Thread: Bathroom odors
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Pavel314[_2_] Pavel314[_2_] is offline
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Default Bathroom odors

On Jun 27, 3:47*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
In one of our three bathrooms, we have a slight sewer gas odor.
But, even a slight sewer gas odor is unpleasant, so I need to fix
it.

The odor is not coming through the shower or lavatory drains,
but from the commode area. *We have tried airing out the room,
then not using this bathroom for two or three days, but the odor
remains. *The toilet bowl holds the normal level of water, so
I don't think it is coming up through there.

The only thing I can think of is the wax ring must have deteriorated,
although I have not ever heard of this happening. *Our house is
sixteen years old, and we have lived in much older houses, and
never had to replace a wax ring.

I don't think it makes any difference, but we are on a septic system
since we are outside city limits. *The system is working properly, and
has recently been pumped out. *This did not have any effect on the
odor.

I'm too old and stiff to tackle the job of changing the wax ring myself,
but wonder about how long of a job this might be since I'll hire it out.

All comments welcome and appreciated.

Bob-tx


Before you change the wax ring, check under the rim inside the bowl. I
had a similar problem years ago with a toilet that smelled for no
apparent reason. Using a mirror and flashlight, I discovered that the
back drain holes under the rim had become closed off with mineral
deposits over the years. Since the water wasn't rinsing back there
with every flush, it allowed odor-causing bacterial to build up. I
opened all the holes with a nail and solved the problem.

Replacing the wax ring isn't difficult; unscrew the two bolts holding
the toilet to the floor, lift it off the pipe, tip, remove old wax
ring, put on new wax ring, re-install. An experienced plumber should
be able to do it very quickly.

Paul