Sewer or septic gas odor diagnosis & cure FAQs:

Sewer gas can be dangerous, even explosive. Frequently-asked questions and answers about how to find the source of sewer or septic odors and how to fix the problem.

This septic or sewer gas odor cure article series describes how to diagnose, find, and cure odors in buildings including septic or sewage or sewer gas smells or "gas odors" in buildings with a focus on homes with a private onsite septic tank but including tips for owners whose home is connected to a sewer system as well.

How to Track Down & Cure Hard-to-Find Sewer Gas Odors in buildings

Watch out: we warn in all sewer or septic gas odor articles that because sewer gas contains methane gas (CH₄) there is a risk of an explosion hazard or even fatal asphyxiation.

Recently-posted questions & answers about tracking down the source of sewer gas or septic odors and fixing the problem posted originally

at SEWER GAS ODORS - home.

Please be sure to review the odor cause and cure advice at that article.

On 2022-02-05 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod) - check for leaks around toilet base then see this odor diagnostic article

@Jennifer,

Check first for leaks around the toilet base, and confirm that the toilet is securely mounted to the floor. If you don't suspect a problem there, see

INDOOR SEPTIC ODOR, OUTDOOR CAUSES https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Sewer_Odors_Fixture_vs_Drain.php#SewerOdorsa

and

SEWER GAS ODORS - topic home,

where we suggest a series of inspection and diagnostic steps to track down the smell source.

On 2022-02-05 by Jennifer - bathroom smells like a porta-potty

My bathroom smells like one of them porter potties you find at a constuction site. You can smell all through my tailerbut, strongly in bathroom. What can i do to fix this horriable odor

On 2021-04-16 by Anonymous

@danjoefriedman, Thank you!

On 2021-04-16 by (mod) - sense of smell and sensitivity to odors varies

@Anonymous,

It is absolutely well-known and widely documented that the sense of smell and sensitivity to odors varies significantly across people, by a factor of as much as 100! (Koe 1986)

Please see your question and our detailed reply now found

at ODOR SENSITIVITIY VARIES by PERSON

On 2021-04-16 by Anonymous - only some people smell a sewer odor?

What do you do when same time same place I smell gas/or sewage in my workplace.

Women smell the men don't so they don't assess the situation. What do I do? The workplace does no testing just smells and says they don't smell and move on.

On 2021-04-15 by (mod) - odors after pumping out restaurant grease trap

@Anonymous,

While no one can make a health or safety assessment about a sewage smell based simply on a text message,

It's reasonable to say that sewage itself contains bacterial and other health hazards and sewer gases accumulating in the building can even be a methane gas explosion hazard.

So your property owner needs to be sure that whatever pumping or cleaning is being done is being done correctly.

You also want to be sure that there's not a sewage spill in the building nor accumulation of sewer gases in the building.

Of course fresh air ventilation is an immediate step to take and if you fear that the building is unsafe you need to go outside and call 911.

On 2021-04-15 by Anonymous

Ever time the restaurant has his grease trap pumped which is 1 to 2 times a month my unit smells like crap four hours why and is this smell bad for me and my kids it's very strong feses smell

On 2021-04-15 by (mod) - sewage itself contains bacterial and other health hazards and sewer gases accumulating in the building can even be a methane gas explosion hazard.

@Anonymous,

While no one can make a health or safety assessment about a sewage smell based simply on a text message,

It's reasonable to say that sewage itself contains bacterial and other health hazards and sewer gases accumulating in the building can even be a methane gas explosion hazard.

So your property owner needs to be sure that whatever pumping or cleaning is being done is being done correctly.

You also want to be sure that there's not a sewage spill in the building nor accumulation of sewer gases in the building.

Of course fresh air ventilation is an immediate step to take and if you fear that the building is unsafe you need to go outside and call 911.

On 2021-04-15 by Anonymous

Ever time the restaurant has his grease trap pumped which is 1 to 2 times a month my unit smells like crap four hours why and is this smell bad for me and my kids it's very strong feses smell

On 2021-02-23 by (mod) - pouring bleach down a drain won't help

@Mark, pouring bleach down a drain will never correct an improper venting or drain problem it's at best only a temporary Band-Aid addressing an odor source.

It sounds as if you need an inspection by a more experienced and expert plumber, perhaps combined with a sewer line camera to inspect the drain system. I can't tell from your email if the problem is improper venting or if there is a blockage and leak.

On 2021-02-23 - by (mod) -

@Mark, pouring bleach down a drain will never correct an improper venting or drain problem it's at best only a temporary Band-Aid addressing an odor source.

It sounds as if you need an inspection by a more experienced and expert plumber, perhaps combined with a sewer line camera to inspect the drain system. I can't tell from your email if the problem is improper venting or if there is a blockage and leak.

On 2021-02-23 by Mark

Water pipes run outside my apartments down into a drain next to my bedroom window. When an upper flat flushes their toilet, I hear the water in the pipe and then I get a sewer smell for ten minutes or so

. I’ve had an inspection but nothing obvious causing this. Is there anything I can try other than digging up the drain? Pouring buckets of bleach down the drain has no effect. Thank you!

On 2020-12-31 - by (mod) -

Curt said:

I posted a long description on Reddit. Watch the video In the comments and let me know if I’m in danger. ...

On 2020-07-04 - by (mod) - whenever the kitchen sink is used the entire house smells like raw sewage

Sam

If sewage ran on the floor surface it quite possibly leaked under a wall partitions and possibly into the wall cavity below.

Just fixing the leak and cleaning the surface of the floor risks leaving sewage contaminant in place.

You may need to access the floor from below the home, inspect for leak signs and completely remove any insulation that was wet before then cleaning and sanitizing the exposed surfaces. When you've done that and everything is dry you can re insulate.

You might also need to pull off the bottom 6in of drywall on Floors around the bathroom to see if sewage effluent leaked into and contaminated the wall cavity. Start with a small test opening and that will tell you if you need to go further. Make your test opening in the most suspect place.

On 2020-07-04 by Sam

Just bought a new trailer. Bathroom and hallway floor were replaced cause of leaky toilet. New seals put on toilet. Now whenever the kitchen sink is used, the entire house smells like raw sewage. But when the bathroom get used in any way there is no smell. What could it be?

On 2018-09-29 by Curt Hanold

Try this again ..my question seems to of disappeared... girlfriend was standing by the cleanout pipe I was showering she said she could see and hear little bubbles seeping out of the lid any help would be appreciated thank you system was pumped just a couple years ago

On 2019-09-14 by (mod) - There is a foul odor that drifts out of the air vents in the ceiling

S

If you use the search box just above to look for SEWER GAS ODORS you'll find a series of articles suggesting the diagnostic steps to track down and fix such complaints.

I suspect that there is a back-drafting drain or sewer pipe near a heating or air conditioning return air inlet register in your building. (Or a sewer line has leaked into the duct system

On 2019-09-13 by s

I live in a concrete apartment building that is about 4 years old. I have only been here for about 6 months.

There is a foul odor that drifts out of the air vents in the ceiling. The ducts are black in color (not from dirt) and hard to see in from the vent opening. It smells sometimes when the air is not blowing, just kind of drifts out. It will also smell when the air first kicks on and then stops/dissipates as the air runs. Each apartment has its own air unit.

The ducts run directly from that unit to the vents in each individual apartment. There is a drain line that runs from the top unit to the bottom floor and there is a p-trap for each unit that runs to that pipe that goes from top floor to bottom floor. Maintenance said they cannot smell what I smell, but visitors do. Maintenance ran liquid through the p-trap and there was no clog. They changed the filter.

They showed me the coils, which were clean. The only way I can describe the smell is putrid. Its not a dead animal. Its not a gas smell. The units are electric. Its not unique to my apartment. I was in another apartment on the top floor and in a different area of the building and the same smell was coming out of the air vents there as well, and with the same pattern...drifting out without the air on.

Coming out when air first kicks on and then dissipating/stopping as the air runs. I am not sure what it could be. Any ideas?

On 2019-11-25 by Steve - why there is a smell only when the exhaust fans are running in the bathrooms

Thanks again. Any thoughts as to why there is a smell only when the exhaust fans are running in the bathrooms.

Does that signify anything special. I just ran the exhaust fan in the bathroom without running any water and the smell is coming through the access panel although not as strong as when water running. Are the pipes that go to the roof vent located in the attic?

On 2019-11-25 by (mod) -

Perhaps a blocked plumbing vent, a leak developed in a plumbing vent or drain, or a partly clogged drain, or a failing septic system.

It's worth investigating further - before there is a drain backup and before there is a worse or even dangerous accumulation of sewer gas indoors.

On 2019-11-25 by Steve - foul smell in the bathroom

Thanks again. I just used the other bathroom. They are side by side. Showered and ran the vent fan.

There was a noticeable foul smell in the bathroom when finished. In this bathroom I cannot tell where the odor is coming from. Not from the access panel which is side by side with the other bathroom. No issues in this bathroom either when exhaust fan not running. I have lived in this house for 30 years and this never happened before.

What could cause it to start occurring now. Should I contact my regular plumber to check? Thanks again.

On 2019-11-25 by (mod) - running a bath fan can cause back-venting of sewer gases

Steve

Quite possibly running a bath fan can cause back-venting of sewer gases out of an open drain; more-likely if the plumbing vent system is improper or inadequate.

On 2019-11-25 by Steve

Thank you. I did mean the access panel door. Does it make sense that if the fan is not running and I use the shower no smell.

The smell only occurs when the fan is running along with the show.

The access door is not a perfect fit and when the fan is running I can actually feel a small amount of air being pulled from behind the access door along with the smell. Thank you for reviewing this situation.

On 2019-11-25 by (mod) - foul odor is coming from the door behind the shower fixtures

Steve

Taking a wild guess about "the door behind the shower fixtures" I think you may be describing an access panel providing a way to inspect and repair the tub / shower controls.

Take a look in there and you may see that the tub overflow or drain trap are not properly installed, such that when a powerful exhaust fan runs and the bathroom door is shut the fan may be drawing sewer gases into the room.

The other most-common cause of this problem is loss of water in the fixture traps because of inadequate vent piping.

On 2019-11-24 by Steve

When I run the shower and exhaust fan in the bathroom at the same time a foul odor is coming from the door behind the shower fixtures. If I don’t run the fan then no odor. It seems like the exhaust fan is creating air pressure pulling the odor in behind the shower fixtures.

This just started to happen after many years without a problem. The smell dissipates quickly after shower and turning off exhaust fan. Thank you.

On 2019-11-04 1 by (mod) - Can a bad septic tank baffle cause sewer gas to come back inside the house?

Bev

That's an interesting question; in general I'd say no, with some explanation needed:

A septic tank baffle defect ought not itself be responsible for sewer gas odors back in the house in that the baffle is NOT a gas nor water seal between the house and the septic tank; rather the inlet baffle's job is to keep septic tank floating scum and grease from backing up into the sewer line between house and tank - where it'd cause a clog.

So how would sewer gases pass back from a septic tank into a building?

1. There is no main sewer line trap at the house exit (in fact this is common)

2. The house main plumbing vent system is improperly installed, damaged, leaky, or clogged

and/or

3. Venting defects are causing siphonage of traps at sinks, showers, tubs, thus letting sewer gases into the building at those locations.

Of course there are other sources of sewer gas odors as you can read above on this page and in other articles in this series.

Use the on-page search box to search InspectApedia.com for SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES to read details.

On 2019-11-04 by Bev

Can a bad baffle cause sewer gas to come back inside the house?

On 2019-07-29 by (mod) - will my DIY plumbing venting idea work?

JW

I want to help but am not smart enough to analyze your design from e-text. In general an exhaust fan can help force draft where you want it to go, but I'm left with some considerable worries including:

1. the system may suck traps dry and can cause back-venting of dangerous sewer gas into the home

2. the system doesn't work unless there's electrical power

3. the design may be missing a simpler solution if we understood why there is a venting problem in the first place; I'd want a very thorough inspection of the house DWV by an expert plumber or code compliance officer.

On 2019-07-29 by jwrow123

Good morning,
Thanks to your website I have solved so of my numerous plumbing problems. I have plumbing drain, ventilation, and sewage gas odor. My concern now is the toxic odor which permeates every floor of my home. The ventilation system terminates outside the second floor bathroom on a 90 degree angle by a window

I plan on cutting the 90 degree fitting off and placing a box with a fan installed on the bottom of the box the now vertical vent pipe will enter the box the inline fan will pull the gases thru the box into a newly installed ventilation pipe which will run vertically through the attic floor continuing through the attic terminating through the roof as per code. The box will be air tight allowing proper sewage gas termination. Will my idea work properly.

On 2019-05-14 by John

The gas detector show in the article is poor at best. The sensors give false positives all the time. This sensors register humidity many times versus a true gas detection.

On 2018-11-20 by (mod) -

If you are using a gas detection instrument that happens to be sensitive to the chemistry of the particular odor you can sometimes use the gas detector to track an odor to its source. That's particularly true if you using a leak detection device and if the leak happens to be in piping. For other odor sources that are more general or widespread it may be difficult

On 2018-11-19 by ron

Is there an instrument that one can use to track where the odors are coming from/?

On 2018-01-05 by (Mod) - how to know if a blocked or frozen sewer line is now working

Mike,

If your sewer line remains frozen your drains will back up.

On 2018-01-05 by Mike

My sewage line was frozen. Ive tried to fix it. How would I know if ive been successful?

On 2018-01-05 by (Mod) - Lingering rotten egg smell

Dianne, try reviewing the list of rotten egg or sulphur or sewer gas odor sources

at SEPTIC / SEWER ODOR SOURCE TABLE

On 2017-08-16 by dianne

we bought our home last year. We noticed a lingering sporadic rotten egg smell in bathroom, stronger after showering.

We had the wax ring of toilet replaced and are sure the drains in basement are kept full with water to keep gas smell from leaking into the house.

Nothing has worked , after cleaning drain with different things. We have had plumber after plumber come out for 2 months now and no one can find or fix it. HELP!!!!

On 2017-06-26 by (mod) - AC refrigerant line leak due to corrosive sewer gas?

Us,

An air conditioning refrigeration system leak caused by corrosive sewer gas outdoors would be quite unusual though possible.

When you have the A.C. system mmm fan repaire, if there is no evidence of corrosion then the cause you suspect is not at fault.

On 2017-06-26 by Usaam

we have a sewage drain near our house and we experience gas leakage in our Air conditioner frequently..what to do and why is that?

On 2017-06-23 by Monika

Sometimes rubber burning smell bones from kitchen sink laundry sink and single toilet... why is that??

On 2017-04-04 by (mod) - Sewer gas odor present in my mobile home due to a faulty toilet seal

Linda:

Start by using a household cleaner to clean all around the toilet: floor, lower walls, nearby fixtures all that may have been wet during toilet repairs.
Then ventilate the space.

if the odor remains there may be another problem to find.

See LEAKY TOILET SEALS, ODORS

On 2017-04-04 by Linda

Sewer gas odor present in my mobile home due to a faulty toilet seal. Plumber resolved seal today but odor is still present in the home. Any idea of how to get rid of the stinky odor?

On 2017-04-04 by (mod) re: getting rid of lingering sewage odor after a toilet repair

Linda:

Start by using a household cleaner to clean all around the toilet: floor, lower walls, nearby fixtures all that may have been wet during toilet repairs.
Then ventilate the space.

if the odor remains there may be another problem to find.

On 2017-04-04 by Linda

Sewer gas odor present in my mobile home due to a faulty toilet seal. Plumber resolved seal today but odor is still present in the home. Any idea of how to get rid of the stinky odor?

On 2017-03-22 by (mod)

Carla

Watch out: Open windows, get some fresh air ventilation, go outside, call emergency services.

Sewer gases can be explosive as well as risking asphyxiation (death) in severe cases.

On 2017-03-22 by carla

gas is seeping into my home from a line the kitchen and bathroom are the worst rooms and I get very dizzy help

On 2017-03-19 by (mod) re: temporary ventilation to address sewer smells

I agree that ventilation is a temporary solution, because we have not found and corrected the other source. I would be looking through the suggestions in this article series. For example if you hear gurgling drains you might have a venting problem.

On 2017-03-19 by Paul

Update, opened basement door put a fan on low blowing up and out. Smell has gone even after wife took shower. It's wintery here on east coast.shall c what happens when I close door after sundown. Still would appreciate advice this is probably just a temp solution.

On 2017-03-19 by (mod)

I'd look for a leaky pipe, open vent, floor drain with a dry trap that's connected to the septic or sewer drain system

On 2017-03-19 by Paul

Have a septic smell in basement that radiates thru home gets worse when shower is used. I its an old home . Had septic pumped in last yr everything fine there. Haven't had this problem until last yr any ideas where to look. Have spray rubber ed pipes in basement still no help.

On 2017-03-12 by (mod)

I'd check for a loose toilet that's not secure to the floor, or a toilet whose wax ring seal between toilet base and sewer pipe needs repair.

On 2017-03-12 by Beth Kirbis

2 family upper & lower. Upper apt only has poop smell in hall bathroom & bedroom. Also in outside hall but lower apt has no smell. Cannot figure out where coming from but there is no door between base & outer hall

On 2017-02-25 by (mod)

Check for a dry plumbing trap in the smelly bath; check for a loose toilet or one not sealed to the waste pipe flange in the floor (that may require removing and replacing the toilet); consider hiring an inspector whose combustible gas detector can pinpoint the odor entry point. Keep in mind that the sewer gas leak may be from a leaky or un-glued vent pipe joint in a wall, floor or ceiling;

On 2017-02-24 by Cynthia k.

We have an old home with a new septic system. Ehen we do wash, there is a sewar odor in the adjoyning bathroom.

We have snakes the line, ran water, fun got loads of laundry of wster, vinager, baking soda. Checked the vent on the roof. We still have the smell. Lost on how to detect where the smell is actually coming from. Can't get rid of it. Drain in laundry room has water in it. Help?

On 2017-02-03 by Anonymous

I live in section 8 housing the houses are about 20 feet apart and the home next door has had raw sewage leaking out of it fir a month. I am now ill what should i do

On 2016-11-25 by Anonymous

bad odor sulfer smell in bed room and out side around the house

On 2016-11-17 by (mod)

Kevin when odor is in just one bath I'd look closely at

- a bad toilet wax seal

- a partly clogged drain

- defective venting

- listen for siphoning or gurgling when the toilet is flushed

On 2016-11-17 by Kevin

I have an odor in the house that I just can not figure out - combination of sewer gas and propane. Concentrated in one bathroom - no where else. Go into the basement - underneath that bathroom - no smell - just one room. Checked all the drains and traps, they are used on a regular basis.

Had the plumber out - could not find anything, had the septic guy out, he says the system is working fine. Replaced the wax ring on the toilet - still get the odor - sometime strong, sometimes week - weather, temp does not matter - very hard to describe - any suggestions? Are there any meters that might help detect this? Should I call the EPA air quality division? LOST!

On 2016-10-30 by Anonymous

smell in house gets onto clothing what could it be

On 2016-09-07 by (mod)

Probably not, since without a pumbing trap you're inviting nasty, potentially explosive sewer gases into the home.

On 2016-09-06 by Anonymous

if someone put the drain for the bathtub into the main basement drainage hole because there was no p-trap on the tub is that ok or not?

On 2016-09-06 by terry

if someone put the drain for the bathtub into the main basement drain plug without a p-trap is that ok or what can you do?

On 2016-07-06 by (mod) diesel fumes coming out of bathroom

If fumes from the sewer are coming into your bathroom then there is a plumbing problem to be found and repaired such as a bad toilet seal, improper venting, clogged drains. The fact that the fumes smell like diesel ought to be raising a red flag with your environmental authority as it suggests someone is illegally dumping waste oil or fuel down a drain or sewer.

On 2016-07-05 by roisin muldoon

Have diesal fumes coming out of bathroom for 2 weeks. Smell coming from sewer. Had this monitored by environmental health and reading is very high. Ni water flushed sewer but problem remains. Need to source problem but don't know what to do other than ventilate our house in the morning and evenings. It has now been upgraded to urgent status for investigation.

On 2016-04-11 by (mod)

Olivia,

I can offer only general suggstions as I cannot know why, from a brief e-text, the odor you describe is being found.

I can GUESS that there may be an open plumbing vent in the ceiling space that is venting into that area due to the negative pressure created by the fan. Sewer gases can smell like rotten eggs.

So can other chemicals and contaminants.

Your installer or service company or building owner's handyman needs to actually look with care throughout the ceiling area to spot possible plumbing or other odor sources.

A plumbing vent that empties into the attic or ceiling space needs to be piped to outdoors above the roof - IF that is the problem

On 2016-04-11 by Olivia

We put a large ventilation fan on the ceiling of our small salon (800 square feet).

Every time we run it with all doors closed, horrible sewage/ rotten egg smell came out quickly. Tried to find the source of that smell, eventually it seems to come from the space above the ceiling! Why? And how to eliminate that? Thank you

On 2016-03-05 by Terma2001@AOL.com

For about two years I have had a gas smell in my little room right next to my bathroom. I had the gas company out here an they said it is not a gas leak. I recently had my sewer trap replaced but with little improvement.

Sometimes the smell is not there but it is there 6 days out of 7 in a week. My contractor also did the smoke test with no results and nothing plugged up.

This smell happened after I had some plumbing work done in my patio, which is adjacent to this little room. I also have my sewer inspected every year with the video camera and have it cleaned out every year.

On 2015-12-22 by Anonymous

When I am using the kitchen sink I get a terrible sewer smell. That drain is the closest to our septic. Same smell as when we have had the septic pumped.

On 2015-11-24 by Hank

I get sewer smells intermediately during the course of the day that don't last very long. Although the smell goes away it is ver bad when it happens.
Thanks for your advise.

On 2015-11-02 by (mod)

I"d consider hiring a drain cleaning service using a mechanical or rotary drain cleaner.

On 2015-11-02 by Anonymous

My drain from the house to the manhole blocks. Used hose and water removed white pressed (looks like shell) from the pipes what must I use to clean out the pipes.

On 2015-10-24 by (mod)

Where is the sewer gas originating? If it is at the shower drain try flushing the drain throughly with cold water;

Another uglier possibility is that a caustic drain cleaner precipitated the failure of an already thin, corroded drain line (metal of course); the result could be a leak and thus odors. Look for leaks or leak stains below the shower.

Keep us posted.

On 2015-10-24 by Anonymous

I put a drain cleaner in my shower drain. It worked great but now we have a terrible sewer gas smell. We have a septic system. What can I do or use to get rid of this odor. Has never happened before

We have a mystery odor in our houses that causes sore throats. It might be sewer gas, the only thing is it gets absorbed by fabric. It stays on our clothes when we leave the house. We threw away our couch and mattress because they absorbed the smell. Does sewer gas behave this way? Thanks.

On 2015-02-27 by (mod)

The health question may be best taken to your doctor.

Rotten egg smells are usually sulphur in the water supply.

Take a look at this explanatory article

https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Hydrogen_Sulfide_Gas.htm

and for exposure effects for H2S (hydrogen sulfide)

see

https://inspectapedia.com/indoor_air_quality/Gas_Exposure_Effects.htm

On 2015-02-26 by Sheila E

I have been smelling a rotten egg smell in my apartment for about 2 years; is there any connections to health concerns such as thyroid and autoimmune symptoms?

On 2015-02-25 by (mod) - odor in the rooms where the toilets are

Mark

When you replaced the toilets were the wax rings leaky?

Do sinks gurgle and drain poorly? If so there may be a venting problem.

I'd look closely at where your air returns are located to see if they're picking up odors from an identifiable source or if they're causing (dangerous) backdrafting.

A smoke test of the vent system might help but is not an exhaustive test. Leaks in a vent system in walls, for example, are likely to be missed.

On 2015-02-24 by Mark0

We purchased a home that was 9 years old with its own septic system. We had the septic checked and replaced the toilets but any time that we do a load of laundry and to a lesser extent take showers or run the dishwasher we get an order in the rooms where the toilets are.

The interesting thing is it is almost like it is coming through the ac/heating vents. Out next step, we believe, is to have someone come out to conduct a smoke test. Is this a good next step?

On 2015-02-22 by (mod) - Bedroom over a cesspool

To Bedroom over a cesspool,

Ick I don't know where to start joining in griping about such a snafu

First, there is not good access for maintenance or inspection, making pg inspection aloe unlikely until there's a catastrophe.

Second a sewage backup or sewer gas leaks can lead to a real disaster as well as less dramatic health worries.

Where I had a home with this design, Bill Stelzenmuller had built a nice porch over collapsing septic tank. Through a big hatch cur into the floor ewe emptied the tank, filled it with rubble, sealed its top.

Then we built a real septic system outdoors, nearby.

On 2015-02-21 by (mod) - tile floor may not be a perfect seal over rhe old floor drain

Johanna

While a tile floor may not be a perfect seal over rhe old floor drain, I suspect inadequate or faulty vent piping on your drain system. Only if a sniff test confirms the odor really originates at the covered drain would I do more there.

On 2015-02-18 by johanna

we put a kitchen in and before we did that there was shower drains in the floor. this is a two story house on a slab. well I wanted to pour concrete down them but my husband said no, just put ceramic tile over the floor. now we are getting bad septic odor in the downstairs mostly in the winter and when I do laundry it gets real bad. we sucked out the septic still bad smell. HELP.

On 2015-02-18 by rob

septic ordor starting at 11:00 p.m till 4:00 a.m. Thinking it is the septic roof vent, and not sure how to take care of it? Tank was pumped 2 months ago.

Any suggestions?

On 2015-02-17 by Anonymous

My elderly brother-in-law built his wife bedroom over a cesspool. There's a 3 foot crawlspace and a vent pipe on the exit line just outside the foundation. With this cold winter the question (my wife) came up if the pipes froze if I would crawl under the house to fix or unthaw the water lines

I told her I wouldn't do it and I would not reccommend anyone else to do it. What can I buy to test the air quality in the crawlspace and the bedroom. Better yet I need to scare my 77 year old brother-in- law into putting in a proper septic system Thanks Ed Garner dogacreswv@gmail.com

Question: Sewage odor from nearby manhole cover

Our rent house is right next to an alley. There's a manhole there from which emanates a strong sewage smell. This is an old neighborhood with old clay pipes that we suspect are broken underground, but the city will not dig them up and replace them unless there is standing water.

The smell permeates the air outside the house and is pumped in through all ac vents into our home. Every couple of months the city will drop a "scent cake" out there, which does nothing to help. I'm 6 months pregnant and worried about any health risks this may bring to my infant. I'm at my wit's end trying to get the city's cooperation! Help! - Rachel

Reply:

Dropping a deodorant into a manhole over a sewer system is not going to correct an ongoing sewer gas leak or odor problem

. You may want to contact an official in your city's health department, ask them to visit the site during an odorous time and to agree to have the problem diagnosed and corrected.

Question: where we removed a toilet the drain now smells - is this dangerous?

We have an upstairs toilet that leaks that we haven't used in some time. My husband took it up four days ago and left the drain hole open. Are we in danger due to methane gas. It smells bad in that part of the house. - Stacy

Reply:

Stacy,

In particular if your home is connected to a public sewer and your house lacks a trap at the main sewer line exit point from the building, you could get a lot of sewer gas backup in the building. Methane in sewer gas is explosive if it reaches the right concentration.

Any plumbing supplier or even home depot will sell you a toilet waste line plug that can close off that opening. In an emergency I wrap a rag in a plastic bag and shove it into the hole - just don't push it in so far that you can't get it back out.

Question: horrible odor coming from basement, abandoned septic tank?

We have a horrible oder coming from the basement. We believe there might be a septic tank abandoned in our property. Would old un-used septic tank cause odor to the house? - Winnie Wong

Reply:

No, not normally. But for safety you should find the tank and make sure that it is properly abandoned such as by filling-in. If someone falls into a septic tank they're likely to die in minutes.

Question: horrible smell from under floor slab points to sewer

For the last 5 months we have been in this home there has been a horrible smell. I have had tampa gas, Roto Rooter, mold people, handmen, rat control, air conditioning fellow, and tampa sewer.

They all point to sewer. We have had smoke tests as well. We feel it is a breach under the slab and it is prevalent in one bathroom and the air conditioner/fan circulates it throughout the house. It was very bad on days it rained but now it is unbarable on dry days. It is getting worse and wakes us from our sleep. It can come and go but if we turn the furnace face on automatic the odor will build.

We feel the only thing left to do is scope the lines but landlord is now checking the environmental issues like the ponds in the area and the levels of the water for swamp gas. Please help us. 813 994 3391.

Reply:

Horrible,

I agree that for smells that originate in the building and given the people who have already advised you, using a camera to look for a broken sewer line makes sense.

Your observation that odors are worse when the furnace is running increases the worry of pulling dangerous sewer gass into the home.

Our ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE article series (links at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article ) includes other suggestions for tracking down odors.

Question: horrible bleach smell from kitchen drains

I am smelling something horrible coming from the kitchen drains, our utility room and toilet area.

The smell actually took my breath away a couple of times like my throat was closing. The only smell that I can say is similar is the smell of bleach. That super strong odor. Could it be the septic? - Wendy

Reply:

A bleach smell would not be something I'd expect to find coming from a septic system. If you trust your sense of smell, I'd be looking for a chemical spill or something having been poured down the drains.

Question: biofilm suspected in bath tub and toilet - black slime

I rent an apartment and have noticed what I suspect to be biofilm in nature. First, the drains in the double kitchen stainless steel sink, bathroom sink, and bathtub seem to be overgrowing with black slime. I clean all areas on a regular basis with a bleach based cleanser.

My next problem concerns the toilet (which I suspect might have a biofilm issue as well?).

Every few days or so, the toilet "burps" (almost like air pressure purging back into the toilet) and then it bubbles followed by a terrible odor. If you think it is an issue concerning biofilm, is there any way I can control this myself with some type of disinfectant by pouring it down each drain. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Reply:

Pammi,

I'm not sure what you have in mind with biofilm, but your description sounds like possibly a mold growth, more likely an algae growth. If cleaning and disinfecting are not curing that problem I suspect the water supply.

The burping toilet suggest to me a partially blocked main building drain, perhaps at some distance from the toilet and/or a building vent piping problem. I suspect that drain cleaning for blockage is in your future.

Question: smells and sewer gases traced to bathroom toilet

I have a smelly bathroom and I just replaced the wax seal and sealed the bowl, cleard any obstuction from the roof vent with a power hose and still I have a smell. what's next.? - Leo

We recently had a new septic system put in. Ever since we had it installed, we now get occasionally, a very strong sewer gas smell in our bathroom. How do we stop this odor from comming in? It never happened with the old system. - Val

I have 2 bathrooms on 2 different levels of the house. I am getting intermittent septic odor smells backinging up into both bathrooms. It happens in good weather and bad. It's not every day but when it happens it's usually for at least a week at a time.

I had the tank drained,, the toilets checked for leaky seals, the vent pipe checked for blockage. No one can diagnose the problem but it it dangerous and I need help. What other measures can I use to diagnose the problem? - Lynne

Reply:

In starting with the easy and low cost bath smell cure steps,

- check for dry traps at unused fixtures

- replace the toilet wax ring,

- check ceilings below the bathroom for signs of leakage

- listen to nearby drains when the toilet flushes - gurgling can indicater a clogged main drain or inadequate plumbing vents; if so, investigate and cure drain blockages, or in some cases, a "blockage" that occurs in the waste piping because the septic tank and drainfield are backing up

- ask your plumber to inspect the plumbing vent system for proper layout, size, routing, connections, and termination

- pressure test the vent system for leaks that may be hidden in walls, floors, ceilings

Question: Mysterious Sewer odor solved by fixing a rubber gasket at the house trap

Mysterious Sewer odor solved!!!
For the past 2 years we have had a sewer odor in my basement within 5 minutes after a long shower or my kids using the tub.

I have had a half dozen plumbers in, we tore apart the basement ceiling and walls in search of the smell.. no luck! We did smoke tests... No Luck!! we flooded the waste pipes with water... No luck...

THEN after a 3 day 8 hrs a day plumber marathon (over $2k) and the rest of my walls torn down, and we dug up my pipes outside my house and my cesspool.

We found it. The rubber gasket after the house trap that connects the cast iron 5 foot pipe to the outside of my house and the metal house trap was venting a small amount of gas ONLY when water was flowing through it...(hence no smoke during that test) We proved it with a lighter (NOT RECOMMENDED) but when water flows in large volumes, such as a tub draining... the flame flickers and continues to do so for a seconds after the large water flow.. note it does not happen if a toilet flushes.

Temporary fix was to put some Mortite around the pipe and gasket... 5 days no smell.. Now we have 2 choices, cut out the main trap and put in new pipes, or... just tar the gasket....( a 10 dollar fix) - Paul, Long Island, NY 2/1/12

Reply:

Thanks Paul, this experience report will help other readers. - Ed.

 

Question: odor problem after we added a second line to our septic tank - sewer gas now enters the house

I never noticed this problem til after the addition of a second line to our concrete tank. now sewewr air comes in the house (I believe in the kitchen area) we tried to check roof vents, had an s trap put in kitchen sinks (they had none).

I also suspect the kitchen sink is not tied in to the vent (Small high ceiling log cabin with kitchen sink away from other plumbing... but never noticed trouble before the new line to garage was added. Any ideas? - Kris 6/5/12

Reply:

Kris I may have misunderstood, but "S" traps are not used in new construction as they easily lose the water in the trap base, thus permitting sewer gases to enter the building through the fixture drain.
I suspect your sink drain is not properly nor adequately vented.

You may be able to fix the problem by installing a proper P-trap and if there is no vent line available and the local building department permits, you can install a vacuum breaker vent at the sink drain.

Question: cracked cast iron sewer pipe was fixed but sewer smells are lingering

Our house was listed for sale last week.
This week we noticed a crack in the cast iron sewer pipe and had it replaced by professional plumbers. A lingering miasma would certainly keep prospective buyers at bay.

We've ventilated the basement and have fans and dehumidifiers at work. We also tried vinegar solutions, but to no avail.
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated. - Vicki LeClair 6/29/12

Reply:

Vicki I hate when that happens - sewer leaks. It's possible that the lingering miasma (a sewage smell) is because there was not just a cracked pipe but sewage leakage into the building. ANd depending on the cause of the crack, don't rule out the possibility that there are other cracked sections , p0erhaps in inaccessible or hard to see areas.

Track the odor to its strongest area - if you had just the one leak that's helpful.

Then investigate where sewage water may have flowed. It may be necessary to further remove/clean wall cavities & clean flooring. If carpeting was involved, remove it.

Reader followup:

Thank you for your advice DanJoeFriedman.
Appreciate your taking the time.
We'll investigate further.

Question: Do black copper pipes have to be replaced or should they be cleaned?

If the copper pipes are black due to long term exposure (2 years) to sewer gas, do the copper pipes affected all need to be replaced, or can they be cleaned, and if so, with what products? The source of the sewer gas has bee rectified. - Gail Rose 8/13/12

Reply:

Copper drain piping that is not actually corroded to risk leakage does not need to be replaced nor cleaned, but you should be sure that you don't have any remaining sewer gas leaks.

Question: rancid smell after town sewer work

Please help! I have a 115 year old home that I have lived in for 12 years. Recently, approx 6 weeks ago, the town was doing work on the sewer lines located on the street that I live on. One afternoon, end of a work day i returned home to an extremely rancid smell that permeated throughout the entire house.

The town has since inspected and said they could not find any reason that it should happen.

HERE IS WHERE IT GETS WEIRD.

The smell shows up daily and seems to be time specific each day from 3:30 pm to around 5:30 pm?!

In addition to the towns inspection, we have had two different plumbers inspect from top to bottom. Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. - Anonymous 8/19/12

Reply:

Try the diagnostic suggestions at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE where you'll see that we suggest looking for things to correlate with smells that appear at particular times or seasons, such as

- operation of nearby businesses or activities

- operation of equipment

Question: sulphur odor in water, filter fixed it, then sewer gas odors.

I am looking for some advice. We have just moved in a brand new home. At first we could smell a strong sulphur odor in our water. We had a centaur filter put in, which took the smell away immediately.

I then noticed sewer gas smell mainly in our 2nd floor laundry room, but also the 1st floor mudroom (utility sink.) I was told to add water to the sinks and floor drains and mineral oil to the floor drains as well. I did this and we still have the sewer gas odor, especially after I do laundry.

My dryer which was working perfectly before the move, now takes 3 cycles to dry a load of clothes. It is after running it, that the smell worsens. FYI the dryer is not vented to the outside wall, but apparently into the stack and up through the roof through a static vent. I would love some ideas as to what it could be as we are now having burning noses and throats and headaches. Thanks so much in advance. - Heather 9/12/12

Reply:

Heather:

Let's separate things to not get too confused. Odors in the water supply - if that's where they are coming from, won't affect how long it takes a clothes dryer to dry stuff. But odors in the water do need to be diagnosed and most likely corrected. There are treatment systems for sulphur if that's the problem.

Separately, investigate the dryer vent system for length, bends, blockage - as longer dry time also can be an indication of a FIRE HAZARD as when a dryer has trouble venting it not only takes longer to dry the clothes but it also runs hotter.

Reader follow-up:

An update. The plumbers came and did a smoke drop test. There were no evident leaks in there. The builder sent out someone the next day, who found the dryer vent on the roof was totally blocked with a mat of lint.

He removed that and the wire mesh that was left in place. They raised the vent stack to over 3 feet. I let the house "air out" for 3 days then decided yesterday, that we needed to try out the AC, as our symptoms increase dramatically when it is on. Within 10 minutes of it being on, we started again, with burning eyes and throat with headache.

The dog even had clear drainage from his nose. Today the HVAC technician was here to look at both the unit in the attic and the one in the basement. He thought that it could be the oil that is applied at the factory, that was not burned off. He told me to run the heat for as long as I could, which I did.

We are getting the vents and units cleaned tomorrow. He then told me to run the AC after and see if we continued to have symptoms. Everything I have read points me to the fact that we are inhaling either VOCs or formaldehyde. The house is brand new, and I would not expect "sick building syndrome" in a brand new home.

I have never reacted this way to anything before. I am at a loss. Also, there is no attic fan.

Do you think we could benefit from having one placed? Thank you so much for the help. - Heather

Reply:

Heather, based upon your comments - you are a good candidate for an air quality test. An environmental testing co. could take samples from your home and have them analyzed for gas levels . turnaround would be a week or so and would identify higher than standard levels in you home.

Possible sources (other than those you've mentioned) are : paint off gassing, hardwood floor finish, carpet fibers, cabinet plywood or particle board, particle board carpet base, among others. Any new home will have a period of off gassing from finish materials . higher indoor temperatures accelerate the gassing effects. - DF

Comment from reader NCBuilder:

Heather, your builder should also be able to provide EPA data sheets from manufacturers of finish materials used in your home : paints, varnishes, floor finishes, catalyzed laquer (cabinets), carpet fibers, etc. These would be a big help if you indeed go the air quality sampling route.

Reply:

Thanks NCBuilder - Ed.

Question: foul smell in bathrooms and main drain

My home has a foul smell. In both bathrooms, sinks, and main drain in the basement. I noticed today that the main waste stack has two 90 degrees on it, is that ok?

Could that be contributing to my smell? I live in St. Louis, MO - Mary 10/30/2012

Reply:

If the plumbing vent (main waste stack) is unchanged, that is if that double bend has always been present and the odors are new, I doubt that it's the problem. But I'd agree that a blocked or leaky plumbing vent system is often an odor source.

Question: electric motor to help move sewage through pipes?

Is there an electrical motor that helps move the sewage from the toilet through the pipes and into the septic tank? And, what moves the water out the leach lines. i had noticed a noise after running water either kitchen or bathroom or flushing about 2 months ago, and now I believe I smell some gases - more like "sitting water" smells in the house.

It is not specifically around the toilet or drains. I also noticed the 45 foot leach lines are still watering the grass in the pasture, but not to the end of the lines as they once did. My house is 45 years old, and I purchased it about 17 years ago. - Phyllis 11/17/12

Reply:

Phyllis,

See SEWAGE PUMPS for a starting point. There are several types of pumps and systems - sewage ejector pumps or sewage grinder pumps for two.

Question: sewer gases at sinks and smelly dishwasher

I have two problems. One: Sewer gases smells are coming from my bathroom sinks, one upstairs and one downstairs. It is not all the time but at least 80% of the time. I my landlord but is just said that this is a problems that lots of people have and nothing is wrong. He never actually investigated.

The secoond problem: My dishwasher is emitting some type of datk gummy residue all over my dishes. In addition, I also notice a dark powder like substance on the outside of the dryer at the bottom.

My landlord said that these problems come from food particles left on dishes. I always use a brush to wash my dishes and I know that this is not the cause. It appears that there is a build up of some kind and then it is all over everthing. I wonder if the two problems are related and if this is residue from the sewer.

I am a senior citizen and recently my daughter and her 8 month old baby living here. I am concerned for our safety. I have some medical issues that never occuted before I moved her a few years ago. such as extreme fatigue and some times headaches. Could you pleasae give some advise. How can I get these things tested without it being too costly? - Barbara 12/1/12

Reply:

Your landlord is wrong that sewer gases are harmless; the risks are of a methane or hydrogen suflide gas explosion, and from chronic exposure there are potential health effects (citations are in the references at the end of this article).

While it's common to detect slight odors and low gas levels right at sink drains if you are smelling those odors in the occupied space, that is not normal and needs to be investigated and corrected.

Question: smells in mobile home

II have rented this moble home for 5 months now and my 22 month old baby and the rest of the family have been sick for a while. Even after cleaning really good.

About a week ago i had a pipe freeze and bust ao called the plumber while fixing the busted pipe he said that my drain pipe was not hooked up to septic but had been draining under the house.

The pipe has been fixed but landlords have not had anyone come clean under house. Is that something to worry about? - S Susan 1/29/2013

Reply:

Susan,

Without inspecting and testing we don't actually know what hazards are present in your home nor if the unsanitary conditions under the home are showing up indoors. But nevertheless, you are describing an unhealthy condition that almost surely violates local building and plumbing codes in your area.

Watch out: bacterial hazards, sewer gas hazards, methane and hydrogen sulfide gas hazards are all potential health hazards and where those gases accumulate indoors they can even be an explosion hazard. Notify your landlord in writing of these conditions and ask for immediate repair and also cleaning and sanitizing at your home.

Question: smelly water from drain leak, burping toilets

My house has attached semi-outdoors laundry with a toilet and a sink, but the leak comes from the wall next to a bathroom. The water that leaks looks clear but stinks like sewer. Toilets are burping with air bubbles backing up into restrooms. What could be wrong? - John 2/23/13

Reply:

John,

You are describing what sounds like a blocked drain and backup leakage into the building. Further investigation, repair, and sanitizing are almost certainly needed.

Question: dead animal in the ducts? dead mouse smells in walls?

(Mar 14, 2014) Susan Sandlin said:

The following link does not appear to be functional:

"There is a Septic Tank Odor Coming from a Vent Under My Air Conditioner."

Unfortunately, this is the problem that we seem to be having. A very putrid odor is blown out of the supply vents when the air conditioner is on. We are trying to determine the cause and what needs to be done to fix it, as it is such a foul smell that I don't believe we will be able to stay in the house if the air conditioner is needed.

(July 10, 2014) Charles Armstrong said:

Smell in Utility Rm. I have my septic cleaned out, I've cut holes in walls for dead mice. I,ve moved my washer out into the garage, I,ve stuffed rages down my washer stand pipe and my sink in the utility rm. Is their an odor sniffer that I can use to track down the smell?

Reply:

Susan you've caught me amid moving some topics around, but you can read the A/C odor comments in the FAQS discussion a above. Just click on "Click to Show or Hide FAQs" and you'll find our discussion starting at

Question: There is a Septic Tank Odor Coming from a Vent Under My Air Conditioner: Who do I Call?

Let me know what you think and what questions remain.

And consider a dead animal in the air handler or ductwork - if that's the case the risk is more than odor as health concerns could be present.

Charles

In the More Reading links just above click on

TESTS for SEWER GAS INDOORS

and read about using the TIF8800 combustible gas analyzer

Question: pungent nauseating odors

(Apr 19, 2014) katherine said:

Early morning and night time air odours, Pungent, sulphurous, nauseating,-could this be bore water especially with no rain for months. In WA.

Reply:

Katherine, after you've reviewed the steps above about how to find a sewer gas odour source, it may help to combine the visual inspection steps with the checklist described at inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Odor_Diagnosis_Checklist.php

Question: hydrogen sulfide smell in sewer line

(Apr 21, 2014) don said:

I have hydrogen sulphide smell in my sewer line and have identified but have yet to see anyone's help to remove the problem.. what do I put in my sewer drains and lines.

Reply: sewer line deodorants & additvies?

Don,

I don't think that ANY additive, chemical, or treatment poured into the sewer drains and lines is likely to be effective, and it may be harmful to the drainfield and will be illegal in many jurisdictions if you are connected to a private septic system.

Rather we want to track down the odor cause and fix that. Examples are defects in the plumbing vent system, leaks in the sewer piping, or a backing-up main building drain, or if you are connected to a private septic system, a backing up or clogged septic system.

(Apr 23, 2014) Anonymous said:

thanks for your response. I have a lagoon system, installed a new mobile home in dec 2013, the odor started about mid Jan while wife was doing laundry, I understood bleach would clear up pipes but no luck, strong smell from vent pipes on roof, strong smell around out side seems to come from vent lines, have replaced all vent line check valves to P traps but no change in odor, when washing machine is running seems to be worse, if it's machine how do I rid this from machine... thanks for any input as odor is quite strong at times.....don

Reply:

We discuss lagoon septic systems at inspectapedia.com/septic/Lagoon-Septic-Systems.php - take a look.

Some odors are normal around a septic lagoon treatment area, but others are not, as you'll see in that article.

Bleach will not fix anything in this case and if used in quantity it may harm the septic system.

(May 2, 2014) Don said:

After much searching you can rid the hydrogen suphur smell, try using hydrogen peroxide. I do a week ago and no smell left. I put a bottle in each drain, the washing machine and each vent line on the roof. so my original question is answered and hope this helps anyone else with this problem.

(May 3, 2014) Anonymous said:

Watch out: Don's advice is dangerous. It treats the smell symptom not the cause. If sewer gas is entering a building there is risk of an explosion.

Question: worried about septic tank odors and health effects

(May 27, 2014) Megan said:

Hi I am worried about my sons health we have a garage built in to a room when we moved in well the owners had a septic tank in the back... and well we have these horrible smells threw out the day. and I was just reading and it contains methane gases.

what is the best way to fix the problems cause I am worried about the gaes and my sons health

Reply:

Megan there ought not be sewer gases invading the home from a septic tank; the odor may indicate that there is a backup at the tank, leaks at the tank, or a failing drainfield. I'd try to track own the odor more accurately.

If the septic tank is in use the system will need diagnosis & possibly repair.

if the septic system is not in use it needs to be emptied, cleaned, and filled-in.

Question: odors after septic tank pumped

(May 28, 2014) Dee said:

After having my septic tank empty I have a strong odor coming up from the bathroom shower when you run water

Reply:

Sounds as if there might be dry traps in other fixtures or a leaky vent piping. Cleaning a septic tank ought not create an odor problem in the building.

Question: strange odors after installing laminate floors in bathrooms

(June 2, 2014) Damali Robertson said:

I recently had laminate floors installed in my bathrooms. Since the installation, one of my bathrooms has had a very strange odor (that comes and goes). Had a plumber come out on a day when it wasn't that bad. He cleared hair out of a drain in one of the sinks.

But the smell came back and again comes in and out. One the days it is present, it is really strong. In trying to figure it out, came across this article. The contractors removed the toilet to lay the flooring. Is there a possible connection and what is the best next step to take?

Reply:

Damali

CHeck for odors coming from the flooring itself or its adhesive.

Check for a bad toilet wax ring seal.

Question: sewage smells when water runs in the bath fixtures

(July 5, 2014) Val said:

My bathroom sink (and, recently, my bathtub) smells like sewer whenever I run the water, be it hot or cold. It doesn't smell like rotten eggs; more like poo. There is no gurgling sound and both drain properly. The sink is new, as well as the P trap. I opened the P trap and the water smells like sewer, like, really bad. The washer drain, also located in the bathroom, is fine, as well as the kitchen sink.

I replaced the bathroom sink for two reasons: this odor and the fact that it was old, hoping this will solve the problem. It didn't. When I replaced the sink I used an auger to clean the drain as well as I could. There was no abnormal smell coming from the drain at that time.

This puzzles me because I don't understand why it doesn't smell when the p-trap and the other components are removed but does when they're installed... Also, it doesn't smell when the water is turned off and it is present regardless of the weather or season.

I live in a city so my water drains into the city main. Also, I live on the top floor of a duplex. The first floor doesn't have this issue. I suspected it might be the toilet that sucks the water from the p trap when i flush it but it's not that. Even if I don't use the toilet, the odor is present. Strangely, the toilet doesn't smell when I flush it. Any possible explanation? Thanks!

Reply:

Val

Unfortunately if sewer gases are backing up through a sink drain, replacing the drain and trap are unlikely to fix the problem. One needs to find the cause such as improper venting that tends to cause water to siphon out of a trap.

I suspect that when you run water, the draining water is displacing sewer gases in the piping that should be vented above the roof but instead are entering the drain system.

Question: sewer odors after new sewer line installed

(Aug 6, 2014) Paula said:

We had a new lateral line dug because our original two were saturated and now we have a sewer smell in one bathroom daily and once in the whole house. Our plumber crawled under the house and didn't see any leaks. We had just had the tank pumped out and no one can figure it out. Help

Reply:

Paula

If you are sure that the smell problem originated with the excavation and drainfield line work then I'd be looking for an error in the installation that blocked a drainfield line, D-box, etc.

ALso check the obvious and unrelated causes: a loose toilet, bad wax ring seal, improper venting.

Question: new house, terrible smell in bathroom

9/1/2014 Fiona said:

Can anyone help please. New house, two bathrooms finished, terrible smell from one. Then installed the next en suite and the smell is now in that room and gone from the previous room? We put a new toilet in the old room that smelt and new toilet in the new en suite but used the same cistern.

We still have another en suite to complete but the smell in the new one is awful. We have an eco friendly septic tank. Does anyone have any ideas please?

Reply:

Check for incomplete or improper drain, waste, or vent plumbing for the smelly bathroom

Question: odors at the septic tank lid

(Oct 26, 2014) septic leaks thru lid of old cement 1000 gallon tank. said:
We have used dirt on top, plastic when lid is reset to try to act as a gasket, but nothing works. Any suggestions?

Reply:

Watch out: what you describe may be unsafe if the septic tank lid is not properly selected and installed - someone falling into the septic tank usually dies.

Ask your plumber about signs of a backup at the septic tank or about installing a septic tank vent in an appropriate area.

Question: sewer gas odor was detected in the daylight basement floor drain.

(Dec 4, 2014) David said:

My house is 30+ years old. about 5 years ago sewer gas odor was detected in the daylight basement where there is a floor drain. The drains are all abs plastic, except that when I opened up the concrete floor and exposed the trap, it was cast iron. (presumably because the plastic traps in those days did not have a built in tap for the primer water.)

I found out that while an old cast iron trap will hold water molecules, it can deteriate over time and allow gas molecules to pass through the pipe walls

. I replaced the trap and the odor disappeared for a couple of years. Unfortunately the problem has returned.

By the way, it is only present during cold weather. I recently opened a wall in the smelly area and replaced a couple of vent pipe couplings that were leaking gas, but still have the problem.

Just wondering if I am going to have to open all the walls and floors and redo all the drains associated with this area of the house. Half would be under concrete and finished floors, ugh. Also, I found the leaks initially by injecting a detectable gas into the system.

Can anyone share a potent gas and very sensitive detector that could be used in the search?

Reply:

Sure - see the TIF8800 at GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS

Question:

(Dec 7, 2014) Anonymous said:
I HAVE A GAS ODOR IN MY MAIN FLOOR BATHROOM. HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS ODOR?

Reply:

Anon the most effective odor cure is to find and fix the odor source. For the case you cite, in More ReDeing links just above,, try the diagnostic suggestions in the article above.

Question: sewer odors in the basement

(Jan 14, 2015) Marge H said:
I have two, related issues. Each winter, whenever there is a really cold spell, we smell sewer odors, primarily in the basement.

We just bought this house several years ago and noticed several months after the closing, of course, that a white pvc pipe, similar to what comes out of the roof in one of our bathrooms, is open down into the basement. I think this may be the source, but not sure what to do about it. Any suggestions?

(Jan 31, 2015) Anonymous said:

my septic tank vent is locate approx.8 ' from the septic tank and approx 3' higher,on very cold days the vent will backup and waste will flow from the vent,have lived in this home for approx.

401 years and have only noticed the problem for the last few years.Had the septic tank pumped out 2 years ago and I am the only person living in the home.

...

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

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BUILDING DRAIN ODOR SOURCES
• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
• ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM - home

Suggested citation for this web page

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

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to DRAIN SEPTIC SEWER PIPES

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---