alone can be nauseating and gross to the senses.  It can pose a severe health risk to you and your family because the gases that are being spread through your house. There are several ways to fix the problem and some of them can be dome by the homeowner, others should always be done by a professional plumber. If you smell sewage in you’re bathroom drains you should contact Streamline Plumbing today.

Causes of the Sewage Smell in my bathroom

Dry-P-Trap

A dry P-Trap is a U shaped pipe that is located underneath the sink or drains in your bathroom. It is used to trap water beneath the drain, preventing sewer smells from the bathroom. If this is a bathroom that is not used regularly, there is a possibility that the water in the P-trap will dry out. With a dry P-trap the sewer gases can flow freely in your bathroom.

Fixing the problem is easy. Just run some water into the sink for a minute or so, this should fix the issue. You can also add a little baking soda into the drains to eliminate any clogging and give it a fresh smell.

Shower Drain Clogs

Hair is the main thing can cause a clog in your shower drain. However, soap, shower gel, dead skin, and other debris might cause your shower drain to be clogged. If your shower drain starts to fill up or flood the drain when you shower and notice the smell of sewage your shower drain could be backed up.

The solution to a clogged shower drain is relatively simple and you can do it yourself. It can be very messy. If getting your hands dirty isn’t something your into than you should call a professional to fix it.

If you decide that you want tot try and fix it yourself , these are the steps you need to take. First, unscrew the shower drain cover. Pour a mixture of vinegar and hot water slowly into the drain in a continuous stream and than add one up of baking soda and let it sit for two or more hours.

baking soda is great a treating a clogged shower drain and should be enough to loosen the deposits in the drain. You can also use a drain brush to removes any solid debris that might be trapped in the drain. After you have completed these steps you should run clean water through the drain for a few minutes. Screw the drain cover back on and you should be good to go.

Damaged Toilet

Most people have toilets for a long time and they become damages overtime just because of wear and tear. This could be the reason you  have sewer gas leaking into your bathroom.

For example, when the wax seal at the base of your toilet comes loose, creating tiny gaps that can cause smelly sewer gas into your bathroom. Small crack in your toilet tank or bowl can cause water leaks resulting in a drop in water levels in your toilets P-trap. Low water levels, like a dry P-trap might allow sewage gases into your bathroom. This is not something that you should try and fix on your own. It is best to call a professional to have this issue repaired.

Broken, Clogged or poorly installed vent pipes

The vent pipe in your bathroom is your sewage system’s breather. When it get clogged sewer gases back up into the sinks and the toilet resulting in your bathroom’s sewage smells. There may be a bubbling sound coming from the toilet or drain as the gas forces its way up the pipes.

Possible causes of a blocked vent pipe could be poorly installed pipes, blockages caused by solid objects such as small toys that make their way into the vent. A professional should check and remove any blockages.

Bacteria Build-Up

Your sewer system is a breading ground for harmful bacteria that can be in your restroom and multiply around the toilet bowl area, eventually becoming the thing that smells in your bathroom. This is more common during the summer season when it’s hot or your bathroom doesn’t have a fan or ventilation system.

Using bleach can be effective at cleaning around the the toilet area and eliminating bacteria. However, you will need to do more than throwing some bleach in the toilet bowl. The best option is to flush some bleach to the toilet tank and flushing through a few times. they may eliminate the smell in your restroom.

Full Septic Tank

If your home or business uses a septic tank and you notice a smell in your bathroom, it may be possible that your septic tank is full. When your septic tank is full there a few signs you may notice besides the smell, like bubbling sounds from the toilet and drains, and your toilet function may be sluggish.

The only repair for this is to drain your septic tank. The septic tank should be drained regularly on a schedule so it doesn’t ever get to full. Also it should be maintained and serviced regularly.

Sewer Back-Ups

If you smell sewage after a rain storm, it could be sewer back up from the cities sewer system. The excess runoff water can backflow into individual sewer lines. This excess runoff may not flow back into the sewer system if the pressure is not high enough. The sewage gases also may get trapped in the lines causing the smell.

This is usually out of your hands and you may just have to wait. You can install a backflow valve in your sewer line can prevent sewer water from backing up into your home in the future.

Why Call Streamline Plumbing if your bathroom smells like sewage 

Having a sewage smell in your bathroom is usually a sign of something else that is going on or a bigger plumbing problem. The sewage smell can also pose a health risk; it can also be embarrassing for the homeowner. You should handle this plumbing issue immediately.

If you have tried the at home, do-it your self remedies and the problem continues, it may be time to call in the experts. Streamline Plumbing in Orange County has a team of trained experts who can identify and repair the sewage smell problem in your bathroom.

Our licensed professional have the tools, technical expertise, and plumbing experience to handle the the situation, saving you the stress of plumbing issues in your home.

Streamline Plumbing offers all plumbing services including water heater services, drainage and sewage system repairs and replacements, and all other plumbing services in the Orange count area.

Streamline plumbing can give you a professional estimate or even a second opinion on a plumbing job. Call today if you have a sewage smell in your bathroom.