Your prospective bathroom looks pristine . . . but it certainly doesn’t smell like it is. In fact, there are a variety of pungent odors making their way through it and you have no idea where they might be coming from.
Fortunately, we do and we’re going to help you identify them. Here are 7 reasons for a clean but smelly bathroom.
1. Poor Ventilation
One of the most common causes of a smelly bathroom is poor ventilation. If the bathroom is particularly small, or if its ceiling fan is clogged, it can have a difficult time letting off miscellaneous odors. These odors then have no option but to remain within the bathroom, mixing together and creating one large, unpleasant odor.
Fortunately, this is a problem that you can fix fairly easily. In most cases, it’s as simple as clearing the vent above the ceiling fan. In more extreme cases, additional fans and other ventilation entities might be required.
Opening a window from time to time can have a seismic effect as well. So, if possible, you might want to install a window in your bathroom.
2. A Cracked Toilet
As you might expect, your toilet can be the source of a variety of unpleasant smells. But it should be fine as long as it’s cleaned, right? Not necessarily.
If there’s a crack at the base of your toilet, it could allow unpleasant odors to seep out on a consistent basis. This would undoubtedly leave your bathroom smelling bad.
Not to mention, it could eventually lead to severe water damage, especially considering that this problem tends to grow worse over time. As such, you need to keep an eye on your toilet and replace it the second you notice a crack in its base.
3. Backed Up Sewage Line/Septic Tank
Another reason that a bathroom might smell bad is that the septic tank/sewage line is backed up. If this is the case, raw sewage is literally just on the other side of the drains. It stands to reason that it would create an unpleasant smell.
Fortunately, this is a problem that you can rectify. As long as you have the septic tank emptied or the sewer line cleaned, the backup will cease to be, and the smell will go away entirely.
Not to mention, you’ll save yourself from full-on sewage backup, which is one of the most mortifying problems known to humankind.
4. Clogged Drains
Over time, drains take on a substantial amount of residue. This residue runs the gamut from toothpaste to hair to saliva to general mold and bacteria. As it accumulates, its smell strengthens, causing it to permeate the entire room.
As such, if a bathroom smells bad currently, there’s reason to believe that the drains are to blame. The good thing, however, is that they can be cleaned with ease.
Liquid drain cleaners will help to eliminate a decent portion of the residue within a drain. However, at some point, you might need to have the drain snaked by a professional plumber. This snake will free up the blocked pipes, allowing them to dispose of residue in a quick and efficient manner.
5. Dry Water Traps
At the bottom of every bathroom’s drain is something called a water trap. This is positioned to catch water as a means of preventing sewage gas from escaping.
The issue arises when this water trap isn’t used. If it goes unused, it dries out. And when it dries out, it starts to emit the smells of all of the liquids it’s absorbed over time.
As such, if your bathroom has a funky smell, you might want to take a look at your water traps. These are fairly easy to access, and can often be replaced by the average homeowner. If you need help replacing yours, a local plumber could help you to facilitate the task.
6. Water Contaminants
There’s also a chance that your water is causing an unpleasant smell. See, water is filled with all sorts of contaminants. And while it’s not true of them all, some of these contaminants emit foul and disgusting smells.
The most prominent water contaminant is hydrogen sulfide. This produces the “rotten egg” smell with which well water is often associated. It can be removed with the use of chemical injection systems.
Other contaminants that can cause poor smells in water include coliform bacteria, iron, and manganese, to name just a few. Make use of water conditioning systems in order to keep these contaminants at bay.
7. Clogged Air Ducts
Odds are, you have air ducts leading into your bathroom. If so, and if those ducts are dirty, there’s a chance that they could be making your bathroom smell, well . . . awful.
See, over time, these ducts incur a great deal of dust and other debris. This debris can have a pungent odor, which can then be blown through an entire home at the hands of a furnace or air conditioner.
So, if you can’t seem to get rid of that bad smell in your bathroom, turn to your duct system. It might be time to do away with all of that dust and debris.
A Smelly Bathroom Isn’t Necessarily a Dealbreaker
Though a smelly bathroom can certainly be a reason to turn down a prospective home, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a dealbreaker. Regardless of what’s causing the smells to present themselves, it can be fixed. It’s just a matter of whether the additional price justifies the purchase.
Need help getting to the bottom of a prospective stinky bathroom? If so, and if you’re looking for a professional bathroom inspection in Cleveland, Ohio, we here at Class Home Inspection are the people to see.
Contact us now to schedule an appointment!