I live on the top floor of an apartment building and there is a strange smell in one of my bathrooms. I have cleaned it with bleach and poured hot water and bleach down the drains, scrubbed the toilet out, and aired out the bathroom but the smell keeps coming back.
I can't place what the smell is - sort of like plastic or metal but it's definately very strong and it bothers me. What the heck could it be?
2006-12-23 16:20:47 · 9 answers · asked by nachos 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If your bathroom has a ventilation fan, first check to see that the flapper in the fan housing closes when the fan is off. Then turn the fan on. Does the smell get stronger, or does it lessen? If the smell gets stronger, then it is being drawn in from elsewhere, possibly the bathroom below yours. If it lessens, then maybe the source is inside your bathroom.
Put duct tape over your drains to seal them and eliminate that possibility. Don't forget the overflow tube in the bathtub and lavatories. You might also seal off the medicine cabinet with a sheet of plastic to see if that makes the smell go away.
Look to see if there is any evidence of water leakage around the base of the toilet. This could indicate a broken seal between the drain pipe and the toilet. Get a new wax ring--they're cheap.
Since you're on the top floor, look for evidence of a leak in the roof.
2006-12-23 17:32:05 · answer #1 · answered by Tech Dude 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This was happening in our condos: The smells from the lower floors was coming up through the toilet vent that was partly plugged by pigeons.
We had a serious pigeon problem. Once the vents were opened all the way, the smells disappeared. So, whether it's pigeons or something else, it could be the vent from the toilet.
2006-12-23 22:12:19 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i lived on the top floor before too.and we had a smell in ours also.i figured outthat the vent for the bathrooms ran upwards.from the first floor to the top.we had a person that was putting stuff down theirs,and the smell was traveling upwards.they snaked out the drains after i said something to the super.and put some deoderizer in it also.seemed to fix the problem.we also had hot water base board heat in our apt.that ran from the boiler room to upstairs.we had some musty smell there too.good luck,just some things to check.
2006-12-23 16:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by vance w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I worked in a regulation place of work on the same time as in college and that i found that "threats" are a reliable weapon against an inactive Landlord. So particularly write the owner a letter that your house has the type of undesirable smell which you would be compelled to vacate and go right into a inn till the difficulty is resolved. deliver the letter Registered US Mail. do no longer hand supply the letter. Bells in the present day burst off in the Landord place of work and action occurs as they are in charge for the inn when you consider which you may no longer stay in the home. Dramatize slightly yet make the letter now no longer than 10 lines and sign it and date it on the signature . shop a replica of direction of the Letter and the US positioned up place of work Reciept.
2016-12-15 07:10:39 · answer #4 · answered by zell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light the air in the toilet and see if it explodes.(Minor explosion)
Sometimes methane gas will seep up and bubble into the toilet. Since your on the top floor it seems logical. If that is the problem you will need to get a plumber to investigate and offer any solution that may rectify it.( Maybe a flap or tubing exit for pressure relief)
2006-12-23 16:38:47 · answer #5 · answered by mikey 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Call the super. I'll bet that there's a meth lab in one of the apartments below & they are pouring some of the waste products into the drains.
2006-12-23 17:17:11 · answer #6 · answered by No More 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Um...I dont know, Try asking the staff at the apartment building. It could be that something in your pipes or walls or some place could have Mold or something ROTTEN. Im not sure, If I were you, I would ask around and definatly the Staff.
P.S. If you ask the staff and people and stuff, and everyone says they dont know, I WOULD MOVE!!
Rheagan
2006-12-23 16:31:19 · answer #7 · answered by Rheagan(: 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You might have a drain leak sometimes you will smell almost sulfur smell. you can check with your neighbor below and see if their is any leaks.
2006-12-23 19:36:26 · answer #8 · answered by Wiseguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you checked the cabinets for any decaying body parts? Perhaps you should ask your neighbors if they're hiding any dead bodies in the closet....
2006-12-23 16:30:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋