I got a message by Samuel C. asking: “I have a constant smell in my bathroom I can’t seem to find or fix. Any suggestions?”

Yes…. You can flush after you’re done.

No, I’m kidding Sam.

The most likely thing you’re smell is sewer gasses. The drains within your bathroom are connected to a central drainage system that is used to transfer waste water out of your home to either an urban sewer line or leach field based on where you reside. The drain lines could contain sewer gasses like Methane and hydrogen sulfide. sulfur dioxide, ammonia and many moredrain repair Toronto.

The method we use to stop these gasses from entering your home is to make use of traps “trap”. What is a trap?

A trap occurs when a woman asks whether an outfit makes her appear heavy. ….. It’s also a U-shaped curve in the drain line which “traps” water creating a barrier between you and an drain system that is open.

The Usual Suspects:

In a bathroom that is full, there are usually three possible traps:

One is under the sink (which is typically located inside the cabinet for vanity)

One is under the shower/tub (which is typically hidden under the floor)

One is in the bathroom (This toilet is integrated into the toilet inside the toilet itself)

A few of these could be the cause of the smell. In general, if the sink trap is defective there will be indications of water damage underneath the trap, indicating that it isn’t holding in water the way it is supposed to. This would be evident on the floor of the vanity cabinet. The tub/shower area can be more complicated since the trap is enclosed and could be leaking into the ceiling beneath if it’s a second-floor bathroom.

In all honesty that the first place I always look as the best place to check is the toilet. Let me tell you the reason.

As I said the toilet has built-in trap. The trap helps the toilet to keep the level of water inside the bowl. If there were no trap it would let the water run down the drain and the bowl of the toilet would be dry and empty. If a bathroom is set up it is placed on the floor using an elastomer gasket.

The ring made of wax is utilized to seal the drain outlet at the floor of the toilet to the drain opening on the floor. When a toilet is set up the ring is positioned over the drainage… and the sink is then dropped on the rings… then the bolts on the toilet (also called closet bolts) are tightened to secure the toilet to the floor. If the gasket ring made of wax fails or doesn’t sit properly? Sewer gasses could escape through the toilet, causing your bathroom to smell strange smell. This can also let water escape, sometimes invisible as each flush could end up damage the floor underneath the toilet.

How To Repair A Toilet Gasket:

1.) Switch off the water supply to your toilet.

2.) Then flush the toilet, and use the handle to flush as many gallons of water out of the bowl and tank as you can.

3.) Connect the supply of water line

4.) Remove the closet bolts that hold the toilet on the floor

5.) Take the toilet straight up and then move it to the side. It is best to put old towels or a drop-cloth under because the wax ring may stick to the bottom and create a mess from anything it comes in contact with. Additionally, it’s difficult to remove all your toilet water without having to pump it out and any tilt will result in it spilling out from under.

6) Now you’ll be able to notice the drain flange sitting in the ground. Scrape off any wax that is left of the flange and make it ready for a new wax rings.

I would suggest purchasing a large Ring with a built-in Flange to ensure the most effective seal. They usually come with new closet bolts , in case the old bolts are faulty.

7.) Make sure you inspect and clean the outlet at the bottom of the toilet to get rid of any extra wax that could remain stuck on the toilet. BE CAREFUL! Like I said, if you tip the toilet , the excess water will spill out. I prefer to move the toilet inside the shower or tub to do this if you can. Additionally, the wax that the rings are made of could cause a mess on objects it comes into contact with. Try to avoid getting it on your flooring, your dog, …. or your children.

8.) Place the new wax gasket on the floor. Position the closet bolts in a way that they’re straight up and ready to go into the toilet.

9) Drop the toilet into place , making sure the bolts are able to slide through the two holes at the bottom of the toilet, then press down. The toilet should feel elevated from the floor when you press it until it’s base is level with the floor. This is the wax gasket ring squished down and forming the seal you want. If the toilet falls on it with loud clack there is a space between drain pipe and the toilet outlet might have been too large for the wax ring to be able to seal. It is possible to add an additional normal wax ring over it to form an airtight seal (this isn’t ideal, and I’d prefer to have a brand new toilet flange put in at the correct height, however it’s not unusual).

10) Close the bolts on the closet making sure not to use excessive torque. There’s no need to install the tires of a racing vehicle here therefore, be patient Monsieur. Goodwrench. You’re just trying to hold the toilet securely, not break the base of the porcelain toilet or break the drain’s flange.

11) Connect to the supply of water, switch on the water, and let the tank fill up.

12) It is recommended to flush the toilet several times to ensure that everything is sealed and there’s no water is leaky out. Voila! …. you’ve installed your toilet in a clean and proper seal.

There can be complications of toilet flanges that are broken, closet bolts, or sub-floors that have rotted. If you notice one of those within your home the issue must be fixed prior to reinstalling the toilet.