Unpleasant Smell in Bathroom

Friends,

Hello, we have a weird smell that comes and goes in the bathroom.  At times it smells skunky and other times it’s smells like garbage (perhaps dead rodent).

Not sure where it’s coming from:  the vent, the drains, inside the walls.  We live in a large apartment building on the 7th floor.  The fact that it comes and goes would suggest its wafting in from the vent?

Any ideas on this?  Should we call a plumber or HVAC guy (if coming from vent). Any recommendations on who is really good at sniffing out the source and solving the problem?

Thanks

jjbel

in Plumbers and Plumbing 13 years and 11 months ago

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Hardcharger | 12 years ago

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Does your air vent have a fan on it? Buildings sometimes share these air ducts, you can hear bathroom conversations floors away, smoking and other smells wAnder in. It is not a great design. It much get involved, but a bathroom exhaust fan might help. I second checking the toilet seal. A bit of caulk or reseating a new wax ring would not be time wasted. What would be the best way to check if the traps are wet?

BHS | 13 years and 11 months ago

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yes, it did occur to me that checking in on your downstairs neighbor might be worth doing as well. You could use the vent smell as a good excuse–ie wondering if they’re having the same issue. Making sure the neighbor is alive and well and a glimpse into their apt to show that they’re not living knee deep in filth will help eliminate possible stench sources.

callalily | 13 years and 11 months ago

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I’m with Dylanfan. 

However, here are a few other options FWIW, based on experience: (1) the seal between the base of the toilet and the floor is broken, and therefore sewer gas is escaping into the room (2) there is a dirty or blocked up pipe or vent somewhere in the building, and in some types of weather, such as when it rains, the smell goes down the air shaft instead of up it.

We had a cracked toilet seal and didn’t even notice! We also have a blocked up vent, and the smells it produces are not sewer gas. Rather, it smells like a very sickly boiled potato or at times like pigeon droppings. There may be a mushroom or something growing in there, but it doesn’t smell like a latrine.

dylanfan | 13 years and 11 months ago

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This may seem like an odd “answer” to your question, but the same thing happened in my brownstone co-op on the UWS in 1999\. Terrible smell coming from bathroom vent, but not constant. Super suggested dead rodent in walls. The smell persisted and at times intensified. Cleaned drains; same thing. Long story short, there were signs that an owner couple of floors below had some psychological issues. We asked his mother (who owned the place) to come and open the apartment. Two board members, managing agent, super and mommy present. When the door opened, everyone had to step back and a couple of people had to get outdoors quickly or be sick. I cannot describe to you the condition of that apartment, but suffice it to say, it was the source of the smell.

jjbel | 13 years and 11 months ago

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Smell has been there a couple of months ( we have been going back & forth with Super).

I’ll try putting plastic sheeting over the vent to see if that stops the smell.  Assuming the smell comes from the vent, would I call an HVAC guy?

Any other thoughts?

BHS | 13 years and 11 months ago

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well if it’s a dead rodent, seems like waiting it out could be the cheapest and least invasive solution. You may be at the peak of the smell right now. How long has the smell been strong? You could even temporarily seal the vent with some heavy plastic sheeting and some painter’s tape.

jjbel | 13 years and 11 months ago

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Our Super is a joke.  He came in and couldn’t figure anything out.  I want to make the repairs myself or hire someone to do it and then deduct from the rent.  

I let a match & blew it out and saw that the smoke was being sucked up into the vent. 

Do you know anyone that can sniff-out where this is coming from?

BobMarvin | 13 years and 11 months ago

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It’s also possible that the vent on the roof could be blocked. If so it can be snaked out. Have you complained to the super or building management?

jjbel | 13 years and 11 months ago

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While my wife has stopped using that bathroom (because of the smell), I still use toilet, sink, and shower daily.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 11 months ago

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Do you use the bathroom much?  Maybe the trap needs to be filled with water to keep the gas out.