Sewer smell - Plumbing Zone

3KP · 10-27-2008, 04:23 PM

I went to a customers house today. They called in for a sewer smell. I got there could smell the sewer gas. All P-traps had water in them. (sorry I'm not really to much into service work more remodeling and new construction. Any advise would be great!

uaplumber · 10-27-2008, 05:13 PM

Is the washing machine hooked up? Hidden floor drain? New dishwasher hookup with out trap? Those are most common I see.

Marlin · 10-27-2008, 06:44 PM

Clean out or house trap missing a cap? Are their galvanized pipes in the walls which could have rotted away? You're sure the traps are full? Give each one a sniff. Is it stronger in one spot then another?

Plasticman · 10-27-2008, 06:53 PM

Usually when that happens in my area, it is either raining or was raining. I end up re-sealing the toilet, which makes the home owner feel like I done something to solve the problem. Like you, I am no service guy but after the toilet fix, they don't call back. Knock on wood. lol

Ron · 10-27-2008, 08:18 PM

Crawl space, if there, check it.

pzmember · 10-27-2008, 08:20 PM

those can be tough all the advice is good, hell 2 weeks ago i found one that had been bugging these people for 6 months. turned out it was a hole eaten away in the cast iron where pipe went into the san tee for the toilet, and they only noticed it on windy days. and i was the 5th plumber there for it, i was the only dummy who would open up the wall. good luck.

service guy · 10-27-2008, 08:26 PM

I've been on a lot of these calls. The majority of them are from a bad seal under the toilet. That is the first thing I check, sniff around the base of the bowls, check if any are rocking.

Redwood · 10-27-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by service guy

I've been on a lot of these calls. The majority of them are from a bad seal under the toilet. That is the first thing I check, sniff around the base of the bowls, check if any are rocking.

Same here! Run some water in a remote location walk around and listen. Sound will show you a dry trap...

Make sure the toilets are sequre and if they are loose reset them.

Hairballs under lav pop-ups and in tub and shower drains can be pretty funky. Sometimes it may be a funky mud lined shower pan.

When you run out of the obvious I usually push for a smoke test.

Cal · 10-27-2008, 09:20 PM

I usually find a bad wax seal OR a cracked toilet flange . That one is a BI***H to find but will allow a bad sewer smell .

Cal

Killertoiletspider · 10-27-2008, 09:31 PM

A tip for you service guys, a combustible gas detector will pick up sewer gas around the base of a toilet. I have a TIF Industries model 8800.

10-27-2008, 04:23 PM	#1
3KP Plumbing Contractor Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Your Momma's Posts: 743 My Photos	Sewer smell I went to a customers house today. They called in for a sewer smell. I got there could smell the sewer gas. All P-traps had water in them. (sorry I'm not really to much into service work more remodeling and new construction. Any advise would be great! __________________ Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it. 'Have a Blessed Day!"

10-27-2008, 08:18 PM	#5
Ron Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,635 My Photos	Crawl space, if there, check it. __________________ Stephen Hawking: If the government is covering up knowledge of Aliens, they are doing a better job of it then they do at anything else.

10-27-2008, 08:26 PM	#7
service guy waterheaterzone.com Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Universe Posts: 2,043 My Photos	I've been on a lot of these calls. The majority of them are from a bad seal under the toilet. That is the first thing I check, sniff around the base of the bowls, check if any are rocking. __________________ Water Heater Reviews and Water Heater Information

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10-27-2008, 05:13 PM	#2
uaplumber Plumbing Contractor Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Westlock, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,436 My Photos	Is the washing machine hooked up? Hidden floor drain? New dishwasher hookup with out trap? Those are most common I see.

10-27-2008, 06:44 PM	#3
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 523 My Photos	Clean out or house trap missing a cap? Are their galvanized pipes in the walls which could have rotted away? You're sure the traps are full? Give each one a sniff. Is it stronger in one spot then another?

10-27-2008, 06:53 PM	#4
Plasticman new nickname:Quaker State Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 1,204 My Photos	Usually when that happens in my area, it is either raining or was raining. I end up re-sealing the toilet, which makes the home owner feel like I done something to solve the problem. Like you, I am no service guy but after the toilet fix, they don't call back. Knock on wood. lol

10-27-2008, 08:20 PM	#6
pzmember Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 383 My Photos	those can be tough all the advice is good, hell 2 weeks ago i found one that had been bugging these people for 6 months. turned out it was a hole eaten away in the cast iron where pipe went into the san tee for the toilet, and they only noticed it on windy days. and i was the 5th plumber there for it, i was the only dummy who would open up the wall. good luck.

10-27-2008, 09:20 PM	#9
Cal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,407 My Photos	I usually find a bad wax seal OR a cracked toilet flange . That one is a BI***H to find but will allow a bad sewer smell . Cal

10-27-2008, 09:31 PM	#10
Killertoiletspider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,411 My Photos	A tip for you service guys, a combustible gas detector will pick up sewer gas around the base of a toilet. I have a TIF Industries model 8800.