Why Does My Toilet Smell?: 5 Common Causes

Have you got a bad smell in the bathroom that lingers even after cleaning? You’ve probably tried all the cleaning products you can find, but you’re still left with a bad smell coming from the toilet. If you’re unsure what to do next, we’ve got you covered. 

In this guide, we take you through the 5 most common causes of a smelly toilet and what you can do to solve this issue. From clogged drains to damaged toilets, find out everything you need to know about toilet smells. 

  • What Causes the Bad Smell Coming From the Toilet?
  • 1. The Water Has Evaporated in Your P-Trap
  • 2. The Toilet Drain is Clogged
  • 3. The Vent Pipe is Blocked
  • 4. Bacteria is in Your Toilet
  • 5. The Wax Sealing Ring is Damaged 
  • Experience Fresh Smelling Toilets with Woosh

What Causes the Bad Smell Coming From the Toilet?

You may have guessed it, but the odour you can smell coming from your toilet is probably caused by sewage gases. These sewage gases can come up through the toilet or various other areas of your bathroom. 

If left untreated, the bad smell coming from your toilet can be hazardous to your health so it is best to find out what is causing the issue immediately. Here are the 5 most common areas to check if your toilet smells even after cleaning. 

1. The Water Has Evaporated in Your P-Trap

The P-Trap is a section of your toilet system. If you look under your toilet, you will see a U-shaped pipe. This is the P-Trap. A functioning P-Trap works by stopping sewage gases from entering your bathroom through the toilet pipes with leftover water from flushing. The water effectively blocks any sewage gases from seeping into your bathroom. 

However, if the water in the P-Trap evaporates, sewage gases can come out through the toilet. This usually occurs in toilets that are not used very often. If you see there is no water in your toilet, give it a few flushes, and the P-Trap will fill with water again. This will stop any more sewage gases from entering your home. 

2. The Toilet Drain is Clogged

Although your toilet may be flushing normally, small blockages in the pipes could still be present. If left untreated, these clogs can cause an unpleasant smell, leading to a bad smell coming from the toilet. You can use a liquid drain unblocker or drain snake to remove any small blockages. This will loosen and remove any remaining blockages, leaving you with a fresh-smelling bathroom once more. 

3. The Vent Pipe is Blocked

A vent pipe is used to prevent any sewage gases from entering your home. The vent pipe is connected to the plumbing system and extends out through the roof, allowing sewage gases to flow outside and air to flow in. If this vent is blocked, sewage gases won’t be able to escape, meaning the gases will end up flowing into your home. 

To remove the smell in the bathroom, check if your vent pipe is blocked. Debris or even a bird’s nest could be blocking the pipe!

4. Bacteria is in Your Toilet

Even though you have probably scrubbed and scrubbed your toilet, the smell coming from the toilet might still be lingering. One reason for this could be microorganisms seeping into the toilet bowl and staying there. This is common during the summer months when it is hot and humid. 

Add some bleach to your toilet tank to combat these microorganisms, and then flush the toilet. The flushing will thoroughly clean the whole toilet system, eliminating harmful bacteria. 

5. The Wax Sealing Ring is Damaged 

If your toilet is old, it is worth checking if the wax sealing ring is damaged. The purpose of the wax sealing ring is to create a barrier to stop sewage gas from entering your home through the gaps between your toilet and pipework. You can tell if the wax sealing ring is damaged by moving the toilet slightly. If the toilet wobbles or rocks, the wax sealing may be broken. 

If you think the wax sealing ring is broken, you should call a plumber to come out and fix it instead of trying to do it yourself. Repairing a damaged wax sealing ring involves removing the toilet completely so it’s best left to the professionals to handle this job! 

Experience Fresh Smelling Toilets with Woosh

Once you have identified and fixed the problem of a bad smell in the bathroom, you will start to notice the smell disappearing. To speed up this process, you could invest in air fragrancing to eliminate any remaining bad odours. 

At Woosh, we have a range of air fragrancing products to help maintain the smell of a freshly cleaned washroom. Contact us today to keep your washroom smelling pleasant the eco-friendly way. 

Smelly Toilet FAQs

Why is there a weird smell coming from my toilet?

The most likely reason your toilet has a weird smell is sewage gases coming out of the system. Toilet systems have several different ways of removing this smell from your home, but if you have a smelly toilet, one of these preventative measures may be broken. 

How do I get rid of sewer smell in my bathroom toilet?

You should check the 5 most common places where sewage gases can seep out if you have a bad-smelling toilet. These areas include: 

  • The P-Trap
  • Toilet Pipes
  • Vent Pipe
  • The Toilet System and Toilet Tank 
  • Wax Sealing Ring

Blockages or damage to these areas can result in sewage gas flowing into your home. If you have a bad smell coming from your toilet, check these areas and fix any issues immediately.

How do you get rid of sewer smell fast?

Once you have checked the 5 most common areas that can release sewage gases and have had any issues fixed, you may be wondering how to remove any lingering smells from your bathroom. You can simply open a window to air out the room or use air fragrancing to keep your bathroom or washroom smelling fresh. 

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