Strong sewage smells that come from your toilet are symptoms of serious plumbing problems. These offensive odors are not only embarrassing, but harmful to your family, friends and pets. This odor can be coming from a number of different places, and may be something you can repair on your own.
The first thing you want to check is to see if your P traps located under your sinks have water in them. If the water has drained out, sewer gas can travel up through the pipes causing the sewer odors. This is generally a loose or worn water seal that simply needs to be replaced. A local professional plumber can complete this job with relative ease.
If the odor is also coming from sinks, you may have a layer of slime and bacteria that is growing in the pipes. First try pouring hot boiling water down your drains and see if the smell disappears. If you are on a septic system, do not add bleach to the boiling water, as that may harm the good bacteria in the septic tank. City water or city sewer systems can have a little bleach down the drain, and that can be mixed with the water. Be very careful not to burn yourself or splash any chemicals in your eyes. If the odor persists after this, you should consider contacting a local professional plumber, as you may have a more serious problem.
Severe odors are often signs of more serious problems, including broken or leaking pipes, or a broken, loose or degraded toilet seal. Hidden pipes (especially vent pipes) may have cracked or you may need a drain line repair. If you can not remove the odor with the steps listed above, contact your local professional plumber to have the problem resolved.
