I just replaced the Wax ring -twice - and the toilet flange. Since the builder's moved both the tub and toilet and has even gone so far as to break up the floor looking for a plumbing error, but hasn't found it, you may need to submit a claim under your new home warranty. I'm neither a plumber or an expert, but have personally experienced enough plumbing issues living in an older house to both spend a small fortune on plumbers and also learn some simple DIY methods for correcting non-critical problems, such as those described in this article. ; ) Best wishes with your Baton Rouge business. If it was recently performed by a plumber, you should call the pro and report the smell. Any suggestions? Lets consider how the plumbing for this stand-alone shower in my home operates. I don't notice any effects on myself such as headache, and it's not constant, but I'm worried it could be more serious. Good luck! I was told that was the problem. That will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars, with no guarantee of a solution. I don't think that they use the same pipe. Good luck! I have a similar problem with a mysterious sewer smell coming from my toilet. Will welcome suggestions, although I'd rather not call the police as management suggested I do in my first request. The only way we found the leak was with a smoke test like the ones described here https://sewerodor.com. If it's a clog and you're the DIY type (and can safely gain access to the pipe), you may be able to flush out any clog. Yay. I have had this smell for months and at first I thought there was a small leak in the pipes exiting the house to the sewer system. You guys had similar mysteries - wondered if you resolved it? I quickly dried the floor of the shower stall with paper towels and covered the drain tightly with good old all-purpose duct tape. I appreciate the thumbs up! Condo Board together with management are horrible and don't do anything except take care of their favorites, then sit on their cushy butts. Jaye. Unstopping a vent may not be DIY for everyone, but the dry trap is an easy "fix" using the tips in my article. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on January 13, 2018: I apologize for the late reply, Kjanke. The house is from 2019 and has it's own sewage system near the house. I would call the plumber too, in your situation! The municipal water department insisted it was safe and actually healthy (due to minerals, I think), but it did smell bad and stained white clothing in the laundry. After I published this Hub, someone mentioned in the comments section that boiling water poured down the drain might crack a pipe. Kevin Hussey from Baton Rouge LA on May 10, 2015: I have shared your article Jaye - but I have given you full credit. Good luck! If you smell a noxious sewer-like odor inside your home, chances are it is sewer gas escaping from the drainage system. It seems simple, but may not be a DIY job. You'll also need a plumber if the pipe is improperly installed. It can really be dangerous to your health, especially (as you mentioned) when someone has a compromised immune system, and it seems that your liver was working overtime. I just moved into a new apartment and after a couple weeks there was suddenly a strong smell in my bathroom of sewer gas. Help me! Jaye, If you were renting, you could just move out if management did not look into and solve the problem. If you're not a DIY-er, renting is often better than being a homeowner. m - Monthly maintenance of your drains to clean them and prevent clogging is a good idea. This is a formula for trouble that can allow stinky sewer gas to seep into your home. Good luck! This is very dangerous, especially for people with compromised immune systems. This method can be used for any drain, not just the one in a shower. I think its coming from the urinal. Jaye, Peter S - I'm delighted my tips got rid of your guest bathroom odor. My and my husband bought a house this month, and we are moving there partially (few boxes each time). Since the sewer gas that invaded my home was due to a dry trap, it's up to me to keep it from happening again. Regards, Jaye. Meanwhile it's happened several times, I've never smelled this odor before until last month. That should get a maintenance repair person scheduled to track down the trouble soon! I suspect that the camera procedure was needed to find your problem. I once lived in a town that had tea-colored water with a sulfur odor. I wanted to clean the toilet while I had water in it so that dirt from construction didn't stay/stain. Good luck in your new home. Years ago, the same thing happened at my house while doing laundry on a rainy day and was caused by a blockage in the vent that goes through the roof. So I have to close my windows in this sweltering heat, a/c doesn't work. What you'll need: White vinegar, baking soda, bleach, mineral oil, and hot water. It helped, but wasn't a cure. We initially thought it was a propane leak but have since determined that it is a sewer gas smell. Regards, Jaye, The Reminder - Happy to be of help to you in Canada. There is a website, http://IndustrialOdorControl.com that has the Wolverine Brand Activated Carbon Vent Filter that will solve this problem. I've lived in the apartment for a month now. I noticed 2 months later a rotten egg smell under my kitchen sink. It worked temporary but 2 days later the smell came back again. A shower trap holds about two cups of water. No need for bleach, vinegar or baking soda. Either way, he said the problem has to be addressed. And, as we say in the Deep South, Bless your heart! I do hope youve completely recovered from weeks of sewer gas inhalation. This whole process took several weeks. There are no trees near the roof thank god. I occasionally (but frequently enough to be gross) notice a sewer smell in the bathroom. When that shower was suddenly used after remaining dry for such a long period, the resulting odor emanating from the drain after the water stopped was dreadful. Take careJaye, Andre Thanks so much for joining the discussion and adding another suggestion relative to septic roof vents. All of the traps have water in them. Would the vinegar and soda help without the bleach step? Studor vent under the wetbar sink is working. I assume that's from it trying to filter out the toxins? I then opened the bathroom window for ventilation. I am a project manager for a national builder so was the GC for our own home. I don't know how your contract with the condo management reads regarding their responsibilities, so it's difficult to make suggestions about what you can do to make them act. Will report back! Thanks and well done! While I advocate pouring hot water down the drain, what about boiling water? If your home is situated against a hill or a line of trees, wind vortexes can be created that bring that odor close to the ground. It seems like it should have been noticeable before use, rather than after. Thank God I came across your post. Good luck! These are just my opinions, of course. ~Cynthia. Sometimes when a new toilet is installed or new flooring in a bathroom requires moving an existing toilet, the toilet bowl gasket wont be sealed properlynot only if its a DIY project, but also some rookie plumbers may not get it right. Should I repeat this method? Now live in 1 story condo, slow drains for 3 years in both bathrooms, have been doing DIY for 3 years to keep them flowing, now notice sewer gas smell but it is just at edge of building.when i am outside. I don't have the DIY expertise to test or resolve more difficult issues, so it would have been time to call in the professionala licensed, bonded, and insured plumber. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on November 03, 2015: peachpurple - Thanks so much. Should I pour something into the drain from upstairs? You need a plumber to determine what is causing repeated overflows and repair it. The vent is a critical component of this system because the pressure in sewer lines may fluctuate. We never noticed the smell during any point of construction. I hope you and your family suffered no ill effects from the sewer gas and were able to get the problem corrected by a plumber. Then another half gallon of water. You just saved my life literally. Thanks for reading the article. Regards, Jaye. I've been ill for the past couple of weeks and am just now checking comments, emails, etc. It persisted when something (toilet, shower, laundry machine) was used and I thought there was some stinky gunk build-up in a pipe. Regards, Jaye. The potential level of danger caused by sewer gases escaping inside a structure depend on the source and reason, which can be determined by testing. Heres the background. After all, some people take very hot showers. It's hard to describe but it's a powerful sweet overwhelming smell, I consider it a chemical smell, that I taste in my mouth for hours and leaves it dry and my lips are tingling/numb. Notify your water department if your sulfide level is over the safe level. However, I did some research and found a site which may answer your question or point you to a solution. What can I do? My article is about how to DIY getting rid of sewer gas, but your problem is out of my sphere of influence. Escaping sewer gas can be dangerous if not remedied. Life savior! Turned out the pipes in the crawl space below the building were broken and weeks of sewage from all 3 floors were under my apartment! Finally, the big issues were resolved (and please dont remind me how much money that cost), so visits from the plumber have been rare in recent years. Then realized my potential stupidity and read the bowl cleaner label. We just did a new drain and bathroom at the back half our basement. This page has really helped me so far. If it's an ongoing problem, the vent pipe may be improperly installed. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on April 12, 2017: JPlunk - What a bummer it is to encounter such a problem in your brand new home! This step is very important, so don't skip it. argdraw from London on November 18, 2015: Your method, is a good way to clean the pipes, even clear a minor blockage, but the gas smell, is sewer air coming out of the pipe, because the water has dried out of the trap, running some water, into the trap will refill it, stopping the smell, little used pipework is unlikely to need cleaning just a cup of water. I'm glad you enjoyed my hub and hope these tips will save you money. Just had a new toilet wax seal installed and the smell started. A broken back would be much worse than a clogged sewer drain! The powder room next to the laundry room had a busted line at the toilet last year (the line from the water to the tank) and it pseudo flooded the bathroom. Any suggestions are welcome. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on September 06, 2016: Hi, StinkySinky - I'm so glad some of these tips were helpful to you. Unfortunately, the plumber didn't add in the so called trap and it gave out the 'cat poo odor smell' :-(, Now that it is fixed, we can all breathe easier now :-). All of my pipes drain perfect and nothing backs up. Often, simply running the water can resolve this issue. Also, thanks for sharing the link. It smelled likeyes, a sewer! Before you call the plumber, however, there are some simple DIY actions that may eliminate the problem quickly at little or no cost. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on October 24, 2015: Sam - Sorry I missed your comment, and I hope you got the problem corrected. We have a water well so cannot use Bleach because it kills the good bacteria so I'm told. The test will show if the water contains sulfides and, if so, if the amount is harmless. What can we do to fix this? Jaye. Disclaimer: I am not a plumber, building contractor, or expert in either of these fields, only a homeowner who did some research and tried the methods suggested to correct the acute issue and continue to follow it up with preventive maintenance. If you need a reminder to do this, put a note or colored sticker on your calendar to jog your memory until it becomes natural to do it regularly. being a plumber if there is a smell what we recommend is taking the drain cover or pop up off plug off then using a hacksaw blade or hanger to get hair that may be trapped & causing the smell. Duh. When I first bought this vintage 60s house more than a decade ago, major plumbing problems seemed to crop up every few months. All pipes seem to be sealed tightly including check valves. Sewer gas can also cause fire or an explosion, so Im very glad your daughter realized what was wrong, you did some fast research, and that you promptly flushed the drains and closed the tanks. I actually own it. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on July 11, 2016: Thanks to everyone who's left a comment lately. Get those two problems resolved--with or without the condo management--and sell your condo. I hope these suggestions help you get rid of the yucky odor (and potential safety problem) of sewer gas. A plumber is going to come with a camera and check everything. Take care . If the water is hot (less than 175 degrees F.), it should do the trick. Shyron E Shenko from Texas on February 23, 2015: Jaye, thank you for this very useful information. If they don't, you should call a professional plumber for help. The smell lasts briefly when released and isnt likely to be at every faucet in the house. By the way, you are fortunate to have a hubby with DIY abilities in plumbing! I have run my nose along every inch of sewer pipe down there and cannot trace the smell to any particular area. If the smell continues after using the tips for a dry trap (including 4 ounces of mineral oil to hold the moisture in the trap), it may be caused by something else that should be diagnosed by a plumber. Eau de sewer is definitely not the fragrance I wanted wafting throughout my home, so getting rid of it was a top priority, requiring immediate action. Answer: Yes. Question: I tried the DIY tactic to eliminate the sewer smell, and it came back. that is, if a dry trap was your only problem. I hope everything goes well. Thank you (and all the commenters because I read them ALL). One time I put 2 drops of mineral oil after a water run because I wouldn't be around for a week. We certainly don't want sewer gas smell to welcome our house guests, do we? If i use your method, how much vinegar and baking soda along with bleach should i pour? These gasses rise to the highest point in the supply side of the plumbing, such as the valves of faucets and linger as concentrate. If it does, especially since you've only been in this newly built home for three months, you may need an attorney's assistance as much as you need that of an expert plumbing contractor. ~Story time~ (no need to respond). If they cant detect the problem, there may be some flaw with the septic tank/system, and youll need a septic repair contractor. Therefore,you may have already addressed the smelly problem, but with only one vent stack for upstairs and basement bath plumbing, there could be either some blockage between the two, or loose vent pipes. To be on the safe side, I'd suggest you have a licensed plumber check the plumbing vent system thoroughly, especially if your new basement bath was a DIY project. We are on a septic system. Thanks for your comment. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on April 24, 2015: Thanks, Cynthia - "Useful" was the word I hoped would be most used for this hub. I read another article and then this one and immediately ran water in all drains and closed my tanks. I hope the tips in my article prove helpful to you. (We even switched it out just in case) we have 2 sewer ejector crocks (one for wetbar, one for basement bath) smell is not noticeably stronger near either one. The short answer to your question is: yes--you can dispense with bleach and use vinegar and soda. Jonah Engler from New York, NY on December 02, 2015: Never thought of this - will give it a try next this it happens to me :D. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on November 29, 2015: Monis Mas - You're very welcome! If I were you, I wouldn't want the builder to keep going with his "trial-and-error" method, which has not been effective. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on August 19, 2020: Sorry my reply is late, but I hope your problem has been resolved--either by trying this method in the drains or by a licensed plumber. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on November 18, 2015: Adrian - Thanks for the reminder about PVC (plastic) pipes. It should only be done by someone who is experienced at working up high on a ladder and knows all the safety measures to follow. I can dry up the liquid, and in 5 minutes it is back again. There is an intermittent methane smell from the stack area - usually when someone is showering or fixtures being used upstairs. The other good news is that I didn't die from toxic gases when cleaning up. During construction we were in the house on a daily basis and the house was mostly closed up in the last couple of weeks while the painters were working. Initially I tried the vinegar and baking soda in the laundry deep sink, like I do every blue moon for the garbage disposal. I had pre-op labs done this week and they called me that my liver labs were over the top. Next if still smells pour bleach down the drain with some baking soda. If that doesn't work, it's time to call the plumber. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If you're good at DIY, you can check them yourself; otherwise, it's time for the plumber. It took me only a few minutes to find several articles that explained how p-traps, vents (those pipes protruding from the top of the house), and a homes plumbing drains are supposed to work, as well as what sometimes goes wrong to cause drain odors. Hi! I contacted the health dept which didn't do much either, but said the smell is probably from the roof vent and recommended to condo management look into it. Last night my daughter walked in and smelled the smell I was immune to. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on February 13, 2015: Thanks for your comment, Scott. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on June 25, 2018: A clogged vent is a big possibility, as it may be stopped up with leaves, pine straw, other storm debris, dead birds and rodents, etc. And no more bad smell. Andif they don't, it's time to call the plumber. Certain types of tree roots sometimes infiltrate underground plumbing and cause blockage, so sending a camera through the pipes is the only way to diagnose the problem. Otherwise, you will need to call a plumber for the job. After cleaning out some construction debris, I poured a half gallon of water in the toilet bowl. I'm glad your landlord took care of the problem, but now you have some DIY tips for the future. Jaye, Linda Marie How long have you noticed the sewer gas odor coming from the toilet? Finally today, I had a 'duh' moment. If the plumbing was capped when the bathtub was removed, I don't know how it could be related to a new "off" smell unless something came loose inside the wall. I am not, however, suggesting that you climb up on your roof with and attempt to determine if the vent is clogged and clean it out yourself. I don't know what to do, I'm stumped and stressed, have a disabled living with me. It's not all the time and it's not strong. Depending on where you live and the local summer temperature levels, getting your A/C running should also be a priority. From reading up, i think air vents on roof are blocking up. Thanks for returning with an update. Just thought domine here may know a trick Im missing;). For quite some time, I had the phone number of my plumber of choice available to call quickly when emergencies arose. Then pour in another gallon or more of water and open a window. I replaced the vent check under the sink. The oil floats on the water in the trap and slows evaporation. If there's any hesitancy, be firm and remind the person to whom you speak that sewer gas can cause illness and is also volatile. we have two bath rooms that are seldom used and I need to go make sure they have water in the J-Traps. Something stopping up the roof vent is often the culprit, and it's not a difficult fix. Someone told me to check the stink pipeAny advice? The only difference is that apple cider vinegar has a more pleasant smell. so i just repeated the protocol minus the bleach and minteral oil hopefully it works!!! He has removed the toilet both times and snaked it. Good luck! You're right about bad-smelling water. There are no leaks either - but the smell of sewer gas. Jaye. It seems like something isn't sealed properly but there are no leaks or anything. My plumbing was causing a lot of smell in my kitchen and bathroom. Even scarier, high concentrations of methane gas are combustible, which can cause an explosion. My research led me to believe that my stinky problem might be the easiest type to resolve: A dry trap. I'm glad these tips have been helpful to you and appreciate what everyone added to the discussion. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on January 02, 2017: Thanks, Sydney Plumber! Pour 1/2 cup chlorine bleach into the drain and let it sit for another two hours with the bathroom door closed.

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sewage smell in condo bathroom