Why does an acrylic bathtub smell - reasons and ways to combat the unpleasant odor.

Acrylic bathtubs came into our lives more than ten years ago and during this time, thanks to their performance characteristics, they managed to divide consumers into two camps that are completely opposite in their impressions of their use. Opponents first remember the unpleasant smell from an acrylic bathtub. Supporters of acrylic always note their low weight, excellent sound insulation and low thermal conductivity. Moreover, no foreign smell bothers them at all. Let's try to figure it out: why does an acrylic bathtub smell? What is the reason?

Help: An unpleasant odor from an acrylic bathtub appears only in two cases: the production technology is violated or the material used to make the bathtub is not acrylic.

What are they selling us under the guise of acrylic bathtubs? What are manufacturers and sellers silent about? How to protect yourself from buying low-quality goods?

Advantages of acrylic bathtubs

There is almost always an acrylic bathtub smell. In some cases, it is very weak and disappears without any effort on the part of the owners a few days after installation. Other consumers are less lucky - they feel not a weak and not very pleasant aroma, but a real stench. It can be so strong that it becomes simply impossible to use the bathroom. Neither detergents nor air fresheners help, and in the end, the desperate owner abandons the acrylic plumbing fixtures and replaces them with more expensive but reliable cast iron ones.

He refuses in vain. A high-quality acrylic bathtub should not stink, and it has very tangible advantages:

ease;
low thermal conductivity;
good sound insulation;
relatively low price.

Of course, light weight is important mainly for delivery and installation, so this plus can be ignored. But low thermal conductivity means that the water in an acrylic bathtub cools more slowly than in a cast iron one, so for lovers of hot baths, acrylic is a real godsend. It’s also nice that the stream of water hitting such a bathtub makes very little noise. But even the most positive qualities lose all meaning if the font cannot be used.

Options for solving the problem

Correcting the situation with pipes in a timely manner will freshen the air not only in the bathroom, but throughout the entire house. There is no point in escalating the problem, as it can have a negative impact on the health of your household.

Improved traction

There are several ways to get rid of bad smell in the bathroom by increasing the draft of the ventilation system:

Blockages in the shaft are removed using an installed fan. It turns on automatically, spraying particles of dust and dirt.
The air lock in the ventilation is removed by opening the bathroom doors at night.
Objects that fall into the shaft are lifted with a special device, shining a flashlight.
The axial model fan is installed on the ceiling.
Holes are made at the bottom of the door to allow air to circulate in the bathroom.

Cleaning

Sewer clogs can be removed in different ways. Either special devices or chemical concentrates should be used. Sometimes you can get by with simple means.

Mechanical

To remove blockages in bathroom pipes, you need a plunger. They close the drain hole. Then fill the bathtub or sink with water so that it covers the bottom of the plunger cap. Then move the elastic cap up and down.

If after the procedure the water begins to flow quickly, then the blockage has been eliminated. Otherwise, repeat the operation several times.

For metal pipes, cleaning with a cable will be effective. Pass the metal product inside the hole and push it further with clockwise rotational movements. A cable can be used to remove the plug from debris and dirt. After this, hot water is poured into the hole to break down the fatty deposits in the pipes. The cable is washed with soapy water, wiped dry, lubricated with machine oil and stored in a dry place.

If there are no devices at hand, then unscrew the siphon or pipe, remove the stuck debris, and wash with soapy water.

Folk remedies

Odors of ammonia and mold are removed from sewer pipes in the bathroom using improvised means. Every housewife has substances that can remove blockages in pipes.

Salt

Place 3 tablespoons of salt in a glass of hot water. Pour the solution into the bathtub hole and leave overnight. You can pour salt into the drain and pour boiling water on top.

Soda and vinegar

A mixture of baking soda and acetic acid can help eliminate stench caused by clogs in your drainage system. The substances break down layers of dirt and grease on the inside of pipes. They are taken in equal quantities and the pulp is placed in the drain. Then pour hot water. After 2-3 hours, a fresh smell appears in the room.

"Alka-Seltzer"

Anti-hangover tablets work well in clearing clogged pipes. Throw 2 tablets of the drug into the hole in the bathtub or sink. A glass of vinegar is poured in there. Rinse with a stream of water after 5 minutes.

Mustard

For strong odors in the bathroom, you can use mustard powder. Pour the substance into the drain, and then hot water on top. Within 10 minutes the water drainage will be restored.

"White"

Chlorine-containing liquid is suitable for combating blockages in the sewer system. You need to pour the solution into the hole. After 20 minutes - hot water. And the smell will disappear, the drain will work quickly.

Professional products

When improvised means cannot cope with cleaning pipes, then strong concentrates come to the rescue. They are based on acids and alkaline compounds that break down pollution.

"Domestos"

The product is used not only for cleaning tile products, but also for gutters and drains. As part of Domestos:

sodium hypochlorite, which disinfects and degreases surfaces inside pipes;
Surfactants that help the product dissolve better;
soap for disinfection;
fragrances that muffle unpleasant odors.

Dilute 50 ml of the product in 5 liters of water or use undiluted.

"Mole"

One of the best clog removers consists of sodium and potassium hydroxide. The filler is a chemical acid. Krota substances can dissolve and break down any deposits in pipes. Pour 200 ml of cleaning liquid into the drain hole. If powder is used, then it is poured and filled with hot water in the amount of 2 glasses. After 1.5-2 hours the product will take effect. All that remains is to flush the system with water.

"Tiret"

A concentrated liquid with a pungent odor quickly cleans plumbing drains. 250 ml of product is poured into the pipe. After 5-15 minutes, repeat the procedure, taking 100 ml of thick gel. Then pour 2 liters of hot water into the sink. After this procedure, the blockage will disappear. Cleaning is carried out wearing rubber gloves, protecting the respiratory system with a mask and eyes with goggles.

"Steril"

The disinfectant is a white powder. The working solution is prepared at 1 or 2% before the sewer cleaning procedure. It is poured into the sink hole and left for half an hour. Finally, rinse with warm water.

"Pothan"

The chemical is used to clean plumbing pipes. Since the substance emits dangerous gases, safety precautions should be followed when using the product. It contains about 30% caustic alkali.

The advantage of the drug is its effectiveness and rapid action. In just 3 minutes the blockage will be cleared.

"Mister Muscle"

Get rid of hair and dirt, remove unpleasant odors - the drug can do all this. Foam or gel is poured into the pipes, then the system is washed with warm water. It is necessary to work with gloves, trying to prevent the liquid from getting on the skin.

Acrylic bathtub smells - what to do?

So, the acrylic miracle was delivered and installed. Everything seems to be fine, but a couple of days pass and the miracle no longer seems so, because it begins to stink. A few more days - the smell from the acrylic bath intensifies. What should I do?

First, make sure that it is the bathtub or what was used to install it that smells unpleasant. This is quite easy to do. If the sewage system is faulty, the aroma will come from the toilet and from the sinks both in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Once you determine that your brand new acrylic bathtub stinks, the first step is to stop trying to remove the odor using traditional means. They won't help you:

air fresheners;
detergents;
aroma candles;
sewer cleaning products.

All these products are capable of eliminating a faint odor for a while, but not for long. In addition, they will definitely not eliminate the causes of the stench.

Available means

To clean an acrylic bathtub, you do not always need to buy expensive compounds. You can remove simple stains using available products.

Lemon acid

Citric acid works great against limescale. Use it as follows:

The bathtub needs to be filled with hot water. The maximum permissible temperature is 60 degrees.
Pour 2 bags of acid into the water and stir until completely dissolved.
Leave the product to act for 2 hours.
Rinse the bathtub with clean water, remove the residue with a dry cloth.

If the stains are not extensive, then citric acid is dissolved in a glass of water and applied to the stains with a sponge. After an hour, the solution is removed.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste whitens yellowness well and removes rust. Instructions for use:

squeeze a small amount of paste onto the stain;
spread it over the surface and leave for 15 minutes;
Gently scrub the bathtub with an old soft-bristled toothbrush;
rinse off the paste with water.

Ammonia

You can eliminate dark and yellow spots using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.

Use the composition as follows:

Mix alcohol and peroxide in equal proportions.
Soak a sponge in the solution.
Apply the composition to the contaminated areas and gently rub with a soft brush.
Rinse the surface with clean water.

Soda

You can remove limescale and soap deposits using a soda solution. Mode of application:

dilute baking soda with clean water until a paste forms;
apply it to contaminated areas;
leave for 15 minutes;
rub with a sponge, rinse with water.

Apple vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a safe way to remove simple stains. Use it as follows:

Soak the sponge in vinegar.
Apply it to the contaminated area.
Leave to whiten for 15 minutes.
Wash off the product with warm water.

Apple cider vinegar helps to cope not only with yellowness, but also with lime deposits.

Why does the stink occur?

Where does this unpleasant aroma come from, which can turn a person away from acrylic plumbing forever? It appears in only two cases:

in case of violation of production technology:
when using other materials instead of acrylic.

How are baths made?

Acrylic hot tubs are not all the same. According to the manufacturing method, they can be divided into two classes:

from potable acrylic PMMA;
made of two-layer extruded ABS + PMMA composite sheet.

Bathtubs made from these materials differ:

by appearance;
according to performance characteristics.

Acrylic drinking fonts

This material also has a scientific name - polymethyl methacrylate. Externally, it is a transparent polymer plastic. For example, organic glass is made from the same material.

Bathtubs of rather simple shapes are cast from PMMA. This is due to the qualities of the material. The polymer is heat-treated, but its amorphous properties are not sufficient to allow it to be made into anything exquisitely shaped, with carefully designed bumps and curves. In addition, this material has some properties that are not very convenient for the owner:

he is fragile;
does not withstand sudden heat;
needs delicate care - does not tolerate abrasives and hard sponges.

Important! Bathtubs made of drinking acrylic are quite cheap, so buyers who do not particularly care about stylish design often choose them.

Hot tubs made of ABS + PMMA composite sheet

This material goes by the fancy name acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Baths made from it are somewhat more expensive, but they also have more positive properties, because extruded acrylic, which has good amorphous properties, is combined with thermoplastic resin. The resin has good shockproof properties.

Advantages of hot tubs made of composite material:

strength;
heat resistance;
abrasion resistance;
resistance to aggressive chemicals.

In addition, the material is quite plastic, so a variety of things can be made from it, including fancy-shaped bathtubs. It would seem that the material is perfection itself. But it is bathtubs made of composite sheets that most often emit an odor that justifiably worries new owners.

Production technology

To understand where the smell from an acrylic bathtub comes from, let's talk about how the bathtubs are made, because it is violations of technology that cause the stench.

An ideal font should not smell.

Acrylic drinking bowls

To make a high-quality bathtub, an acrylic plate is placed in a special thermoforming machine. It melts, after which it is pressed into the shape of the font using a vacuum unit. The process then goes like this:

A reinforcing layer is applied to the outer side of the workpiece, which consists of a special resin - polymer or the familiar epoxy resin, to which fiberglass is added.
The procedure is repeated several times, applying more and more reinforcing layers.
The workpiece is placed in the oven.
The layers are fused until the product becomes extremely hard.

Important! This technology is quite cheap, so for the most part manufacturers stick with it. That is, the buyer has a greater chance of buying a quality product that will not harm his health.

Composite sheet

The production of hot tubs made from composite sheets is somewhat different. A layer of molten extruded acrylic with increased viscosity is fused onto the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) layer. This makes it possible to cast a bath of any shape. Then the following happens:

The bath, as in the previous case, is placed in a special machine where the material is melted.
The composite sheet is shaped, also using a vacuum unit. But since the material has high amorphous properties, the shape can be any.
Several reinforcing layers are applied.
All layers are fused in the oven.

Important! To apply the reinforcing layer, polyester resin dissolved in styrene is used. Free styrene must disappear completely - this happens at a strictly defined temperature and within a given time.

Most vulnerable process

At what stage does technology break down? This usually happens at the final stage, that is, connecting the layers into a single whole. It is free styrene that produces the smell from an acrylic bathtub - a substance that is not only smelly, but in high concentrations is dangerous to health. Where does it come from?

The technology for manufacturing bathtubs from a composite sheet is quite expensive, so unscrupulous manufacturers try to shorten the process:

If the bathtub (or any other product) is not kept in the oven for as long as needed, the styrene will not erode.
Once you fill the font with warm water, the harmful binder begins to evaporate.

Important! In the European Union, the use of extruded acrylic is prohibited where objects in contact with the human body are made, but in China it is used very often to make cheap bathtubs, as in a number of other countries.

Two words about the properties of styrene

Styrene, also known as phenylethylene or vinylbenzene. It is a colorless liquid. In addition to the fact that it smells strong, styrene has the following properties:

does not dissolve in water;
perfectly soluble in organic solvents;
itself excellently dissolves polymers;
slightly toxic.

Important! The maximum permissible concentration in the air is 0.005 mg/cubic dm.

How to distinguish one font from another?

Is it possible to determine which bath will emit a foreign odor and which will not? You won’t be able to do this “by eye,” even if you buy the hot tub not online, but in a regular store. So what - you have to wait: will you be lucky or not?

Not certainly in that way. There are some measures you can take:

Ask the seller for a certificate for the product.
Please read it carefully.
Don't forget to ask for a certificate for the material.

Unfortunately, such measures do not at all guarantee that the actual qualities of the bath will be the same as those described in the documents. The manufacturer is responsible for the contents of the certificates. This leads to a logical conclusion - you need to choose only products from companies that have long proven themselves in the plumbing equipment market. Usually these are European companies - English and German.

Important! Some bathtubs are made so poorly that the smell of styrene can be felt from them already in the store. If you are going to buy a bathtub, do not forget to smell it from the side of the reinforcing layer: the presence of a smell will tell you that it is better to look for another bathtub.

Causes

Before taking serious measures to eliminate odors in the bathroom, it is recommended to understand the reasons for their occurrence. Some residents can handle on their own, but in other situations they will have to resort to the help of specialist plumbers.

So, the most common sources:

The sewer plug is installed by housing and communal services, especially for persistent defaulters of utility services as a punishment. It blocks the outflow of wastewater, which quickly collects, accumulates and its level rises higher and higher, eventually exiting through the toilet. The waste in this water begins to decompose and clog the pipes. As a result, the stench spreads throughout the apartment, and over time it becomes almost impossible to drain the water. It is not possible to remove the plug legally, and modern technologies offer plugs of this type that cannot be manipulated from the outside, and unauthorized actions by household members can provoke a serious flood.
If the “smell” appeared immediately after moving to a new home, with a high degree of probability the cause lies in an incorrectly installed watercourse system. In this case, you will have to involve specialists in solving a complex problem and change absolutely all the pipes, which entails considerable costs. The root of the problem is the angle of inclination of the pipes, at which waste flows out unevenly, lingering in certain areas and creating serious blockages.
Siphon can also cause this phenomenon. The water seal itself is a curved tube in which water collects, which prevents the spread of unpleasant odors. Various types of disruptions often occur in the operation of this barrier, which leads to the filling of the room with a nauseating “smell.” This is due to:
High pressure (above atmospheric) when air bubbles rise upward.
Hidden and obvious leaks. In this case, puddles of liquid form, but due to the presence of immovable furniture and plumbing equipment in the bathroom, they may remain invisible. Detection therefore requires a thorough examination of the entire outdoor system for leaks.
Poor ventilation is one of the most obvious reasons for the appearance. You can check its serviceability in a simple “old-fashioned way”. To do this, take a napkin or sheet of paper and attach it to the grill. If the paper does not hold up due to air draft and does not fall, then the air circulation is normal, and the source of the stench should be looked for elsewhere.
One of the most obvious factors is clog. This happens due to the accumulation of various debris: hair, food debris, dirt and much more. There are many devices that can help unclog drains, from the traditional steel cable to modern special gadgets.

What does the sealant smell like?

Even if you were lucky and bought an acrylic bathtub that complies with European sanitary requirements, after installation you will still notice a slight, but perhaps not very pleasant aroma. There is no point in worrying yet: the sealant used to treat the joints smells, although not very strongly. When the substance hardens, the aroma will disappear.

Important! Sealants that are used for installing plumbing differ in many parameters, including the speed of hardening. So, if you don’t want an unusual scent filling your bathroom for too long, choose a fast-acting sealant.

Smell from an acrylic bathtub - how to eliminate it?

If the drain is in order, the sealant has dried, and you still don’t want to go into the bathroom, check to see if the font is really to blame. You need to press firmly but gently on the surface of the font. If you hear a crunch, it means that the bath was not kept in the oven enough and the reinforcing layer was not connected to the main one. You can try to fix the problem so that the smell from the acrylic bathtub no longer bothers you:

Fill a full bathtub with very hot water.
Let the water cool to room temperature.
Repeat the procedure for one to two weeks.

Important! Hot water will allow the reinforcing layer to harden. If you are not very bothered by the smell, you can use the bathroom at this time. As the reinforcing layer dries, the smell should weaken. Accordingly, if after doing this procedure a couple of times, you feel changes for the better, continue the process.

Is there any harm to health?

The smell of sewage in the bathroom, and then spreading throughout the entire apartment or private house, brings psychological discomfort to residents. It is impossible to get used to this stench - this is how the human body works, it reacts to dangerous odors. And there is something to be afraid of!

The smell of sewer can be very strong and dangerous.

The gases that are to blame for the sewer smell are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane. When exposed to them, changes can occur in the people's psyche - causeless anxiety, irritability, nervous breakdowns, sleep problems.

To get rid of the smell, you need to determine the cause of its occurrence.

Due to hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, you can get diseases of the respiratory system. In addition, ammonia can affect vision. These gases have a general toxic effect on the body, leading to poisoning.

The sewer smell is impossible to get used to.

Methane causes oxygen starvation and disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, as soon as a sewer smell appears in the toilet, bathroom or kitchen, it is necessary to immediately remove its cause.

Not only pathogenic organisms can enter the room with gases from the sewer.

If the smell doesn't go away

It may also happen that when you pour hot water, the smell will intensify. This means that the problem is not in the reinforcing layer, but in the fact that the composite itself is of very low quality. In this case, it will not be possible to bring the bathtub to an acceptable condition on your own. Just the opposite - you can harm the health of your family members.

What to do? — Try to return the bath to the supplier. If you bought it in a regular salon, this will not be difficult to do. Problems may arise for those who purchased defective goods through an online store.

What should you do if you can’t exchange the hot tub for a new one, but you don’t have the money for another purchase? You will have to block styrene vapors. Not the best way, but the only one. When styrene is not active, it is harmless, but toxic fumes appear when it begins to react with the environment:

when the temperature rises;
with increasing humidity;
when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Important! To block the penetration of styrene into the room, a layer of liquid acrylic plastic must be applied to the bathtub. This technology is called “glasscryl”. You can easily find the necessary components at your nearest hardware store. Many people are facing a similar problem now.

How to return to the store?

Sometimes consumers are faced with the fact that when filling plumbing fixtures with hot water, the smell only intensifies. Then it's not a matter of technology errors

production, and in the use of low-quality materials. It is impossible to fix this on your own.

In this case, the product must be returned to the seller. If you purchased plumbing fixtures in a regular store and have a receipt in hand, there should be no problems.

But if the product was ordered via the Internet, difficulties may arise here. Each case is individual, so you should contact the technical support service as quickly as possible, where specialists will explain all the nuances of the return.

Baths without styrene

On sale now you can already find bathtubs in the production of which styrene is not used at all. The assortment, however, is still small. They are supplied mainly by the Termolux company. Instead of resin with liquid glass diluted in it, polyurethane is used for the reinforcing layer - a substance neutral to the environment and absolutely harmless to the human body.

Important! If you see the Green armor mark on the certificate, this is exactly what you need, that is, a bathtub that has all the advantages of an acrylic bathtub, but is completely devoid of its disadvantages. There will definitely be no foreign smell from the acrylic bathtub after installing this model in your bathroom.