sewage smell in condo bathroom

Should I pour something into the drain from upstairs? I'm glad your landlord took care of the problem, but now you have some DIY tips for the future. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on February 13, 2015: Thanks for your comment, Scott. Both white and apple cider vinegar have essentially the same acidity. It was evening when the odor materialized, and I realized it might not be possible to get a licensed plumber to my house after regular business hours. Jaye. Thank God I came across your post. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on May 06, 2015: Hi, Avery - I'm not a plumber or professional contractor--just a homeowner who found a way to rid my bathroom of sewer gas coming through the shower drain. Good luck! We went from no smell to very strong concerning smell literally overnight. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on August 13, 2016: Diane - Bleach is best saved for city water and sewer systems, but vinegar and baking soda produce foaming action that help clean and freshen the drain. I was told that was the problem. Also, randomly when draining the tub, the toilet gurgles and bubbles wildly. We are smelling sewer gas in our guest bathroom, and the smell has spread into adjacent closets that share a wall with the bathroom. i follewed your steps minus the bleach and mineral oil. Any one (or all three) of these pros and their methods are likely to be expensive, but you want your family to be safe and enjoy your new home, so if you still havent found the problem, bite the bullet and pick up the phone. The vent has a wire cap over it, I guess to keep bugs and things out. Duh. 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. If they don't, you should call a professional plumber for help. A p-trap that holds water in a U shape of the pipe and forms a seal. We had the issue in our bathtubJust a note for the bathtub issues-take off the overflow cap in there and do some of the baking soda/vinegar/water/mineral oil in there as well Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on June 27, 2016: Beenthere - It seems very likely that your roof vents are blocked by debris. Leaks, rotted or cracked drain pipes, clogs in the drain, or a stopped-up vent pipe are other potential stink-makers. While I advocate pouring hot water down the drain, what about boiling water? When I wrote management about more smells and what are you going to do about it, he said "can't do anything" because investigator found nothing. I replaced the vent check under the sink. I wish you good luck in correcting this issue and eliminating your basement's sewer smell. 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. If you ran plenty of water after using the baking soda and vinegar, the smell should have been gone by the next day . Answer: It should work, and it won't hurt to try it. Rinse with another gallon of hot water poured slowly. 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. 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. Do you think my vent on the roof could be clogged? lol. that is, if a dry trap was your only problem. Step 6 is crucial to avoid this danger. You guys had similar mysteries - wondered if you resolved it? argdraw - Keeping the trap wet is, as you pointed out, a must to prevent sewer gas. 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. I called the gas company this week to see if I had a gas leak. If it's an ongoing problem, the vent pipe may be improperly installed. Question: The smell of sewer gas does not come from inside my house; it is coming from the roof ventilation. I just moved into a new apartment and after a couple weeks there was suddenly a strong smell in my bathroom of sewer gas. Simply running the water might solve this problem. That will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars, with no guarantee of a solution. All of the traps have water in them. 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. Good luck! These drains trap water, creating a seal or barrier that will keep sewer gas out of your home. At least for the future I'm now well informed. All fixtures are in and all traps have water in them. I now ensure there is a water barrier in the p-trap of that little-used shower with some easy weekly maintenance. It's up to the apartment ownership/management to troubleshoot anything wrong with plumbing, sewer venting, drains, or any issue that could allow sewer gas into your apartment or others. A plumber is going to come with a camera and check everything. 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. Had I still smelled that nasty odor when I opened the bathroom door the next morning, stronger measures would have been in order. I wish that I could offer a "miracle" suggestion, but I'm not a plumbing expert. Please help!?!? Good luck! Jaye, If you were renting, you could just move out if management did not look into and solve the problem. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on May 10, 2015: Cajun - Thanks for the credit and for using a link that takes the reader (and traffic) back to my HubPages article. we have two bath rooms that are seldom used and I need to go make sure they have water in the J-Traps. . Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on January 02, 2017: Thanks, Sydney Plumber! Its not super strong, but noticeable when you walk into the bathroom or adjacent closets. Take care . Answer: Yes. I replaced the ring the second time because of the smell. My article is about how to DIY getting rid of sewer gas, but your problem is out of my sphere of influence. Yesterday when we were there and the toilet was used for the first time, we did smell sewage under the house, in the kitchen/dining room (close to the used toilet). That is the best thing about renting. No need for bleach, vinegar or baking soda. The house is from 2019 and has it's own sewage system near the house. Jaye, Peter S - I'm delighted my tips got rid of your guest bathroom odor. 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. 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. Help me! I hope everything goes well. ..the duh moment was when I realized that usually toilets don't emit that sewer gaswhen they are operable! If any plumbing fixture in your home gets infrequent use, try regular "preventive maintenance" by running water or flushing at least weekly to keep all the p-traps working properly. GreenMind Guides from USA on October 10, 2015: Nicely done -- This is a great hub about a great topic -- I love helpful ideas and suggestions like this one. I assume that's from it trying to filter out the toxins? Since my guest shower had remained unused for a long time, the trap under the basin wasn't holding enough water to prevent sewer fumes from seeping up into the room. However, licensed and bonded plumbers are accustomed to meeting building codes, so a plumbing mistake is unlikely. 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 :-). Thank you so much, this totally worked! The last one said that I should get someone out to put a camera down into the pipes. My plumbing was causing a lot of smell in my kitchen and bathroom. So I run and grab an empty bottled water from the recycle bin, cut it just so, grab a bucket, cover my mouth and nose, and scoop out as much liquid as possible. Remember though, you will need one for each vent on the roof. If not, there are products that you can flush through your drains on a regular basis that dissolve young tree roots before they can grow large enough to block the pipes again.) Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on November 03, 2015: peachpurple - Thanks so much. After 15 minutes, run cold water for 10 minutes to thoroughly rinse the vinegar down. 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. About a year ago, I had a bathtub removed and covered, could that be related? Optional: Use a screwdriver to remove the trap if you want to replace it. ~Story time~ (no need to respond). Do you think trying this method in all drains could work or maybe we should call the plumber right away? Hope they worked for you! 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. There are three showers in my home. I own it actually. A broken back would be much worse than a clogged sewer drain! Last night my daughter walked in and smelled the smell I was immune to. 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. 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. Is it likely that boiling water in the drain might crack a pipe? I suspect that the camera procedure was needed to find your problem. I had the water off in that room since then. **okay, here's my stupid moment (among many). You just saved my life literally. I didnt know anything about p-traps or their function until a recent unpleasant incident forced me to do some hurried research. I went to the guest bath and ran water in sink and shower and flushed toilet (and now do this at least weekly). I live on 1st floor of 6floor apartment building. The vent is a critical component of this system because the pressure in sewer lines may fluctuate. I noticed it after a time elapse, so it was too late to edit my original response. I have checked all of the more obvious possibilities. This method can be used for any drain, not just the one in a shower. Cheers. I figured it was the after effects of someone going #2. 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. Shyron E Shenko from Texas on February 23, 2015: Jaye, thank you for this very useful information. 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. Knock on wood! Rather than take chances with your health and that of the disabled person who lives with you, it may be necessary for you to pay for a plumber. I'm dizzy, lethargic, can't think, have fever, hurt all over. Good luck! However, to stop sewer gas from seeping into your home, it's important to (1) make sure the sewer vent isn't stopped up, and (2) pour water down the drain to wet the trap and leave enough water standing to seal it. I have to "remind" myself to do the same. Also, thanks for sharing the link. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on February 24, 2015: Thanks, Shyron. 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. It's usually pretty obvious with a drain is leaking water, but sewer gas leaks are really hard to pinpoint. I read another article and then this one and immediately ran water in all drains and closed my tanks. Its 1:00am so not able to call a plummer. Good luck getting rid of that smell! So grateful to have found your article. Even scarier, high concentrations of methane gas are combustible, which can cause an explosion. What you'll need: White vinegar, baking soda, bleach, mineral oil, and hot water. 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. Good luck! Great hub. Answer: It make take two or three times for the trap to stay wet and eradicate the sewer gas smell. Do not mix with bleachyada yada. Water from the city water system enters through the showerhead while faucets control the water pressure and supply. We noticed a sewer smell coming from what we suspect is the AC condensation floor drain in our basement storage room. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on December 22, 2014: Mark - Your vent pipe may be clogged with debris or even a "critter's" nest if the bad smell is recent. The good news is that this may work once and for all with the sewer gas/smell. Good luck! Jaye, Linda Marie How long have you noticed the sewer gas odor coming from the toilet? What can I do? Get those two problems resolved--with or without the condo management--and sell your condo. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on January 13, 2018: I apologize for the late reply, Kjanke. The oil floats on the water in the trap and slows evaporation. (He didnt mention rubber fittings, but I know heat can damage rubber.) I'm a home builder and it's actually surprising how often sewer vent issues can occur. I occasionally (but frequently enough to be gross) notice a sewer smell in the bathroom. Still, I realize that letting a not-so-large problem go unrepaired often means it morphs into something much worse. If you smell a noxious sewer-like odor inside your home, chances are it is sewer gas escaping from the drainage system. Otherwise, you will need to call a plumber for the job. It always happens when the people are home downstairs. 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. so i just repeated the protocol minus the bleach and minteral oil hopefully it works!!! Thanks for returning with an update. I would call the plumber too, in your situation! I have no odor or liquid in the shower drain in the same bathroom or in the second bath. We initially thought it was a propane leak but have since determined that it is a sewer gas smell. As the owner of an older home, I researched this plumbing problem and successfully rid my home of it without the need to call a pro. Initially I tried the vinegar and baking soda in the laundry deep sink, like I do every blue moon for the garbage disposal. However, there may be another problem with your roof vent that may require a plumber. He also snaked that drain but found nothing. 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 hope the damage isn't done and this reverses. Live in a ranch style home, thought I had a clogged bathroom drain as water was slow draining in the tub. If the problem persists, then its time to call in the professionala plumber. Recently the drainage has become so loud from the other apartments above. This page has really helped me so far. Answer: This is not a DIY issue except for floor cleanup and disinfecting. Jaye. Question: If the sewer flows into a septic tank, can I use vinegar or bleach to relieve sewer gas? The home is 2 story. Would the vinegar and soda help without the bleach step? Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on March 28, 2018: Hi, Ben - Sorry this response is belated, but your comment didn't show up timely in my notifications, so I just read it. Sending a big virtual HUG to you!!!! It worked temporary but 2 days later the smell came back again. Pour 1/2 cup chlorine bleach into the drain and let it sit for another two hours with the bathroom door closed. Thus, I managed the build process from the ground up. I have spent literally thousands of dollars over the years trying to get rid of that smell. I can't pinpoint if it's the shower drain or the drain on the bathroom floor. 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. 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. 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. . Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. I then opened the bathroom window for ventilation. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I did go on the roof. m - Monthly maintenance of your drains to clean them and prevent clogging is a good idea. For quite some time, I had the phone number of my plumber of choice available to call quickly when emergencies arose. Your new home is probably your greatest investment, and you deserve to have everything properly operable and safe--now. Then a small glug of bleach (seriously, just tipped the bottle quick). Apparently the problem was under the sink. 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. I did the DIY solution yesterday, and I'm happy to find this morning that the smell is gone. This step is very important, so don't skip it. Often, simply running the water can resolve this issue. 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. 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. Before you call the plumber, however, there are some simple DIY actions that may eliminate the problem quickly at little or no cost. There is an intermittent methane smell from the stack area - usually when someone is showering or fixtures being used upstairs. You're doing a great job helping out every homeowner who reads this by simply writing this post. I hope these suggestions help you get rid of the yucky odor (and potential safety problem) of sewer gas. If you're good at DIY, you can check them yourself; otherwise, it's time for the plumber. Sometimes just wetting the p-trap with water will be enough if that's the only problem. There is a website, http://IndustrialOdorControl.com that has the Wolverine Brand Activated Carbon Vent Filter that will solve this problem. Andif they don't, it's time to call the plumber. The test will show if the water contains sulfides and, if so, if the amount is harmless. The only difference is that apple cider vinegar has a more pleasant smell. You never know until you try. There are no trees near the roof thank god. I am not qualified to offer advice about the problem you suspect is caused by your AC condensation floor drain in your home's basement. I already have the phone numbers of two such plumbers on my speed dial (see next paragraph), but anyone looking for a trustworthy plumber should use an Internet search engine for a national or local directory of plumbers who are licensed, bonded, and insured. Depending on where you live and the local summer temperature levels, getting your A/C running should also be a priority. I'm glad your cat's "sewer system" got fixed. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. I wanted to clean the toilet while I had water in it so that dirt from construction didn't stay/stain. Every week, I pour a cup of white vinegar down the drain, then turn on the water and let it run for about 10 minutes. Anyone who isnt certain whether or not a plumbing system includes any PVC pipes, PVC joints, or rubber fittings should not let the water boil. All out of options, I finally googled (which I could kick myself for not doing this first) and found this article. I have sewer gas coming up from my kitchen sink. I've developed the habit of running water in my guest bath weekly to keep the traps wet. I can dry up the liquid, and in 5 minutes it is back again. Repair is not your responsibility. You won't be sorry for the effort to keep nasty sewer gas at bay. These gasses rise to the highest point in the supply side of the plumbing, such as the valves of faucets and linger as concentrate. My shower, indeed every plumbing fixture in my home, should have two items working together to keep sewer gas out: In short, the properly-vented p-trap prevents back pressure from letting sewer gas into my home. Next if still smells pour bleach down the drain with some baking soda. Regards, Jaye. There are no leaks either - but the smell of sewer gas. I hope the tips in my article prove helpful to you. Answer: Was your shower not in use for some time, as in a guest bathroom only used occasionally? I quickly dried the floor of the shower stall with paper towels and covered the drain tightly with good old all-purpose duct tape. Will report back! You may need to have a plumber check it out if you aren't a handy DIY-er (or have a friend who is). there's 2 bathrooms, men and women but the men bathroom is constantly having the sewerage gas smell. Thank you in advance. I actually own it. One time I put 2 drops of mineral oil after a water run because I wouldn't be around for a week. It may require several of the DIY treatments I mention in my article to keep the trap properly wet. Will welcome suggestions, although I'd rather not call the police as management suggested I do in my first request. We dont suspect its the drains, it smells like its coming from the toilet. The Reminder from Canada on February 21, 2016: Very good and informative hub. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on December 16, 2019: Thanks for providing this information for readers who live in Colorado, USA. There are several places that allow air to seep through with an improperly sealed gasket (not only air, but sewer gas, water, even vermin), so its worth paying an experienced plumber to ensure its done (or re-done) correctly. I think its coming from the urinal. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on December 23, 2017: Sorry for the slow reply--waves of holiday guests! 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. Just wondering if we need to pay extra to have someone look at it sooner. Any ideas? I called in the plumber and the guy charged me $50 dollars for advice, which is to pour a bottle of bleach down the urinal. Let that sit for two hours with the bathroom door closed. The short answer to your question is: yes--you can dispense with bleach and use vinegar and soda. 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. DIY is not my forte, but I can sometimes handle an easy fix. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on May 22, 2019: I'm not actually a plumber. Jaye. Originally, the tank spontaneously cracked and leaked on the floor, so I replaced the toilet. I hope your builder ensures this issue is diagnosed and corrected right away. 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. I noticed 2 months later a rotten egg smell under my kitchen sink. I did the thorough vinegar-baking soda-water-bleach-water-mineral oil drops with hours of wait time in between, following your steps exactly, in the deep sink. Thanks, Cajun - And I'm confident you aren't going to do like numerous other plumbing professionals and "borrow" my article for your business blog, are you? 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 July 23, 2018: I'm glad you got it resolved. If one of these drains is rarely used, such as in a guest bathroom, the water creating the protective seal will eventually evaporate. All of my pipes drain perfect and nothing backs up. Regards, Jaye. Nothing clogged. If it's just very hot water (in moderation), it should still do the trick. Jaye Denman (author) from Deep South, USA on June 18, 2015: Jana - The heat may worsen the smell, but should not be the cause of it. Take careJaye, Andre Thanks so much for joining the discussion and adding another suggestion relative to septic roof vents. The problem finally got bad enough that we were able to insist the landlord do something about it. I once lived in a town that had tea-colored water with a sulfur odor. Can't believe I'm helpless at this point. Been steadily getting sicker and sicker until being bedridden after two weeks of not leaving home. We had one house where a sewer vent pipe was run through the roof (properly), but then when the framers added a dormer the pipe vented into the dormer. If you aren't certain whether or not your plumbing system includes PVC pipes and joints (or even rubber fittings), don't let the water heat to boiling or even the about-to-boil stage. That should get a maintenance repair person scheduled to track down the trouble soon! I poured some water in the drain near the furnace because there hadn't been any condensation run off in months.

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