Sewage odors sometimes result from a minor issue that you can fix yourself, but they can also be a sign of a more serious problem with your plumbing and sewer system. Even if the problem isn’t serious, sewage odors aren’t something you should ignore. Not only is constantly smelling sewage unpleasant, but long-term exposure to sewer gas or exposure to high concentrations can be harmful to your health. That’s why it’s important that you take steps to try and troubleshoot the problem so that you know if it’s something you need to call a plumber for.
Dry P-Trap
If you only notice a sewage smell in one part of your house, like your kitchen or bathroom, it most commonly means that the P-trap underneath a drain in that room is dry. Plumbing code requires that all sink, shower, and floor drains have a P-trap. This is a short piece of pipe with a belly or bend at the bottom that is designed to constantly hold water. The water fully seals off the bend, which blocks sewer gases from flowing up through the trap and out of the drain. If the trap is dry, the gases will continually escape out of the drain and result in a noticeable sewage smell in the surrounding area.
If a plumbing fixture isn’t used for a week or two, its P-trap can eventually dry out due to the water evaporating. In this case, all you need to do is run water down the drain for a few seconds to refill the trap, and the sewer smell should then dissipate fairly quickly.
Improper Ventilation
If you have a P-trap that you frequently need to refill to eliminate sewer odors, it almost always indicates that your plumbing isn’t properly vented or that a vent pipe on the roof is blocked. Birds or insects sometimes nest in a vent pipe, and vent pipes can also get clogged with leaves and debris.
Whenever a large volume of water quickly goes down a drain, such as when you flush a toilet or drain a bathtub, the water goes down with enough force that it creates suction inside the drain system. Under normal circumstances, this suction pulls air into the system through the vent pipe. If no air comes in through the vent pipe, it results in a vacuum forming that sucks air in from elsewhere, i.e., a nearby sink drain. As the air gets pulled in through the drain, it forces most of the water out of the P-trap.
Plumbing vents also allow sewer gases to escape. If the vent pipe is clogged and the gases can’t escape, they continually build up and result in the pressure in the drain system increasing. At some point, the pressure can get so high that the gases get forced up through the toilet drains. If you’ve ever heard a toilet make a burping noise when not in use or seen bubbles rising through the water, this is what causes it.
If you suspect that a vent pipe is clogged, you could try to climb on the roof and check it yourself. However, the better and safer option is to have a plumber check it, as they will also be able to tell if your plumbing is correctly vented.
Leaking Drain Pipe
All of the drain pipes in a house flow downward and connect to the vertical drain stack, which then ties into the main sewer line. If there’s a loose pipe fitting or a crack anywhere in the drain system, it will result in sewer gases continually escaping and rising upward into other parts of the house. Some amount of wastewater will also escape, but the amount can be so minimal that you may not notice any signs of a leak for a long time. It’s also common for the leak to be in the crawl space, in which case you’d never notice it unless you need to go down into the crawl space for any reason.
Sewer Line Issues
If you’ve started to frequently or constantly smell sewer odors in various parts of your house, the problem is almost always related to your main sewer line. Sewer gases are primarily produced by anaerobic bacteria breaking down organic waste in the drain and sewer lines. Clogs and obstructions in the sewer line can trap waste and water, creating the perfect oxygen-free environment for bacteria to continually break down the waste and release much more sewer gas. While some of the gases will still flow outside, the concentration can get so high that they bubble up through toilets and force water out of P-traps.
The most common sewer issue is a clog due to flushing wet wipes, cotton pads, feminine hygiene products, etc., or as a result of regularly pouring grease and oil down the drain. Another fairly common cause of sewer line clogs is tree roots growing inside the pipe and trapping the solids that go down the drains and toilets. If the soil around a sewer line shifts or settles, it can also lead to a belly forming in the pipe that traps waste and eventually creates a blockage. The worst-case scenario is that your sewer line is cracked, broken, or collapsed, in which case you’ll have to pay for a costly repair or sewer replacement before your plumbing will again work properly.
The most obvious sign that your sewer line is clogged or otherwise not draining properly is if sewage starts coming out of drains on the lowest level of your house. Sewage backups can also happen as a result of ventilation issues, but this is less common. If your sewer line is backing up, you need to immediately call a plumber or sewer service. You won’t be able to use your plumbing until the problem is fixed without more sewage coming out of your drains.
You’ll usually be able to tell ahead of time that your sewer line is starting to clog and is at risk of backing up. In most cases, you’ll notice that all of your drains are suddenly slower than normal and/or make gurgling sounds when in use. You’ll typically also encounter issues with your toilets flushing slowly or needing to be flushed several times to get everything to go down.
Hydro jetting or using a rooting machine are both effective options for eliminating clogs and ensuring that the sewer line drains properly again. Hydro jetting involves using a machine to spray powerful jets of water to blast away solids and clean the inside of the pipe. The jet that sprays out of the front of the nozzle is also powerful enough to cut through tree roots and then wash them away. Rooting a sewer line involves inserting a rotating mechanical auger through the pipe to cut through the clog.
Call Us Today
If you’re dealing with frequent sewage odors in your home, Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is here to help. From drain cleaning, hydro jetting, and sewer rooting to plumbing repairs, we have the solution to take care of whatever is causing the sewage odor problem. We specialize in older homes and older plumbing systems, but our team can handle your needs no matter what age your house is. To schedule sewer service and quickly get to the bottom of the issue, contact Hope Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
