Drain & sewer line leak & odor diagnosis & repair questions :

This article series explains how to prevent or cure sewer gas odors from septic systems, building plumbing, & other causes. Sewer gas smell diagnosis - plumbing checklist.

Septic System or Sewer Piping Smells, Leaks Q&A

These sewer gas odor or leak diagnosis and repair questions & answers were posted originally at SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS - be sure you also review the advice given there.

Watch Out: Because sewer gas contains methane gas (CH₄) there is a risk of an explosion hazard or even fatal asphyxiation.

On 2018-01-10 by (mod) - Can an inspector detect and diagnose rotten egg smell coming from laundry room?

Pep

Many home inspectors and plumbers can diagnose a rotten egg smell from plumbing, tracing it to a bad vent.

Take a look at SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES - https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Sulphur_Odor_Sources.php

On 2018-01-10 by 1peppered1@gmail.com

Can an inspector detect and diagnose rotten egg smell coming from laundry room?

I first reported this sickening smell in my rental apt. to the apartment complex manager on November 11, 2017, the day after I signed the lease. I have reported this continual problem to management at least 5 times.

Snaking the floor drain by maintenance staff was tried and was unsuccessful. The General Manager, who told me he is also a plumber, visualized via camera down the pipe, and said that it looks like a fitting has moved put of place.

He then applied a large piece of tape over an opening under the washing machine as a "temporary fix" until plumbers (mostly maintenance techs) could tear the laundry room floor apart, via a jack hammer. That was well over a week ago.

This manager came to my apt. yesterday, said that he did not smell anything and that he didn't know if tearing the floor apart would be helpful! He apparently preferred to just keep the tape in place, even though the smell still comes through, according to 3 different noses so far

. I told him I would have to contact the Health Dept. re. this if he was not going to follow through. He then had the washing machine changed out, again. This man had previously made a one-time offer to let me out of my lease.

I told him I do not have any money for a move and could only do so if his company paid my moving expenses. He then quickly changed the subject.
I don't know what to do about this serious problem.

I feel terrible I have an appointment with a physician tomorrow for my frequent headaches, clogged sinuses, insomnia, fatigue and teary burning eyes. Im also concerned about pressure building under that tape.

My windows are kept open most of the day. I will not let friends come any further than my front door because of the smell, and they already have had too much previous exposure to it. I am retired on a fixed income, can't afford daily outings, and am usually always home, or sitting in my car.

Can you help with this serious problem of almost a 2 month duration, or direct me to an organization that can help?
Thanks

On 2017-10-26 1 by silverfriesians@gmail.com - I can smell bleach coming from the bathroom.

I can smell bleach coming from the bathroom. I used comet with bleach in just one of our 2 toilets. (we have a septic tank ) I have rewashed the toilet with just a good wiping, to see if it was stuck under the rim. (it wasn't) I used water on a cloth to wipe around floor and I rinsed the toilet brush. None of that made the smell any less noticeable. It may even be worse.

I have rented this house for 6 years and nothing has ever been done with the septic tank I.E. pumping ...and we have never had a problem such as overflow, or any odor whatsoever. I also know that using too much if any bleach is bad for the septic, so I RARELY use bleach.

Even in the laundry. I also don't even use chemical cleaners much. There is NOT a lot of excess water used in the house (2 people) however there are tons of trees and some grass in front and backyards, so there is a lot of water being used outside. Sprinkler and drip system. Why would the toilet and now even the hall smell like bleach. It is not a fecal odor BTW. Should I open the outside vents on the outside of the house?

BTW my landlord blames us for everything, she is rude and cares about her bank account and nothing else. Says things like if the refrigerator goes out she there's nothing in the contract that says she will buy a new one. She rented the house to us with a washer and dryer.

We swapped out the dryer for one we already had (cuz we just liked it better) so she took the old dryer home. No problem with that, but then I had told her I sold my washing machine ( on Craigs) that matched my dryer. So i am using her washing machine and my dryer.

A few months later she tells me " she is taking HER washing machine to her other house."

Not giving a damn if I had a replacement and in fact KNOWING i didn't have a replacement. She also made me pay $60 for a gate that needed to be fixed. (the post was rotted because it was over a decade old)

There is much, much more she's done and said over the years....she is the greediest person I have ever met. I am afraid of her. Can someone tell me what to do about the septic without having to involve this creepy landlord? thank you

On 2017-04-24 by (mod) - Check for a floor drain that has dry trap;

Check for a floor drain that has dry trap;

Then check the sump pump - a basement de-watering system, right? - as an odor source;

Bleaching drains won't correct a sewer gas odor coming up through dry traps nor leaking out of defective, improperly-connected or loose plumbing vent piping. IF suspicions point to a leak in the vent piping system a pressure test may be in order.

On 2017-04-24 by mary.stallworth.capers - sewer odors from the basement

Can anyone help, please!
Had home built 30 yrs ago with no issues with plumbing.

Started getting sewer odors in basement which originates in the room with the sump pump and drains (smells are intermittent rain or shine, but getting stronger).

Washed down the sump pump twice with bleach and finished with complete washout with a hose.

Don't small any odor in the sump pump so I can't even guess where the odor is coming from. Also put bleach and hot water through all pipes. Odor was gone temporally but came back the next day. Two plumbers came out and was not able to solve this problem. Any suggestions as to what's causing the odor and what can be

On 2017-01-01 by (mod) - odors at toilet often not water supply problem

If the odor is only at the toilet it's not a water supply issue. Check the toilet tank to seed of someone placed a deodorant block therein. Remove it.

On 2016-12-31 by Ann

I live indownstair apartment, just recently started smelling moth ball smell coming out of the toilet

When, you raise the lid, smell is strong. Started having slight headaches. As long, the toilet lid is close can't really smell it, but once lid is up the smell is strong. What can I do to help get rid of the smell.

On 2016-12-17 by (mod) - Sewer gas is coming into a bathroom. Also the septic tanks smells outside.

Dorothy

Unfortunately using a root killer or septic treatment won't repair a damaged drain line or one that's clogged. If the drains gurgle when a toilet is flushed, it's a good guess that there's a blocked drain or a defective or blocked vent.

Discuss your concerns with a plumber before hiring one, to ask about their experience with tracking down such odors.

On 2016-12-17 by Dorothy Morgan

Sewer gas is coming into a bathroom. Also the septic tanks smells outside. We had a new tank installed last year and this is when the problem started. I have called them out and they screwed the top down but the smell is worst. It is not smelling in the front bathroom only in the back bathroom.

It clears a little when we go up and pour water down the vent. I have been using Rid X but I don't think this is the problem. Should I call a plumber? It is strange when I had the bad tank this did not happen.

On 2016-10-22 by (mod) - I have sewer gases leaking into the house.

Anon,

If nothing else has changed in the house plumbing, venting, air movement, then I suspect that the new toilets were installed without proper inclusion and installation of the necessary wax ring seal between toilet base and waste pipe.

On 2016-10-21 by Anonymous

Since replacing my old toilets with newer models I have sewer gases leaking into the house.

On 2016-08-29 by (mod) -

A.R.

Sage or cannabis are not, in my opinion, characteristic of a sewer gas leak. Sewer gas smells more like sewage, or rotten eggs, while the smell you are describing sounds more like a teen-ager's use of the bathroom for activities other than using the toilet.

On 2016-08-28 by A. Richardson

I have an intermittent smell in my bathroom which is like sage or cannabis, sometimes really strong. Could this be a sewer gas smell?

On 2016-04-15 by (mod) - a sewer pipe is leaking indoors - both bacterial hazards and possible sewer gas hazards

Kandice, I agree that if a sewer pipe is leaking indoors there are both bacterial hazards and possible sewer gas hazards. You need to have the leak fixed and the leaked-onto-surfaces cleaned and sanitized.

On 2016-04-15 by Kandice

So my bathroom is on 2nd floor. We have an old iron sewer pipe we can see through our ceiling from 1st level and it leaks down our walls.

We've had pluming problems and today i started smelling what I thought was a poopy diaper and woke severly lightheaded with a head ache.

I have 3 babies under the age of 5. Is this sewer gas going through my home?

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Continue reading  at SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Sewer Line Leak & Odor Articles

• DRAIN PIPE LEAK TYPES
• DRAIN & SEWER PIPING - home
• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
• ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER
• ODOR SOURCE TRACK-DOWN
• SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP
• SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO
• SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION
• SEWER GAS ODORS - home
• SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD / WET WEATHER
• SEWER GAS TESTS & DETECTION
• SEWER LINE CLOGS & DAMAGE
• SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS
• SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
• SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS

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