You open the bathroom door and smell something coming from the toilet. Eew, what is that? You guess why your toilet smells and mentally prepare yourself to find a gift in the bowl.
There’s nothing in the bowl but toilet water.
You’re certain the smell is coming from the toilet so you investigate. Why does my toilet smell?
A smelly toilet is something that thousands of households deal with each day. We’re taught to flush the toilet after using it and we hide the smell with matches, potpourri, or spray.
After all, leaving an odor in the bathroom is embarrassing if someone walks in after you. Occasionally, our toilets will smell although they haven’t been used for hours or days. It’s on us to figure out the cause.
Working with toilets has given me insight into the many things that go wrong with toilets. Sometimes it’s a result of our own doing, while other times there’s a more serious issue at hand.
In this article, we’ll discuss 7 reasons your toilet smells and what you can do about it. Let’s take a closer look at your toilet!
7 Reasons Your Toilet Smells (And How To Fix It)
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Mold and Mildew Growth Under The Rim
You look into your bowl and it looks clean. So what could be causing the smell? There’s an area of the bowl that you can’t see and it’s located under the rim.
To take a closer look, you’ll need to use a handheld mirror or stick your head in the bowl. It may help to turn the water off to the bowl and flush the toilet (more head space).
Under the rim, you’ll see small “rim holes” where water is released into the bowl after a flush. In this area, you might find that mold and mildew are growing.
These fungi are visible and unattractive. They have a distinct odor and are known to cause health issues as well.
It’s in your best interest to clean it, especially if it’s the source of the smell. Inserting a wire in the holes may improve the strength of your flush.
Fix it:
Even if you routinely clean your toilet bowl, you’re probably missing the top edge of the bowl.
Cleaning the underside of the rim is a fairly easy task. You can use your trusty toilet brush and vinegar or bleach. If you use either of these liquids, make sure to wear gloves.
I suggest pouring a little vinegar or bleach in the bowl, then dip the brush in the liquid and scrub around the top edge. Scrub around the rim of the bowl multiple times with 15-30 minutes between scrubbing.
If the mold and mildew are stubborn, a pumice stone or luffa can help.
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Low Water In The Bowl
If the water level in the bowl is low, it might be allowing air from the pipes to exit through your toilet.
Your toilet, sink, and shower use a “trap” which helps prevent gas, odor, and waste from coming out of your pipes. When the bowl is filled with water, air and gas cannot travel up through the toilet because water blocks air flow.
If you haven’t used your toilet in a long time, water in the bowl can evaporate and the result can be a sewage smell in your bathroom.
Fix it:
Evaporating toilet water only occurs when a toilet hasn’t been used in a long time and the problem should be solved once the toilet is flushed and the bowl is refilled. You might find it at cabins, beach houses, and vacation homes where toilets go months without being used.
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Blocked Vent Pipe (In Wall)
Most people don’t realize that a toilet has a vent pipe. The vent pipe allows gas to exit the pipes and provides an air pressure neutral environment within the pipes.
The vent pipe runs vertically behind the toilet (in the wall) and exits through the roof. It’s uncommon, but a vent pipe can become clogged and cause gas to creep up through the toilet.
The result is a sewage smell entering the bathroom and it’s not pleasant.
Fix it:
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to access the vent on your own. Because it’s inside the wall, the best bet is to look inside the pipe from the roof where leaves, twigs, and even rodents can become stuck.
If you suspect your problem is the toilet vent, I recommend calling a plumber to take a closer look. Rather than removing part of the wall, your plumber can insert a small camera into the vent pipe without an major damage.
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Leaky Wax Ring
Have you ever heard of a wax ring? Most toilets have them, yet it’s unlikely you’ll ever see it.
The wax ring sits on the floor and creates a seal between the toilet and the pipe in the floor. The wax ring is made of real wax and though it can last decades, it can also wear out (especially if there are high temperatures the wax can melt).
Signs of a leaky wax ring are moisture and dampness coming from under the toilet. The floorboards might be wet and if the leak has been present for a long time the floor might begin to rot.
A leaky wax ring is a big problem and should be fixed immediately.
Fix it:
The good news is that most able-bodied people can reinstall a new wax ring. You’ll need to unbolt the toilet and remove it in order to install a new wax ring.
A new wax ring only cost a few dollars but it will take a DIYer an hour or two to complete the project (read more about replacing the wax ring).
If you remove the toilet and notice damp flooring around the toilet, you’ll want to call an expert to assess the damage. Flooring may need to be replaced and the leak could have spread to other areas under the house.
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Common Clog
Even though you may not see any waste in the bowl, there could be a clog lurking under the bowl. A clog in the trap can certainly cause a smell in the bathroom, but you may not realize there’s a clog until the next flush.
If I smell a funky toilet my first action is to flush the toilet and watch the water.
- Is it a normal flush?
- Did all the water go down?
If there’s a clog you’ll likely see a weak flush or water that remains in the bowl. If this is the cause of the odor, then fixing it should be an easy task.
Fix it:
Grab a plunger (this is the correct plunger for a toilet) or a toilet snake. Work the plunger a few times to loosen up the clog or insert the toilet snake in the bowl and extend it all the way.
It shouldn’t take much effort to make a small clog vanish down the pipes. Try to flush again.
If the clog is stubborn, here are a bunch more ways to fix a clogged toilet.
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Something Is In The Tank
If your toilet smells there could be residue left in the bowl. If so, a flush will take care of it.
If the bowl is empty, you might want to check the tank as well. Water in the tank can get smelly if left for a long time without flushing. Mold and mildew can also grow inside the tank and be a potential cause of health issues.
If you have young kids, they may have hidden something in the tank and forgot about it. Hopefully, they didn’t put their pet fish, Nemo, in the tank (that would definitely cause an odor).
Fix it:
If you find the smell is coming from the toilet’s tank, it’s wise to turn the water off, empty the tank by flushing it, and use a sponge or cloth to clean the tank with bleach, vinegar, or baking soda.
After cleaning, allow the tank to dry before refilling.
An additional step would be to add a few cups of vinegar to the tank once it’s filled and allow it to sit for several hours. Vinegar does a great job of eating away stains, scum, as well as bacteria and the best part about vinegar, is that it’s completely natural.
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Bacteria Growth Coming From The Sewage Pipes
During hot, humid summers bacteria can thrive in your sewage pipes. If there’s a bacteria bloom in your pipes and toilet it could result in a foul smell, especially is the bathroom lack ventilation.
Fix it:
This is another easy fix. If you believe that bacteria growth is causing your toilet to smell, add a cup of bleach to the water in the tank and bowl.
Use the toilet brush to mix the bleach and scrub the toilet. Allow to sit for an hour and flush.
I prefer to use vinegar if possible but either option will work for bacteria.
After flushing, wait a few hours until you flush a 2nd time. Waiting will allow the bleach or vinegar to do more work in the pipes under your toilet.
If you were to flush multiple times after the 1st flush, the bleach or vinegar would become diluted and end up far away from the house.
Conclusion
Why does your toilet smell? Well, it can be from a number of reasons but a little investigating will help you find the reason.
In this article, I shared many reasons why your toilet might smell. The reasons ranged from the following:
- Forgetful flusher
- Clog
- Low water level
- Clogged vent pipe
- Leaky wax ring
- Bacteria
- Tank
- Toilet Rim (mold and mildew
Finding the source of the smell shouldn’t be hard as the toilet is a fairly small device. I always give the toilet a flush to make sure there isn’t a clog. Once a clog has been ruled out there are other places to check.
Bleach and vinegar work great to remove bacteria, mold, and mildew. I like vinegar because it’s natural.
Whether you use a natural cleaner or chemical, make sure to let it soak in the bowl or tank. After a while, flush once and allow it to sit in your pipes for a few more hours before flushing a second time.
I hope this article helps put you on the right track to discover why your toilet smells. The toilet is a stinky job, but Toilet Travels is always here to help. As always, thanks for reading and check the blog for more helpful toilet tips.