Sewer gas smells are distinctive, not to mention highly unpleasant and dangerous. The compound that causes sewer gas smells is hydrogen sulfide, which is produced when organic materials break down and start to rot. If you think you smell sewer gas, take quick action, it is more than an inconvenience or a nuisance.
Why Don’t You Smell Sewer Gas In Your Home?
Sewer gas is usually present in tiny amounts in your home but goes unnoticed when the plumbing system is working properly, and poses no issues. This is because sewer gases are vented out through the roof, but primarily because they are blocked from entering your living space by traps in your sewer and drain system. Not only does your main sewer line have a trap, but so do each of your plumbing fixtures.
Read this quick guide to learn more about what to do if you smell sewer gas inside your home or building.
Some sewer gas smells can be easily fixed by a homeowner, whereas others necessitate investigation by a sewer and drain professional. No matter what the cause, don’t wait to diagnose the problem as whatever is causing it is only bound to get worse.
When You Smell Sewer Gas, What Are The Typical Causes?
Hydrogen sulfide is a heavy gas, thus, the rotten egg smell that it produces will most often be strongest in the lowest level of your home, which is typically in the basement, or where a floor drain is located. Other times it can occur near toilets or sinks. Sewer gas problems are commonly caused by:
- A dried-out water seal in a floor drain or trap
- Broken or cracked seals around toilets allow water to siphon out or trap and permit sewer gases to enter your home
- Rotted wood near toilets causes the same problem
- Dry house trap, or P trap, under a sink, shower/tub, or floor drain
- Lack of sufficient drains or venting
If You Smell Sewer Gas Are There Quick Steps To Take?
In most cases, the culprit causing a sewer smell is a dried-out drain trap or a trap that has missing or ill-fitted plugs. As an example, a sewer gas smell in the bathroom is probably from a dried-out drain trap or toilet bowl. In some cases, an old rotten P trap must be replaced.
Your 2 Quick Cures To Stop A Sewer Gas Smell:
- Check the main house trap on your home sewer line. Make sure that the trap plugs are secure and airtight. Of course, make sure that you do indeed have plugs on the openings of your trap!
- Make sure that there is a water seal in every drain and sewer trap on our plumbing system. If a plumbing fixture is seldom used, such as a floor drain or in a seasonal house, they can dry out. Once the water seal is gone inside the trap, there is no longer a water barrier to prevent sewer gas from entering your property. If you suspect the trap has dried out, simply run some water to re-establish the seal inside the belly of the trap.
Do You Require A Professional To Cure Sewer Gas Smells?
A plumber can usually easily remedy all of the above problems. Yet as sewer pipes age, much more serious problems can occur. Especially if you have cast iron sewer pipes, sewer gases can travel into your home through cracks in those pipes.
Older cast iron pipes can form cracks along the top over time and require replacement. For a more detailed description, read the causes of a sewer smell inside or outside your house. In other cases, there can be underground settlement that causes pipes to separate just below the level of your finished floor or basement.
What About If You Smell Sewer Gas Outside Of Your Home?
In some cases, you may smell sewer gas outside your home. Sometimes this can be from a public sewer backup or a public catch basin issue. However, in some cases, your outside rain leader lines may be connected to a combined sewer system (a sewer that accepts both rainwater and wastewater).
If the trap for the leaders or the storm portion of the line dries out, you can get a sewer smell. The simple cure is to simply run some water into the storm drain lines to re-establish the water seal in the stormwater traps.
What If Your Pipes Are Cracked or Separated?
If you suspect that cracked sewer pipes are the cause, the expert technicians at Joseph L. Balkan can easily inspect and pinpoint the source with the latest diagnostic equipment. Contact Balkan Drain Cleaning as soon as you suspect a sewer gas problem.
Prolonged exposure to sewer gas from broken, cracked, or deteriorated pipes can cause problems such as headaches, fatigue, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other medication conditions. Relief from this troublesome quality of life issues may be just a call or a mouse click away. Furthermore, it might be a small DIY project away from being resolved.
If You Smell Sewer Gas Call Your Local NYC Expert
Team Balkan has been servicing the New York City metropolitan area for over 70 years and has serviced over 90,000 clients. Balkan is an expert at any water main, drain, or sewer line issue that you might have. These are all reasons why Balkan is The Team To Trust. Whether you need expert advice or professional and trustworthy service, count on us every time.
