Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - 2nd Floor Toilet Smell
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : 2nd Floor Toilet Smell
towacodaddy
12-31-07, 01:03 PM
I see a few posts on here about sewer smells coming from toilets, but my situation is a little different from the others. It seems like most of the toilet problems people are having are either basement toilets or newly installed toilets. My problem is with the existing toilet in my master bathroom, on the second floor.
About 2-3 months ago, we started to notice that the toilet would clog when relatively little toilet paper was used - more than just a little bit, but not as much as you would think is needed to stop a toilet. So we adjusted to that, but then a couple weeks ago we started to notice a periodic smell of sewage (at least I think that's what it smells like) in the bathroom. For a while I thought it was coming from the sink, so I replaced some of those pipes & flushed it out with bleach, but the smell is still returning to the bathroom and now seems like it's definitely coming from the toilet area. The last couple of days it seems to be more frequent, and today we've smelled it on & off most of the day. The increased frequency may have something to do with the fact that it's school & work vacation so we're all home, and the toilet is getting regular use.
I don't know if the two issues are related, or if the answer changes because it's a second floor toilet, but any thoughts people can offer would be greatly appreciated. If more information is needed, please let me know.
Thanks, and Happy New Year to all you DIY'ers---
About 2-3 months ago, we started to notice that the toilet would clog when relatively little toilet paper was used - more than just a little bit, but not as much as you would think is needed to stop a toilet. So we adjusted to that, but then a couple weeks ago we started to notice a periodic smell of sewage (at least I think that's what it smells like) in the bathroom. For a while I thought it was coming from the sink, so I replaced some of those pipes & flushed it out with bleach, but the smell is still returning to the bathroom and now seems like it's definitely coming from the toilet area. The last couple of days it seems to be more frequent, and today we've smelled it on & off most of the day. The increased frequency may have something to do with the fact that it's school & work vacation so we're all home, and the toilet is getting regular use.
I don't know if the two issues are related, or if the answer changes because it's a second floor toilet, but any thoughts people can offer would be greatly appreciated. If more information is needed, please let me know.
Thanks, and Happy New Year to all you DIY'ers---
chandler
12-31-07, 08:46 PM
It is possible you have a venting problem, and the smell is really coming from a sink or shower adjacent to the toilet. Once the toilet is flushed, without a proper vent, all the water will be sucked out of the ptraps so it can get air. Once you use the sink or shower the traps will fill up. Vent occlusions will require a road trip to the roof with a garden hose (water off) and chug the pipe until the occlusion is cleared. Be careful on the roof and call a pro if you have any reservations. It ain't the fall, but the sudden stop that makes a bad day.
mitch17
12-31-07, 10:39 PM
Not a good time of the year to be on the roof - extra caution should be taken and hire this out if you're at all uncomfortable with the concept. My dad experienced the sudden stop with five broken ribs and a broken collar bone to show for it.