Sewers
Sewer Gas Knowledge Base
Sewer gas? I am not sure what it is but my bathroom smells like sewer gas, is this smell bad for us (and our children). What can we do to fix this horrible smell.
why can i smell sewer gas when my laundry machine drains on the second floor? in my basement utility room i smell sewer gas (methane) only when cloths washer drains.. all traps have water in them and there are no open pipes anywhere.. its a mistery
is it dangerous to live in a city that smells like sewer gas? I have lived in Toronto, Canada for most of my life, and I have gotten to the point where the sewer gas smells (particularly, near the humber treatment centre along the gardiner expressway) or the smells coming from the abattoir (around queen and shaw) are so bad that I have to ask the question: is it toxic to live in a city that smells so bad? Is there a problem with the city's infrastructure such that it can't properly manage its sewage and that I, as a city dweller, don't know about it? No one seems to publicly complain about it, yet the smells seem to be getting worse. Other cities seem to be able to cope with the situation far better than Toronto. I'm asking my question here because I'm not sure if it's just me; I may just be a little too sensitive.
I have sewer gas coming from sink drain? I smell sewer gas in the sink drain.It looks as though the sink waste pipe has not been vented it just drains.could this be the reason.The trap has water in it and is leveled correctly.Its an older house so it has a ceramic sewer with no sewer trap and drains into a septic tank.Any suggestions?
Could this be the cause of my sewer gas problem? This pipe is sticking out of the ground next to my house and as you can see, has a crack in it. I believe it is the cleanout, where you can access the sewer pipe to clear blockages. I've been having a problem lately with a sewer gas smell in my house, below the staircase (and I would have to open up the dry wall to be able to get under the staircase). It's been a problem for awhile and the sewer smell seems to worsen in the colder months of the year. You can smell it ocassionally in the warmer weather but not nearly as much. So my question is, could the crack in this pipe be the reason why I'm smelling sewer gas in my house? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/neays/Pipe2.jpg http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t26/neays/Pipe1.jpg No septic tank. I'm on city sewer and there is no basement in my house either.
Can sewer gas leak into bathroom pipes? Any plumbers out there who can help explain these bad smells? I have noticed for quite some time that occasionally, my bathroom has a strong vial smell, almost like raw sewage. No, this is not typical "bathroom odors", it is unbearably strong. I figured out it is coming from the toilet. This happens even when the toilet has not been used for several hours. I have a city sewer system, not a septic tank. What could be causing this? Can gases leak up from the sewer system? Any ideas? It seems to be getting worse and worse. Please help!! Thanks guys! It definately seems to be coming from the toilet area. One question however, if it was a problem with the wax ring (I replaced it about 6 months ago due to a leak) wouldn't there be water leaking as well? Re "Skippy's" answer. NO! Roaches?? Can they come up through the sewer pipes? OMG If that's the case, I'm all over replacing that wax ring again!
What should I do if I smell sewer gas in the bathroom? The ladies bathroom at my church has four stalls and one or more of them (not sure which one) is leaking some noxious smell. First is it dangerous and second how can I fix it. The church is on city sewer.
what can i do to get rid of a sewer gas scent under my crawl space? i would like to know if there is any chemical that i could use to keep down the odor eminating from the crack sewer line. the crawl space is very small and low. i will eventually have to replace the line or patch it up
Sewer Gas Smell Coming From Washing Machine Drain Pipe? I bought a high efficiency washer in the house I recently purchased, which was built in 1998. 3 months after I bought the washer, strong sewer gas smell coming from washing machine drain pipe. Things to note: I have city sewer, I don't have a basement, washer is on first floor so I don't have a floor drain, I use the washer once a week, and I don't know for sure if I have a trap on the drain pipe because it is behind the wall. After each wash, I pour water down the drain pipe. That has helped the sewer gas smell but it is still there. It is worse at night and the day after I use the washing machine, the smell comes back. The smell is now steadily worsening and getting stronger. I had a plumber over to my house and all he did was pull the drain hose further out of the drain pipe. Otherwise, he was clueless as to how to fix the sewer gas smell. Can anyone knowledgeable on this subject help me?
What causes sewer gas oder in a certain part of the house? Changed studor vent,checked septic tank it was ok, changed cummode seal,checked 2 roof air vents they were ok,checked cleanouts they were not backed up,cleaned p-trap under sink,cleaned p-trap in upstairs,can't figure had a plummer to come check it out he doesn't know need help?
Why do I smell sewer gas when I turn on the faucet? I smell it every other time I turn on the faucet. The leak or whatever it is is really annoying b/c it smells terrible.
How do I locate a sewer gas leak? I've already re-sealed the commode, and had a plumber do a smoke test. Neither did any good. The smell is only in one bathroom whihc has a common vent for dual sinks, commode, and bath.
I get sewer gas in the bathroom but only in the evening and nighttime hours? Any plumbers out there for a suggestion as to what it is?
My house is on septic and I smell sewer gas in the back bath. What is causing it? How do I prevent it? This only happens every once in a while. Usualy happens when there has been a lot of water used that day.
Sewer Gas Smell coming from roughed in plumbing? We own a house where the previous owners started the plumbing for their wet bar. We had a plumber come and cap off the pipe that was supposed to be used for the bar sink. We noticed a strange smell coming from the area of the exposed pipe. We went a cut up our basement rug and subfloor to find that there were four other pipes. Currently, one of the holes in that area has a backflow valve (with a ping pong ball to stop the water from coming up the pipe) The other pipe is open and just to the right of the one hole. We dumped water down into the pipe and the hole and it appears to have stopped the smell, but the water has not run down at all. Is this normal?
I am getting a smell of "sewer gas" coming up through my kitchen sink drain. What could be causing this? I live in the country and my water comes from a well. It is only the kitchen sink where I have this problem. I do have a dishwasher, too.
why do i sometimes smell sewer gas in my home? i have checked vents on roof they seem clear the smell comes from the airconditioner closet where there is a drain connected to thetwo sinks and awasher drain the smell comesand goes got anyideas also itseems to travel in the return air vent
The basement in our large building smells like sewer gas. The drains also back up. Help? We have a large basement that smells like sewage or rotten eggs in the morning. I am afraid that it is a health hazard. All the plumbers the landlord talks to have no idea how to fix it. Should we talk to an engineer?
Sewer gas smell when running attic fan? When we run our attic fan (also called whole house fan) we get this ghastly smell coming up from our finished basement. It 'seems' to be coming from the bathroom where we removed a shower. We put a small raised platform over the old shower drain-I thought this might be the problem, removed a board, poured bleach down the drain, but it didn't work. the smell is so bad in the basement that you literally get sick to your stomach and it isn't the best upstairs either. Does anyone have any ideas on what this might be caused by? It did not do this when we first moved in and didn't do it right after we removed the shower. my dh seems to think that the p-trap is dry? others i've asked think say they don't think that sounds right? Thanks so much in advance!
can sewer gas fumes harm your health - our plumber can't even figure out where the smell is coming from.? When we run the wash and the heat comes on we can really smell it. Can anyone help?
If basement floor drains have seen no water in ten years, traps must be dry, so what stops sewer gas entering? I don't even know if these drains are connected to the vent stack like other drains, but I have to assume they're on the same sewer line, so...?
Sewer gas smell and no trap.? I have a water outlet for a washer in my new house but the idiots who installed it didn't put a trap in there to prevent sewer gas. (wasn't able to discover it until a year after i bought the house and got a washer). Is there any way, other than ripping out the walls to redo the pipes, to put some sort of trap ? Thanks!
What does sewer gas smell like? I have a smell located in the basment. Smells like a bug spray..? I've checked for bug spray cans or any areas where something may have spilled. I can't locate it. I've only narrowed it to an area in the basment but there is no evidence as to what it is.
Sewer gas problem? Help!? Sewer gas smell coming from where the washing machine hose drains out. The whole house smells, help!! What's wrong? What do I do?
Sewer gas problem? When it rains steady or harder sewer gas comes into the basement of the house via the small crack in the concrete floor around the waste stack any thoughts would help thanks
Sewer Gas and a Drain question? Hi I have a sewer gas odor in my laundry room. I discoevred the source the other day I was laying a new floor when I happened to be over the drain in the room, which I originally thought was just a trough in the floor. However when someone upstairs took a shower the sewer gas smell began to rise from the drain in the floor. Here is my question, is there a trap in there that maybe dry? Is it ok to pour water into it? I know that sounds odd but I am so unsure about what to do to this. Thanks BBB I guess I should add I cannot see into the drain, it is a largeish hole in the floor, tht narrows at about 4 to 6 inches in. Will it have a trap? I( think it's called a bell drain) it was obviuosly a part of the original construction (1978 built).
why do i smell sewer gas? my house is pretty old lately we have been smelling sewer gas in the house our drains are used regulary although there are no traps no breaks in any pipes and no standing water outside and all drains including the toilet work fine (no back up) i notice the smell strongest in the basement no visable leaks there is one vent that comes out of the side of my house and one vent coming out of the ground from the tank. i flushed the vent coming from the tank and was unable to get my snake in the vent in the side of the house one thing i noticed was that we did not have a problem until the weather changed as we live in new york and its cold here could it be as simple as weather change or is there something else wrong i dont really know the size of the tank as we just moved here 2 yrs ago or is it that the tank is getting full as i said there are no sighns of back up can anyone give me any advice
So could this fix my sewer gas problem? Vent inside house?plz help!? Here is the question I asked yesterday:i have a really bad smell around my washing machine and dryer. Sometimes it smells and sometimes it doesnt. It has been happening for years. It even smelled sometimes when my washer was brand new. It also did it with my old washer. It is the worst it has been. I feel dizzy like it is making me sick. It is a terrible smell. We have pulled the washer out and cant see any mold or wet walls. We washed all the dirty clothes and that cant be it. It is smelling up my entire home. Thanks. Well we took a look at the drain pipe and there is a trap but there is also a vent pipe leaking sewer gas in the house. My dad says there is a end that lets air in but wont let any out and that will fix it (there was no end on the vent pipe and it doesnt go out the roof it is in my house) my dad called the part a airless vent. I am wondering if it is safe not to have the vent outside and have it inside with one of those pieces on the end. Please help.
How do you find source of septic tank (sewer) gas and how do you get rid of it? We have been having problems with smelling sewer gas in a seldom used bathroom. We just got back home (having been gone for about a week) and the smell is out side AND inside the house. We live in the country and are on a septic system (house built in 1978). Is this dangerous (until we can get this fixed)? My 8 month pregnant daughter is due to come Saturday and stay the week-end. Is this a danger to her or her baby (or other chldren)? I've never had a septic system and am concerned. Thank you.
Can an electrostatic furnace filter cause a smell similar to sewer gas in my laundry room? I have had a very foul smell in my laundry room (also where my furnace is) that resembles sewer gas. I have had six plumbers leave scratching their heads. I have had all of my toilets professionally replaced, drains snaked, and a even had a smoke bomb test done today, so I know that there is no crack in a visible pipe or a blockage in any vent pipes. The next step is to have my basement floor ripped apart to proceed with a very expensive camera test. This is getting awful pricey. I was asked if I use "electrostatic furnace filters" today and I do. Could that be the cause? Anyone? I am at my wits end. It is no longer comfortable in my own home. I can't run the furnace and it is getting colder. I would be so grateful for any light that could be shed on this very frustrating and puzzling matter. I tried disconnecting what I thought was only to the electrostatic filter, but shut the entire furnace off. The 6th plumber said that the only way to get a camera down the drain was to go through the basement floor because we have something called a "back water preventer" and a P trap and the camera will not maneuver through such angles. I am at a loss. I know what natural gas smells like versus sewer. Without sounding crude-- it smells like.... crap mixed in with a dirty drain.. a diaper genie... just.. foul. It is the hardest smell to explain and it originates in the basement. Thank you for your suggestions.
How Do I Find A Sewer Leak? I have a combination of cast iron and PVC sanitary sewer pipe in my home. Somewhere in the basement piping there is a leak such that the sewer gas is escaping and creating sewer smells. What are the tricks to finding this kind of leak? I have no basement drain in the floor. I suspect the sewer gas is leaking out of one of many joints.
What would make a house smell like there's a natural gas leak when there isn't even gas supplied to the house? I made sure that there are no propane BBQ grill tanks inside the house. All of my Butane canisters for my torch are in the garage, and the garage doesn't smell. I double checked all of our drains to see if it was sewer gas including the one in the floor in the basement. I even poured bleach water in all of them in case there was bacteria. I've also know what it smells like when there is a dead animal in the wall or attic, and it's not that..... Any suggestions?
Is hydrogen sulfide also commonly known as sewer gas? I am a plumber that completed building a restaurant about a month ago and now the restaurant is getting an odor in two areas of it and we can not find the source of the smell, we've checked that there are no nails or screws in vent pipes.... the fresh air makeup on the air conditioning system may be the cause but I need to find some type of meter to zone in where the smell is coming from.
What would cause sewer gases to back up and flow back into the drain of the house? I 'm on a city system, the vent on the house is open
What does it mean when you have a foul odor coming from a sink. Is it the sewer gasses where the trap is dry? How would you correct that problem? How do you keep the trap from becoming dry? Besides a P-trap what other kinds of traps are there? As the first rule of plumbing you never use chemicals to fix a problem.
is it possible for gas in a sewer main to explode, causing a manhole cover to hit the bottom of a car...? ...at such speed that the bottom of the engine is ripped out and the car careens off the road and hits a tree?
Sewer gas smell in my basement and house? I have a very strong sewer smell in my basement and house. We just moved into a house built in 1875. The drains in the basement lead to a septic tank. When we first moved in, the drains continually backed up. Last week, we had a plumber dig up a line and replace a bad stretch of PVC. He also added a trap (it didn't have one before). So we still have one drain without a trap. Since the plumber fixed the line, we haven't had any more backups, but the smell is absolutely horrible! Before the 'fix', we never noticed any smell except for when it backed up. Now, it's a constant strong odor. Any ideas? Sugguestions? Thanks in advance. Great advice! I poured water into all drains in the basement, and capped any drain without a trap, and the smell is nearly gone. I still need to check the vent, but so far so good. I really appreciate your answers. Thanks.
Sewer gas - We've had two plumbers out and they can't figure out the problem.? The first time they came they found an open pipe against the wall that was never capped under the crawl space that had been open for 2 years since we remodeled. Then we rerouted the sewage drain so it wouldn't run into our creek by the farm and after they did this that's when this smell started and it hasn't stopped since Thanksgiving. We've had 2 plumbers come and they can't figure out how it's getting in - I'm thinking - if we lived with an open sewer pipe for 2 years (but never smelled anything) and when they rerouted the pipes underground is when the smell started - it has something to do with that but why can't two plumbers figure it out - in the meantime it smells like rotten eggs in our house and I'm wondering what this will do to our health?
sewer gas smell in first flooor bathroom? Also, this toilet and sink were put in . Found that no vent stack was on pipe. Put a spring loaded valve on it in the wall.Smell still there.
Sewer Gas coming from Vent Pipe? New Septic & New Plumbing, Everything in the house works but the Vent Pipe at top of roof must be emitting odors as we smell it when outside. The pipe is up high, Everything is new including leech field and septic and all the pvc pipe, I never smelled it before when it came out of the old metal one on the roof. The ground is perfect yard - over septic for two years - the odor is up in the air from the vent - after we use water. Is isn't going away and we never notice it at anyone elses homes.
Other purposes for a water seal in a water closet besides preventing escape of sewer gases into the building? The main purpose of a water seal in a water closet is to prevent escape of sewer gases into the building I understand. Does the water seal in the water closet serve any other useful functions?
Can installing a sewer vent in the line outside the home relieve gas smell? We live in Central America where most homes are built with concrete, brick or cinder block, and mortar. It is not a custom to install vent lines in homes and most homes have a sewer smell in them due this fact. We tie into the city's sewage system, as with most homes here. We don't have the plans detailing the drainage system within the home and the builder is no where to be found. We would have to break tile, rip a line in the brick wall inside the upstairs bathrooms to install a vent line directly near the two toilets and tubs upstairs since that is where most of the drains are located. We have a half bath downstairs and the kitchen sink with an outer maids quarters (full bath) located near by. I would hate to destroy the tile work looking for the lines to tap in a vent line and even then, it would be nearly impossible to determine which trap is downstream from the others. Would installing a vent on the sewege pipe going to the city system, or anything else, help at all?
How Do I Find A Sewer Leak? I have a combination of cast iron and PVC sanitary sewer pipe in my home. Somewhere in the basement piping there is a leak such that the sewer gas is escaping and creating sewer smells. What are the tricks to finding this kind of leak?
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