After all, some people take very hot showers. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on February 25, 2017: To Germfree: Please accept my apology for the late response. I read another article and then this one and immediately ran water in all drains and closed my tanks. 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. ..the duh moment was when I realized that usually toilets don't emit that sewer gaswhen they are operable! A licensed home inspector can use a gas detection instrument, while a plumber can carry out a pressure test of the drain vent system or even send a remote camera through the drains to determine if there is blockage. I don't think that they use the same pipe. If you smell a noxious sewer-like odor inside your home, chances are it is sewer gas escaping from the drainage system. Answer: This is not a DIY issue except for floor cleanup and disinfecting. Finally today, I had a 'duh' moment. Live in a ranch style home, thought I had a clogged bathroom drain as water was slow draining in the tub. Originally, the tank spontaneously cracked and leaked on the floor, so I replaced the toilet. If the water is hot (less than 175 degrees F.), it should do the trick. Someone told me to check the stink pipeAny advice? Even if I were successful in locating a plumber who would show up before the next day, the overtime rates charged would not be healthy for my budget. Optional: Use a screwdriver to remove the trap if you want to replace it. If that doesn't work, it's time to call the plumber. It seems simple, but may not be a DIY job. However, PVC pipes don't need regular dousing with water over 175 degrees Fahrenheit (and water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit), or the joints might melt. Lets consider how the plumbing for this stand-alone shower in my home operates. Hello, I moved in a home with all brand new pipes. By now, ample water should be standing in the U curve of the P-trap. By the way, you are fortunate to have a hubby with DIY abilities in plumbing! If you're not a DIY-er, renting is often better than being a homeowner. There is an intermittent methane smell from the stack area - usually when someone is showering or fixtures being used upstairs. I had a recent problem with this, but fortunately my landlord called someone in. 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. Mazlan A from Malaysia on November 04, 2015: Our cat's house has it's own 'sewage system' (I don't use cat litter anymore..used to) and connected to the washing machine drain pipe (that goes to the sewer line). Thanks for stopping by and sharing this tip. Many home warranties are backed by the builder, while others are purchased from an independent company and are part of your new home package. Recently the drainage has become so loud from the other apartments above. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on December 19, 2016: Sometimes when a toilet wax seal is installed, the toilet isn't placed (re-seated) accurately, which allows some sewer gas to escape. Linda Robinson from Cicero, New York on October 28, 2015: Hi Jaye just wanted to say so nice meeting you, and that I really enjoyed and got so much important information and easy to comprehend and so many outstanding tips do-it-yourself repairs before calling the plumber that will save you hundreds. 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. About a year ago, I had a bathtub removed and covered, could that be related? Never mix bleach and vinegar, or you will create toxic chlorine and chloramine gas. I use the shower all the time so I don't think it would be a dry P trap..? Thanks for sharing this great guide. . We are on a septic system. Don't you think so? Repair is not your responsibility. In the latter instance, you may want to put a filter on that faucet. What you'll need: White vinegar, baking soda, bleach, mineral oil, and hot water. 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. I did the DIY solution yesterday, and I'm happy to find this morning that the smell is gone. Regards. Living in an RV full time and not knowing about this issue, had my drain tanks open full time to the sewer line. 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. Regards, Jaye. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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 just tried the baking soda, vinegar and water. That is the best thing about renting. You guys had similar mysteries - wondered if you resolved it? Don't forget to add the four ounces of mineral oil, which will help keep the trap wet. The vent has a wire cap over it, I guess to keep bugs and things out. Would the vinegar and soda help without the bleach step? 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. The Reminder from Canada on February 21, 2016: Very good and informative hub. **okay, here's my stupid moment (among many). The good news is that this may work once and for all with the sewer gas/smell. Nothing clogged. Factors affecting the amount of sulfides gathered at any place in your plumbing may include: the way the water line was run; pipe size; and style. Escaping sewer gas can be dangerous if not remedied. 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. Jaye. I have not seen any resolutions for the toilet smell. I'm dizzy, lethargic, can't think, have fever, hurt all over. I do not have any other smells anywhere. A handy DIY-er with a steady ladder may be able to unstop it. Marlene Bertrand from USA on July 01, 2019: I have a rotten egg smell in my toilet area and will try your solutions. 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. If youve checked the usual sources of sewer gas smell (and, as the general contractor of the new build, you should be familiar with the systems), it may be time to call in professional help to track down the odors origin. We went from no smell to very strong concerning smell literally overnight. Good luck getting rid of that smell! Closing the door of that bathroom, I rolled up a towel and pushed it against the outside bottom of the door to prevent sewer gas from escaping that room into another part of the house. The smell was coming out of the tub drain, tub faucet and overflow drain. Thanks for your comment. Regards, Jaye. Thanks for reading the article. Should I just replace the new seal? Question: I tried the DIY tactic to eliminate the sewer smell, and it came back. And no more bad smell. I wanted to cry. PVC pipes don't need regular dousing with water over 175 degrees Fahrenheit (and water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit), or the joints might melt. You can also remove the trap to clean it out. Great hub. 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. 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 two bath rooms that are seldom used and I need to go make sure they have water in the J-Traps. The best way to get a ballpark estimate in your area is to call at least three local plumbing companies, describe the issue, and ask about their prices. Question: If I don't have white vinegar, can I use apple cider vinegar to relieve sewer gas? Jaye, Linda Marie How long have you noticed the sewer gas odor coming from the toilet? Thank you so much for your information and saving my life. You don't want to take a chance on someone who may charge cheaper rates, but can't be held accountable for work, including any damages to your property. m - Monthly maintenance of your drains to clean them and prevent clogging is a good idea. Duh. The backup of water while doing laundry points to another possibility (or maybe more--I'm not a plumber). I hope these suggestions help you get rid of the yucky odor (and potential safety problem) of sewer gas. If you get your water from a well, heres a link where you can get advice: http://www.wellowner.org/water-quality/hydrogen-su Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on March 16, 2016: roob - Thanks for adding to the discussion. Even if your home's plumbing includes PVC pipes and joints, using very hot water shouldn't hurt them, but don't let the water boil. The last step is to pour four ounces of mineral oil (plain cooking oil will work in a pinch) into the drain. It's coming from the back of the house where dryer vents are, maybe it's someone's dryer vent turned toward my window? Let that sit for two hours with the bathroom door closed. Step 6 is crucial to avoid this danger. I asked an engineer about this issue and was advised that PVC (plastic) pipes should not be hurt by a little very hot or just-about-to-boil water. Answer: Yes. When water drains from the shower, it goes into the city sewer system. 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. 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! Jaye. I will certainly share this broadly! I was told that was the problem. I hope the tips in my article prove helpful to you. Thank you in advance. If i use your method, how much vinegar and baking soda along with bleach should i pour? A vent system that allows air in to equalize pressure and let sewer gases escape up the stack to the outside. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on August 09, 2016: AR - The best thing about living in an apartment building is that the apartment management has responsibility for ensuring that everything in the apartment (other than the tenant's personal property) is both workable and safe. ~Cynthia. DIY is not my forte, but I can sometimes handle an easy fix. A plumber is going to come with a camera and check everything. The smell lasts briefly when released and isnt likely to be at every faucet in the house. Plumbing fixtures and their connecting systems that are correctly designed and installed are normally odorless. What if you live in an apartment building? 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. I replaced the ring the second time because of the smell. I hope everything goes well. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on April 03, 2016: Dwight You didnt say whether the vanity installation was DIY or whether a plumber did the work. I live on 1st floor of 6floor apartment building. 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. However, simply running water regularly in a shower used infrequently (such as a guest bathroom) will keep the trap from drying out. Guest baths are often forgotten for periods of time if no one uses them but occasional visitors. I have a similar problem with a mysterious sewer smell coming from my toilet. I started to hear some water moving and the bowl water went down a little, so I knew it had to flow some to the pipes. I grabbed the bowl cleaner and brush and cleaned. I have the utmost respect for plumbers and plumbing contractors, and have spent a small fortune using their services since I bought an older house years ago. Leaks, rotted or cracked drain pipes, clogs in the drain, or a stopped-up vent pipe are other potential stink-makers. Please help!?!? The home is 2 story. ; ) Best wishes with your Baton Rouge business. http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Floor_Drain_Odor http://www.wellowner.org/water-quality/hydrogen-su Pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into the drain. Good luckJaye. He has removed the toilet both times and snaked it. Your new home is probably your greatest investment, and you deserve to have everything properly operable and safe--now. The only problem is the tub drain. 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. I do not know where to check or what to do first. Take careJaye, Andre Thanks so much for joining the discussion and adding another suggestion relative to septic roof vents. Added a few drops of mineral oil there also. I assume that's from it trying to filter out the toxins? Jaye, Adasha - Oh, my goodnesswhat a terrible experience! We went outside and the smell was not coming from there. Since the smell is only noticeable the first time you turn the water on in the morning, you may have a high concentration of dissolved sulfides (if your water supply is municipal) or hydrogen sulfide gas if you have a well. 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. Below, you'll find out how to get rid of the smell of sewer gas emitting from a shower drain due to a dry trap or a mild clog. We have a water well so cannot use Bleach because it kills the good bacteria so I'm told. 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. Jaye. That will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars, with no guarantee of a solution. We have a central stack that runs through the bathrooms but I hear it coming through my showers drain, like a hollow gurgling at first then hissy then the obvious draining away of water. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Can't believe I'm helpless at this point. How long should it take for the smell to subside if the dry drain is the problem.