Sewers

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?

Public Comments

1. the drain pipe should have a 'gas' trap on it . it holds water to prevent the gas from coming into the house. First try pouring water into the drain. If it holds the water then the smell will stop. If it doesnt then you need to have someone look a tit for you
2. You need to make sure the trap has clean water in it - also if you have a floor drain close by that may also be where it is coming from - pour some clear water down that pipe as well - the traps prevent the back up of sewer gas. Also, check the plumbing vent - this is where the sewer gas should be getting out of the house you could have a blockage in the line past the trap that is blocking the vent line; sending the gas back up through the trap
3. The vent line that goes up through the roof may be plugged. Bert
4. You are right to point this out. My first home had this same problem. Sewer gas leads very quickly to depression if subject to it for a short period of time. The fix is to correctly size the drain to a p-trap configuration. P -traps are sewer gas stand-offs that stop sewer gas passage by 99.9%. They work 'cause they allow water to plug any gasious crap from flowing through. I kept my downspout size to 1.3/4 in. and it never backed up. 1.25 may work with a less agressive pump-out. It's not your fault and you are to be commended to bringing this front and center! This is very ,very important! Sewer gas is the top 5 reasons for deppression and suicide! Do not let your cryes be ignored!
5. The wrong person got involved with your plumbing drain for the washer. Like the first answer, they did not put a trap in for the drain line. Until someone can help you install a trap on that drain line, please measure the width of the pipe (1 1/2 or 2 inch) and get to a home center right away and tell them you need a cap to cover the drain until it gets fixed. You don't want to be subjected to that smell. Very brain dead on someones part to do that to you. Best of luck. It is a simple fix but little hard to explain in words. Look in one of the plumbing books there and you will see.