Turns out we just needed to keep water in the drain. I hope this helps, he said if the drain isnt installed properly to start with, it will create this problem . There are scattered voids in the wall grout. We had that problem in our basement bathroom. If it isn't already. Sorry for over comments.we also don't know if the shower pan (floor under tile) was done correctly, Grout needs to be revealed ever 5 or so years. You should never ignore sewage smells in your home. Cleaning pink mold in the shower necessitates a two-step process. The dark line at the wall and around the drain are telling you that it's beyond efllourescence. @Tom Is it possible that all your drains aren't vented the same way? We need wall weep drains like in the old plastic shower pans. This is driving us crazy! It is completly possible for you to do yourself, if it is mold then I would recommend getting help if you don't want to redo the shower yourself, i recommend one of the companies like Home Service Pro or Angies list. I keep thinking maybe the drain for this shower has a venting issue. It sounds more like sewer gas. Drainage pipes are designed to keep sewer gases contained, so if you're smelling these gases in your bathroom, then you likely have a leak somewhere in your drain line. The shower is rarely used but when it is, the smell appears for a few hours as it dries. We are here to help you make sure your plumbing system is in tip-top shape so you can avoid costly issues and enjoy refreshing showers without being disturbed by assaulting odors. Next I tried the bleach just down the drain and that worked, again just for a few showers. I love this! It won't last. it could be a bad seal (wax ring) on the commode? If you use the concentrated Dawn, (and intend to rinse this down while standing inside the shower), you should probably try just 1 part Dawn to 3 or 4 parts vinegar, depending on your water hardness. There are scattered voids in the wall grout. Some other options for clearing out a drain clog include: Another possible source of odors coming from your shower drain is a dry or dirty P-trap. let set an hour or so. later spritz more of the solution on and scrub with a hard nylon brush and wipe it all out with minimal water and rags. If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards? Mold doesn't always smell either but rotten materials could. ?Makes sense, you mix body scales, dead skin cells, and a myriad of Natural / organic and chemical soaps and the fatty oils and skin cell soaked moist floors will breed Serratia marcescens. I have installed river rock tiles in a number of showers and had no problems with them. If shower pan floors are not install correctly the water could be pooling under the concrete and is unable to drain. You should call someone about having your water tested . Is there a way to put the duct tape on that would work better to hold the liquid (I put the sticky side against the drain cap), or is this just an indication of how porous my grout is? The Grout Medic of Dallas-Fort Worth will literally blast away the musty smell in your shower by getting to the source of the problem. For instance, if you have old cast iron pipes in your home, they may need to be replaced entirely with new pipes. If your shower drain smells like a sewer, then this is a sign that your P-trap may not be doing its job of blocking sewer gases from escaping into your bathroom. have you figured out whats causing the smell in your bathroom? If the bleach doesn't help try locating a good plumber and let them find the problem. My hot water smells like rotten eggs, what is going on ? We're going to cover the possible causes for the smell along with how to get rid of smelly drains in showers, including: When you notice new shower drain smells that are making you wrinkle your nose in the bathroom, the first thing you want to do is take note of what type of unpleasant smell it is so you can determine the possible source of the smell. not an issue. Grout doesn't smell it's grout. Have you recently been in your bathroom and wondered, why does my shower stink? Each time we shower, more germs, bacteria, and other contaminants to seep into the porous surface of our grout. @Janet Brandon I know this is confounding to most of us and I'm sure there's a reason but we have real good water here. Indem Sie auf Annehmen klicken, stimmen Sie dem zu. In regards to effloressence. We have the same issue in our tiled shower. Whether you are dealing with a stubborn clog, a leaky pipe or any other plumbing issue, our licensed plumbers will expertly diagnose the issue and discuss the options for fixing it. vinegar > sulfamic > muriatic being the most agressive and always my last choice. It's even safe on glass :). Just level it with grout. Have you tried running the water cold to rule out the anode rod. Had the same problem at our church (sounds like anyway). It is a spec house that the developer lived in until it was sold to us 3 months ago. Sounds like sulfer in the water to me too. You even develop a layer of biofilm on your teeth, known as plaque, in between brushes. and then reseal. I agree with Diane! I agree on waterproofing but someone using a waterproofing base and then an epoxy grout sometime creates a seal between the tow which is good until a corner or seam fails. I expect they put 6mil plastic on the walls and a rubber floor? This check-up involves no cost and no obligation. Our shower is a built in stall, no tile or grout. We have an under the kitchen sink filter. Want to master Microsoft Excel and take your work-from-home job prospects to the next level? In addition to cleaning your grout and tile, our grout cleaning service includes grout sealing, which will help deter water and contaminants from seeping into the pores of your grout. During that short visit, you will receive a quote for your grout and tile cleaning service, and you can schedule your service immediately. Apply it generously with a dry cloth, and leave it on for a while. A popular option to try which does not require the use of any chemicals is to snake the drain, so we'll focus on how to unclog a shower drain with a snake. If you're dealing with a mustier or general odor, then your P-trap could still be the problem, but in this case, it likely needs to be cleaned. This should clear out any grime or debris clinging to the inside of your P-trap and causing odors. My current theory is that the smell came from a combination of strong smelling shampoo/soap my guests had used and water that dries slowly in the Travertine tiles. What is the best way to get rid of them? That's a ScumBuster by Black and Decker. This is a common issue since the shape of a P-trap can cause grime to settle. The subfloor was not level, what this did was create a channel of water behind that durock with no where to go and ferment. THREE plumbers have looked at the shower, and we still don't have a solution. IE strip color from grout with each succesive cleaning start with the safest approach and work up. At the builders recommendation I have (not all at once but on different days) scrubbed with tilex, bleach solution, scalding hot water and I have pour these all down the drain. Fyi baking soda and vinegar will cause a chemical abrasive reaction that will bubble dont be alarmed. I hope this helps . Mr. Rooter of Greater Syracuse Is Your Local Plumbing Expert, Pulling the clog out by hand if you can reach it, Using a plunger to draw the clog up to the surface, Pouring boiling water down the drain to help dislodge the obstruction, Pouring a chemical cleaner down the drain to dissolve the clog. Cementitious grout allows ventilation. It is not used as frequently as the others. You would be shocked at the things we have seen. Check with your hardware store and/or plumber and see if they can give you some advise. Besides, vinegar may damage travertine stone, stain it or discolour it. It's something I'd like to do myself. If moisture soaks through the tile grout, then it can bring out the sewer smell that you are smelling. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Since there are nearly endless types of bacteria, there can be many types of biofilms in the shower. What Is a Shower P-Trap, and How Can It Cause Odors? BTW, I have a flat rock floor I installed many years ago and still going strong. And maybe it really will need to be redone. I've tried sealing the grout 3 times and then used an impregnator on it to stop the pink mold but now I've got a weird orange colored something or other that won't go away. He stated that it could also possibly be a leak running down behind the tile, and getting into the shower pan ,where its collecting and then more and more water will get into the shower pan and then the smell will come up, due to it being stagnant water, underneath the tile.. Nothing wrong with using a pebble or flat rock floor. I do tile work. Unfortunately, in some cases, bathroom odors may be due to more serious issues that require professional help. Houzz nutzt Cookies und hnliche Technologien, um Ihre Benutzererfahrung zu personalisieren, Ihnen relevante Inhalte bereitzustellen und die Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu verbessern. We have a similar smell in the bathroom at work. @Lana Smith Lemons I'm almost 99.9% sure it's not the trap.Among other things, I've tried and considered, I've even plugged up the drain 7 minutes into my shower, before it starts to smell, and the odor still came on a few minutes later. When you first sealed it TWICE what type sealer was used? How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If water gets saturated into the base of the shower, then there should be some gravel around it so the water can soak through and go down into the drain pipe. Let it alone for a couple hours before running shower. Pink? Well, clean the grout well. The smell comes from the shower. Sounds like you feel that it is not a water/plumbing/sewer problem. If I would have known all this BEFORE we updated our bathroom --- well should of could of would of :( - thanks for all the advise! 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I will be sure I got that correct. We just bought the house and it looks like the previous owner tiles over tile and the grout isn't the best, but I SWEAR the smell is coming from the drain. @Shelby @ The Weathered Barn Studio Does your boyfriend know of a website that would be good to connect with contractors that clean and/or rehab travertine. It is definitely something with the shower floor. Can I put small river rock/pebbles in a shower tray? I feel your pain with this type of shower floor! In many cases, if you are smelling biofilm in your bathroom, it may be coming from the drain, so just keeping the walls and floor of your shower clean is not enough. Much help needed! TIA, Your help with this Kitchen Layout, please : ). OMG no subfloor or concrete. :). This biofilm has a pinkish or orangy tone. Our grout cleaning system heats simple tap water to about 310F and delivers a blast of steam to every crack and crevice inside your shower. To remove biofilm from your drain, first, remove the drain cover and clean it. There are grout cleaning companies that can use a pressure washer to remove the efflorescence from the tile and grout. Sounds like the" weep holes" around the drain flange are clogged or have some kind of issue where its not letting the water drain out of the pan. I do not like them, they will be dated soon enough still Ellsworth has a great point about grout selections. The three plumbers that assessed the situation for us couldnt figure out why the smell only starts after 7 minutes of running water. Maybe worth a try? Provincial and local laws may impact the services this independently owned and operated franchise location may perform at this time. best grout cleaning company in Dallas-Fort Worth, The Advantages of Using a Dallas-Fort Worth Grout Cleaning Company. Any recommendations on a good shower cleaner for the pebble? Plug up the drain or duct tape the opening to isolate the drain. The second picture tells me they probably opted for a membrane under the shower floor and presumably under the hardibacker wrapped over the shower dam, however, attaching the hardi backer this way punctures the waterproofing on the inside of the shower dam. Sure sounds like the water to me. Sounds like we've got a mess on our hands that might be beyond a "cleaning"! I hope your shower doesn't require a reinstall, but best wishes to you with whatever your situation really is. Question #2: Is it harmful for our health? Showers need maintenance and caulks especially colored ones fail. Perhaps too , a mold has developed under the grout which would be really unhealthy . Mr. Rooter is a registered trademark of Mr. Rooter LLC, Backflow Prevention Device Testing & Repair, Laundry Center Plumbing Repairs And Installation, Trenchless Sewer Line Repair Pipe Bursting, Backflow Prevention Device Testing Repair. I didn't want to sound like I was sure but no I cant imagine the grout smells. There are plenty of cleaners and one that comes in a green bottle at every grocery stores works great. remember acids are corrosive and will etch grout and stone. and it only shows up in this shower and not in the other two showers nor at the other points of hot water use? But question is what does smell. He also stated it could be this ..: I would probably try bleach but eventually replacing the grout sounds like the only option. It won't work. One other thing I have found often when remodeling/ changing out tile is that the person who installed it may or may not have done the surface prep for the shower well. Tom, I see that this post is from five years ago, but I sure hope you still check this forum. I agree with Arthur and Trudy, sounds like the hot water. I looked on the 'net for similar problems and I came across a contractor on some website that described an identical odor and said that he discovered that it was something in the grout. Use this process of elimination to isolate the source. Now that I have a brand new hot water heater, I'll have to see if I still have the problem. Ceramic Tile Advice Forums - John Bridge Ceramic Tile. I can't speak to the water line but I think it will need to be checked and it is one or the other. (This plan from my research). The problem is this residue is insoluble and is very difficult to remove. So frustrating! I used to be a contractor and was raised in the industry. It may be sewer gas! Scheduling a cleaning at least twice yearly with The Grout Medic of Dallas-Fort Worth will keep your shower safe and clean and free of embarrassing odors. Just rinse it off when you are in there showering next time, using a little caution in case you have suds, but there is almost none anyway. The service professionals at Mr. Rooter of Greater Syracuse are here to help you with all your plumbing needs, so all it takes is one phone call to deal with even the most serious plumbing issues. Looks more like that is what the real color of the grout is, and the other areas are waterlogged darker, and having issues drying out because of the pan having the pre slope improperly done and the weep holes to the drain blocked. April, like you, I wouldn't know much about a good vs. bad shower install. Drain clogs are a common issue because numerous factors can easily contribute to clogs, including: Most clogs will consist of a combination of these items. If you have been dealing with a musty shower odor, you likely have shopped for shower cleaners, or even searched the Web for environmentally friendly solutions. Looking for advise on how to remove the white residue in the grout in our shower basin? It is not the drain trap. My husband and I are having the same issue in our master bathroom. Thank you to everyone who has tried to help. So many experts on here, but so little knowledge. I think with all the posts, we have narrowed down to some water problem or mold. Tom, have you carefully checked for any cracks or loose grout? It worked, but only for 2 days. We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. Thanks for your input on the issue, hoping he gets his issue resolved. Sie knnen nicht notwendige Cookies ber Einstellungen verwalten ablehnen. Of course we spec epoxy or urethane grout and schluter at this point I would try the vinegar (cheap and you can't harm you or the tile) but I too am worried. I went away for a while, can't recall how long, and when I returned, it was already drained out. It only begins when the Town changes over from Well water to Reservoir water, twice a year. That's why people are saying to reseal. (Safety first! How do you fix water that smells like rotten eggs. Nikki, We have not figured it out entirely. I used acetone (nail polish remover) to remove the white marks. Jump-start your career with our Premium A-to-Z Microsoft Excel Training Bundle from the new Gadget Hacks Shop and get lifetime access to more than 40 hours of Basic to Advanced instruction on functions, formula, tools, and more. I'll report back later with an update. Like we thought it may be that the install was done incorrectly. In some cases, the discovery of a leak could be the first sign of more extensive issues with your plumbing. Fortunately, fixing this issue is simple and inexpensive. I like them quite round so that when I walk on them I feel the roundness of them against my feet. Contact The Grout Medic of Dallas-Fort Worth for your obligation-free grout tile repair evaluation.