Your house is often the source of many different smells. From people, to your laundry, to food smells, there are plenty of different odors. Some of them will be positive while others will be a cause for concern. If you are finding that you start to notice some odd smells coming from your bathroom regularly, and not just after you’ve used it, you should investigate as that could be a problem that needs your attention. Here are four potential causes of unpleasant smells in the bathroom.
Clogs
If your drainage system is clogging as well as smelling, this could signify a problem that is causing foul odors to spread in your bathroom. The reason for this is because in addition to causing trouble for the flow of water, these clogs trap a lot of dirt and bacteria that will continue to fester in the clogged area. Hair, soap scum, different bodily fluids and oils can all contribute to the buildup and problematic clog, that eventually leads to still water or a slow drain. Standing water will then translate to that rotting, damp, or expired smell that fills your bathroom. In order to address this, clear the clog, snaking out the dirt if you have to, and clean it from any leftover residue. It is also a good practice and habit to regularly brush your hair, as that can be a main culprit when it comes to what causes your clogs.
Dry Pipes And Unused Plumbing
Still water is one way that can cause problematic smells to spread in your bathroom for several reasons, but that is not the only way. Dry pipes also create a situation that can contribute to bad odors. If you have a bathroom that you do not use frequently, perhaps in the basement or in a less used part of your home, this may be a contributing factor to bad odors. Under your sink, your pipes from a U-shape. This holds water between uses. However, if your sinks don’t get used frequently, the water can then dry up. This becomes a problem because the water in your P-trap, as it is also known, acts as a barrier against some of the smells that can be in your plumbing. With the water dried up, the smells are then able to be emitted and spread freely. The way to correct this is to run your water frequently enough to keep them from drying up.
Burst Or Cracked Pipes
Another way that smells can form and spread through your bathroom, as well as other parts of your home, is from broken or cracked pipes. Understanding this, the professionals at All Service Plumbers will relay the fact that such problems are not limited to just your bathrooms, but also other rooms like your basement, your kitchen, your laundry room, or anywhere else that has plumbing systems running through them. Depending on the pipe that has burst or cracked, the water inside it will be dirty, which will then translate to having a foul odor or smell as the water continues to build up. That dirty water can then be absorbed through different materials like your flooring and walls if not addressed, and then cause more problems with an even worse smell. This occurs in pipes that return water after being used, but pipe damage in your systems that bring water to you can still contribute to bad smells, as moisture can result in a damp, wet smell. To solve this issue, make sure that there are no leaks or cracks in your plumbing, be aware of puddles and moisture buildup, and have any issues fixed immediately before they become too much to manage.
Dirty Bathroom
Bad odor doesn’t always have to be an issue with your plumbing. If you have inspected all the potential trouble sources that you might be considering in terms of pipes and other plumbing, it may just be an issue of needing a good cleaning. As dirt builds up with bacteria, they can let off a bad odor. Make sure to clean your bathroom regularly as mold can result for parts of your bathroom that have too much standing moisture. Make sure you are ventilating your space to avoid that buildup, and get rid of contributors to those issues like wet cloths, towels, and mats.
Make sure that you have good bathroom practices and that you know what to look out for when it comes to the smells in there. Granted, not all the unpleasant odors will need to set off your alarms, but it is important to know the difference between natural bathroom smells, and ones that can indicate trouble.