Reasons and ways to eliminate odor from the toilet: elimination of installation errors, if there is a problem with a water seal, how to clear the blockage

Toilet fresheners are cool, because they smell differently, they have a bright design, and people love to read their composition so much that soon it can be included in the list of required literature. One problem - if the smell in the room is constant, and not only after your visit, then their effect will last two hours at most, and then again you will have to pinch your nose. Therefore, here I can suggest, as doctors say, to deal with the source of the "disease", and not with its symptoms.

Causes of unpleasant smell from the toilet

You should not immediately become complex because of your uncleanliness. Although the insufficient quantity and quality of cleaning may be the reason, it is far from the only one.

Reference! It's not just about cleaning the toilet. If the walls and / or floors are covered with ceramic tiles, many unpleasant-smelling "surprises" in the form of mold can accumulate between the seams. So don't forget to wipe them down too.

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An unpleasant smell may indicate another, more significant problem - a blockage.

The next reason is a water pipe leak, because of which, after each flush, puddles of water that are imperceptible to you can accumulate behind the toilet. When stagnant, they give the room a damp smell. So if you are not attracted by the atmosphere of old medieval castles, it is better to solve this problem too.

The reason may be poor ventilation.

And, finally, something may be wrong with the sewage system or with the system of connection to it. There can be many nuances here, which I will talk about a little later.

Troubleshooting installation errors

As silly as it sounds, sniff the toilet after you install a new toilet. The installer could have made a mistake with the level of the outlet pipe, placing it higher than necessary. Point this to a negligent employee (even if this employee is you), let him re-read the instructions and rearrange the branch pipe lower.

If corrugated pipe is used, it may also be wrong to position it incorrectly or to over-stretch it. In some cases, you will have to reinstall the corrugation or replace it with a new one, and if the toilet is too far from the sewer, sometimes it may even be necessary to move it closer so that the stretched pipe does not pass smell.

If there is a problem with the odor trap

There should always be water in the siphon, and this is not so that you feel its splash at the most concentrated moment, but to create a so-called water seal. This is a kind of water "plug" standing between the stinking sewer and your sensitive nose. If it completely covers the opening, then nothing threatens your sense of smell.

Incomplete closure of the hole with water can occur, again, due to improper installation of the nozzle, and we already know what to do in these cases. Less often it can be a marriage of the toilet itself, and then you have to reluctantly replace it with a new one.

It also happens: the owner leaves somewhere for a long time, and when he returns, he discovers that his apartment smells far from roses. What is the reason? Banal evaporation of water. Its level becomes lower, and the air from the sewer, easily passing over it, is free.

In such cases, I do this: before leaving, I close the toilet bowl with a lid, and after returning, without opening it, I flush the water. You can use it immediately after filling the tank completely. If residual odors remain, an ordinary air freshener can easily deal with them.

Reference! There is another method that I have not tried, but many say that it helps: pour vegetable oil into the toilet before leaving. In theory, this should work, because it does not evaporate, which means it will hold back the smell well.

Elimination of leaks

They can be both in the connection of the water supply to the tank, and, again, in our favorite sewage system. Most often, the reason is insufficiently tight pipe joints. If there was an error in calculating the diameters, you will have to buy a new one, if not, reinstall it with a large amount of sealant.

And again we return to the corrugation. If too tightly stretched, it can not only let the smell through, but over time it can become covered with cracks, through which its unpleasant contents will seep. Here, too, only its complete replacement will help.

How to unclog a blockage

It would seem a banal and fairly common problem, but you also need to be able to get rid of it.

Well-known chemicals such as "Tiret", "Mole" or "Mister Muscle" will help against small blockages. The main thing is to follow the instructions and make sure that they do not come into contact with the skin. For a large scale tragedy, a plunger will be required, and in the worst case, a special cable for cleaning. In the latter case, I highly recommend not to act on your own, but to seek the help of a plumber.

As a prevention of blockages, simple measures will help: once a month, pour a bucket of hot water into the toilet. This may be enough, but you can mix it with a glass of caustic soda to increase its effectiveness.

If ventilation problems

The most common reason is a banal lack of cleaning. A lot of dust gets into the ventilation, as a result of which it clogs up and performs its functions worse (cases when it gets clogged by spies sneaking along it, we will leave it for Hollywood films). Therefore, during cleaning, do not forget about it too.

The best way to check if the system is working is to bring a lighted match to it. If the flame deviates towards the ventilation, then everything is in order. If not, you will have to call the master.

In general, if funds allow, I always suggest performing a complete reinstallation of the ventilation system, replacing the standard one with a forced one, with a check valve. And as much as you would like to save money, it is better to choose not the ones that are turned on and off by the owner (practice shows that in 90% of cases they are constantly forgotten), and "tied" to the light switch. You go into the toilet, click - and the ventilation turned on, you go out - click, and turned off. Very comfortably.

Toilet hygiene and odor control

And again we go back to cleaning. Even if all systems are in perfect condition, you still have to clean up, and you need to do it regularly. Fortunately, there are now many ways to do this.

If you have a combined bathroom, moisture absorbers will help against the musty smell of dampness. The cutest and most affordable tool is banal silica gel, which can be placed in decorative boxes or vases. The only problem with it is the need to keep away from children and animals, since the balls contain toxic substances inside.

Houseplants such as ferns and lilies are safer options. They not only "draw in" excess moisture, but also absorb unpleasant odors.

Returning to air fresheners, I will say that there are a huge number of them, so it is not necessary to stop at just one banal aerosol. There are automatic systems for spraying aroma liquid, tablets that are attached to the bowl from the inside, special capsules that are placed inside the tank, and much more.

So the path to joy for your nose is just two steps. First eliminate the cause, and then just keep it clean!