Does your toilet smells like Sulfur or rotten eggs right after the shower or flushing the toilet? Yeah. That’s the most awful reek ever.
Over the year, more than 80% of Americans, 50% of Brits, and 50% of Canadians complain that their houses smell like rotten eggs.
But why does your toilet smell like rotten eggs when you clean it so neatly?
Is it too serious? Of course, Yes. Sulfer smells in the toilet, bathroom, or anywhere in your house (like the sink, kitchen, or outside of the house) are so dangerous and a serious matter for your safety.
How! you can find out reading the article. Today’s topic is all about Sulfur- Aka rotten egg smells in the bathroom and house.
Why Does My Toilet Smell Like Sulfur?
Toilet smells like Sulfur for several reasons. It may come from either outside or produce inside in your house, so it’s important to find out the source too.
Very First Probable Reason for Sulfur Smell In Bathroom due to THE VENT PIPE Deformation
Yes. Vent pipe or Plumbing stack is one of the major reasons for rotten egg smells in the bathroom.
The vent stack is the main air circulator plumbing network- that maintains the air pressure and circulation of all faucets in your house.
A vent pipe is installed to allow the waste air or sewage air to pass easily through the vent stack and prevent the odor from coming back.
Many circumstances, like cyclones, high winds blowing, dust, bird nests, snowfall, etc, can block the vent pipe that runs through the roof.
Any object stuck in the vent pipe causes blockage and prevents the airflow, so the waste air that is going up returns to the faucets and creates a foul odor.
A clogged vent pipe eventually causes a toilet to overflow.
Read More- A blocked Vent Stack Warning Signs.
Second Possible Reason for Rotten Egg Smells in House Due to THE P-TRAP DRIED OUT
Do you know, what is P- trap is? P- trap is a “P- Shape” trap
typically installs to prevent waste smell and air pressure. P trap almost works like a vent pipe but inside the house.
P-trap maintains an amount of water seal inside the P-bends. If you notice there is an extra plumbing system present below the sink, that P-trap.
To equalize the pressure, the air is drawn in from an outside vent while the water drains through the P-trap.
Heavy rain or snowfall, on the other hand, may impede the vent, causing the P trap seal to be pulled out by the flowing water.
You may notice a gurgling sound as air is pulled into the drainpipe, and you may smell like rotten eggs coming from that sink during this period.
The vacuum in the system will suck air from other drainage fittings if it doesn’t have exposure to the outside air.
If you stench sulfur smells after flushing the sink, it might be an indication of a bigger airing problem. Because flushing the toilet also dries out the water from the P trap at the same time.
An accumulation of trash might also cause problems. Due to capillary action induced by coils of fabric and hair along the pipe, water may eventually leak out of the P trap and cause the sewage odor release.
That’s why it’s essential to keep debris out of the P-trap.
Highly recommended- How to clean or Unclog Vent Pipe Without Going the Roof.
3rd Possible Reasons For Rotten Egg Smell in Bathroom Due to THE TOILET or FAUCETS NOT USE FOR a LONG TIME
YES. Faucets or toilets not used for a long period cause rotten eggs in bathrooms because of the water barrier.
Due to a lack of use, water barriers tend to dry out. Because many faucets and toilets in our homes are used often, it is naturally prone to drought.
Run water through the pipe or use it regularly to avoid the stink; the bad odor will fade.
What Does Sulfur Smell Like?
Sulfur smells like Rotten Eggs in one place. Rotten eggs are the most signature odor of Sulfer gas which produce from waste materials.
A strong mixture of rotten eggs and sewer gas, quite distinctive, and very persistent. The smell of Sulfur closes your jaw, and you will not want to breathe.
If you’re smelling it, it’s generally an indication that something is awry.
What are The Symptoms of Sulfur Toxicity?
Sulfur from your house does not much harm you, but the excessive smell can
- Irritating eyes
- Dry throat
- Runny Nose
- Cough
- Vomit
- Headache
- Fainting
- Breathlessness
- Burning sensation on eyes, throat
- Nausea
- Dizziness
What Does It Mean When Your Toilet Smells Like Rotten Eggs?
If your toilet smells like rotten eggs, this indicates that sulfur gas has been released into the home environment and must be vented outside.
Rotten eggs in the bathroom or house indicate there is a big mess up with the ventilation system, and you have to look for it.
Again, Rotten eggs smell indicate of
- Blocked drainage,
- Your septic tank is full
- Broken Drain Line
- Dry up traps
- Clogged toilet ( Read More- How to unclog a badly blocked toilet)
- Cracked Pipe Etc.
Rotten Egg Smell After Flushing Toilet
Rotten egg smell after flushing because the water barrier of Ptrap becomes dry. P- trap sometimes refers to a water barrier that prevents sewage gas backup.
It may cause either not use of particular toilet or toilet is clogged. Irregular use of the toilet may cause the water of the P-trap to evaporate and gradually dry up the bend.
From there, the sulfur smell of waste air starts to release all over the area.
Clogged the toilet drains another cause of Rotten eggs smells after flushing, especially after heavy rain.
What Does Sulphur Smell Indicate?
As previously stated, the rotten egg smell and the sulfur smell are both caused by a major problem with the air vent system.
Other indications like-
- Defect septic tank
- Poor plumbing
- Crack on a sewage pipe
- Leakage
- Blockage- these are the most common signs.
Is Sulfur toxic to humans?
Sulfur is not always toxic to humans unless it exceeds its limit inhaled. If you sniff Sulfur, you have felt like dizziness and vomiting.
Sulfur has a strong- rotten eggs odor, so you may assume how awful it is. But untreated while your toilet smells like Sulfur, rotten eggs that a concerning matter individually a compact house.
Furthermore, the gas contains microbes. That will become toxic for humans.
How to Get Rid of Sulfur Smell in Bathroom
How To Find the Source of Sulfur?
Getting rid of the Sulfur smell in the bathroom is easy, yet you have to find the actual source of the gas.
To find out the gas release, either call a professional or use UV non-toxic smoke.
Cover your house’s main sewer drain and other vents first.
After infusing non-toxic UV smoke via one spout, see which toilets or sinks are contaminated. The smoke will emit from there.
Later on, you may be able to determine where the obstruction is occurring.
How to Fix the Sulfur Smell in The Toilet
To fix the rotten eggs smell in the toilet use-
If you have experienced a blocked toilet with rotten eggs, follow it is definitely the vent pipe or the septic tank.
So it is better to call a plumber because, at that time, the air is already contaminant with harmful bacteria, which is obviously not good for you.
If you have a sink problem, pour some water. So the plug created inside the sink pipe dissolves, and the water can prevent the gas.
This may help you more- Why does my toilet smell like sewage?
FAQs- House Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Q1. Does septic smell like Sulfur?
Septic also smells like Sulfur, but the difference is that the smell is thin rotten eggs with garbage odor.
Q2. Is it safe to shower in water that smells like Sulfur?
Shower water smells like Sulfur means the water is contaminated with high levels of Sulfur that’s why the rotten eggs smell come.
Too much Sulfur may cause stomach pain and abdominal issues. Although, according to Longsecowater.com, many people believe that Sulfur is beneficial for skin, nails, and hair.
Yet, there is limited data to prove these statements. However, eggs, fish, and poultry are the natural sources of Sulfur- these are beneficial for us.
It is obvious that overconsumption or overtreatment with Sulfur may cause GI issues, skin and hair issues.
Q3. Can a Sulfur smell make you sick?
Sulfur is not a sweet fragrance. Our body’s natural system always prefers sweet, pleasant fragrances over foul odors.
We feel faint after sniffing a foul odor and for weeks after the experience of smell.
In general, Sulfur smells like a mixture of rotten gas and garbage decomposing, so it may make you sick and also do too much damage to you.
Q4. What happens when you mix vinegar and Coke?
When you mix vinegar and Coke, the mixture fizzes and produces carbon dioxide gas. The reaction is caused by the acetic acid in vinegar reacting with the sodium bicarbonate in Coke. This reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat.
