2 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 • HOUSE TO HOME
Locate bathroom odors from sewer gas, mildew
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Dear James: Our master
bathroom has mildew
and sewer gas (rotten egg)
odors.
We have tried cleaning
and drying the wash bowl
and tub.
What else should we
check to find the odors?
— Jim T.
Dear Jim: A bathroom has
many areas that can create
odors, so finding sources of
odors can be like finding a
needle in a haystack.
There are many places
for water and dampness to
collect, and some are hidden
from view.
Fortunately, all of these
sources are relatively simple
to repair and eliminate
yourself.
Persistent dampness is the
most common cause of the
mildew and musty odors.
In order for mildew to live
indoors, it must have sources
of moisture and organic
material for nutrition.
Soaps, especially natural
soaps, and oils and dead skin
cells from your body provide
the food source. Always rinse
off the shower walls after
bathing.
A musty, moldy odor is
usually caused by persistent
dampness in a specific area
or two in the bathroom.
For mold and mildew to
thrive in a bathroom, they
just need moisture and some
organic source for nutrition.
This source can be flakes
of dead skin from your body,
soap residue, oils for conditioners,
etc.
Since there also is a sewer
gas odor at times, there may
be a leaky wax ring under
the toilet.
This soft wax ring creates
the seal between the toilet
drain outlet and the sewage
drain inlet pipe when the
toilet is bolted down.
If the toilet is slightly loose
and you can rock it, this
motion may deform the wax
ring and cause a leak.
When the wax ring is
leaky, it allows water and
some wastes to leak out on
the floor. Often, the leakage
stays under the toilet and you
never see it, but it saturates
the lumber below it.
If you can rock your toilet,
replace the wax ring. It is a
very inexpensive part that
you can find at any hardware
store.
If the sewer gas odor is
coming from a bathroom that
is seldom used, the sink or
bathtub trap may have dried
out. The trap elbow should
have water standing in it to
create a water seal to block
sewer gases.
For seldom-used bathrooms,
to be safe, pour a
quart or so of water in the
drains to fill the trap elbow.
Next, check for leaks in the
vanity cabinet underneath
the sink.
Water may be leaking there
without your noticing it.
Deposits of soap, hair and
other gunk collect in the
bottom of the trap under the
sink.
If the plumbing starts to
leak, this is a common spot.
Also the seal where the
sink stopper control arm enters
the drain under the sink
may have become leaky.
You can buy replacement
trap sections and stopper
arm seals.
The trap in the bathtub is
another possible area where
water may be leaking, causing
persistent dampness and
a musty odor.
Unfortunately, this is much
more difficult to repair.
Check the ceiling in the
area immediately beneath
the bathtub.
You may notice a slight discoloration
and a spongy feel
to the ceiling drywall. It may
also feel colder than other
spots on the ceiling.
The musty odor may also
be coming from the bathroom
ceiling vent fan.
If the fan duct outlet is located
inside the wall or roof,
rain water may be leaking in.
This can run down the
duct and sometimes collect
around the ceiling fixture.
Remove the decorative
cover from around the vent
fan, and check for any signs
of moisture.
Send questions to Here’s
How, 6906 Royalgreen Drive,
Cincinnati, OH 45244, or visit
dulley.com.
BY JAMES DULLEY
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