Horrible bathroom smell

by Chelsea

+17

Answered

We live in a 1995 single wide trailer. All the plumbing except for the kitchen is centrally located by the bathroom. The washer, sink, toilet, and shower/tub all seem to go into the same area or are connected at some point in the plumbing. Anytime these fixtures are used (except the toilet usually) the bathroom is filled with this horrid odor that comes from under the sink. It's a hard smell to describe. It is downright nasty. I've read that it could be our ventilation pipe on the roof and that it just needs to be rinsed out with water. I'm worried that it could be worse. Any ideas as to whether it's the vent pipe or some thing else entirely? I can answer quite a few questions so feel free to ask!

8 answers

Lagree Wyndham on Jan 22, 2016
Sounds like sewer gas is backing up, sounds like vent pipe...however you say smell come from under sink....check your drain pipes under sink and house..could have some leakage. Any moisture under sink? Any signs of Leaking drain pipes under house?

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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  We've checked under the sink, taken all the pipes apart and unclogged it (the previous owners seriously had no idea how to maintain a house, it was bad down there) and since then it's been dry as a bone. We haven't been under the house yet but as soon as the snow is gone we'll be down there taking care of loads of problems. Thank you!!!
  
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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  I did forget to mention that when we can smell it inside the house we can also smell it outside the house. Not sure if that makes any difference.
  
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- Lagree Wyndham on Jan 25, 2016
  @Chelsea Then you maybe leaking under house. Also are you on city sewer or septic tank. I work in a building in town that is on city and we get awful gas back flow from the sewer, coming up threw drains in floors. We can also smell it outside the building.
  
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Janet Pizaro on Jan 22, 2016
Heres another post on the same problem. Maybe some these answers will help. www.hometalk.com/diy/repair/plumbing/q-how-to-get-rid-of-sewer-odors-in-bathroom-6285933

Sewer odors in the bathroom

View Discussion

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Diana Deiley on Jan 22, 2016
I'm thinking maybe the pipes need to be professionally cleaned. In the meantime, try baking soda and vinegar to declog the pipes, then try pouring some PineSol (blue) into all your sinks and drains for freshness. If all else fails, call a professional plumber! Best of luck.

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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  We've cleaned out all the pipes we can get to. The tub and toilet will have to wait until spring because of it being the dead of winter here lol 3 feet of snow makes it hard to get under a house! Thank you!!
  
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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  I did forget to mention that when we can smell it inside the house we can also smell it outside the house. Not sure if that makes any difference.
  
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- Diana Deiley on Jan 22, 2016
  @Chelsea In that case, call the Mayor's office and ask for assistance with your problem. If you are elderly, or if you have young children, the City needs to help. Definitely don't want sewer gases, methane gas, or anything else that is harmful or dangerous presenting itself and unattended. Are you sure it's not propane gas? Be careful and best of luck.
  
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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  It's definitely not propane gas. I looked up what sewer gas smells like and it was described as a rotting egg smell and that's definitely not what we're smelling. It's more along the lines of a mildew smell if I had to categorize it. I can try getting in touch with someone like that. We do have young children and a baby due literally any day.
  
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- Janet Pizaro on Jan 22, 2016
  @Chelsea Ok lets start from the begining. Start by pouring baking soda which is an odor inhibiter down your sinks.Follow by white vinegar and then very hot water.
  
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MN Mom on Jan 22, 2016
If the odor is that bad, I'd recommend calling a plumber. You don't want to mess around with sewer gas or whatever is causing the smell. Better safe than sorry

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- Chelsea on Jan 22, 2016
  If we could afford a plumber we definitely would have called by now :/
  
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Garry lording on Jan 23, 2016
Are you on a septic system or city sewer. I"m concerned cause of the smell outside. I would definitely first check your vent pipe on roof. Animals like to make nests etc. and depending on your climate they can plug with snow and ice. If your on septic . Have you ever had it pumped out? It should be done every 2-3 yrs depending on family size and usage.

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- Chelsea on Jan 23, 2016
  We have a septic tank. We do have an issue with squirrels. There are 5 walnut trees on the property and they have infiltrated our walls and crawl space. In the spring we'll be hiring an exterminator to remove them and plugging all the holes they've managed to find. It makes sense that they could be a problem. We rent from family who also live on the property and they told me, "It can't be the septic tank because we had this one for your house pumped two years after ours was." But they didn't say WHEN it was pumped. The people living here before us were an elderly couple (they were the original owners) and now it's my husband and I and our 2 year old son. So really not that many people using the toilet.
  
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- Jo Wade on Jan 23, 2016
  Check the vents on roof..squirrels v/s nuts ect and vents that are clogged.
  
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- Judyms9 on Feb 21, 2016
  It's possible you have some cracked tiles in your septic field, sometimes caused by vehicles or heavy equipment going over the field. Ask your landlord about this. The roof vent is the other potential culprit. There are plumbing and DIY sites online that explain how to check and clear the line. An athletic neighbor might take care of it for very little pay, especially if the grade of the roof is not steep.
  
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Duv310660 on Jan 24, 2016
I too vote for a venting problem - have had the same thing in our bath.

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Lynn Sorrell on Oct 17, 2018

add Rid X every 3-4 months to toilets for septic tank and keep all vents clear

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Pat on Oct 17, 2018

What happens if you pour 2 cups of Cloryx bleach down your sink?Do it over night...don't use till morning. Should clean out the Ptrap. That can cause an odor.

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