You know that smell. It’s not the garbage you forgot to take out. It’s not a spoiled carton of milk in the back of the fridge. It’s that weird, funky odor that makes you wrinkle your nose. A little bit of rotten eggs mixed with… something else you can’t quite name. That is the unmistakable scent of sewer gas.
Anything coming up from your sewers isn’t something you want to consume, and it’s definitely not something you want to smell in your home. That odor is a big red flag that something is wrong with your plumbing. The good news is that you can get rid of it. It all starts by solving the problem of what’s causing the gas in the first place.
The P-Trap Check
Before you panic, let’s start with the simplest fix. Look under any sink in your home, and you’ll see a U-shaped bend in the pipe. That’s called a P-trap. Its one job is to hold a small amount of water at all times. This little plug of water physically blocks sewer gas from drifting up your drain and into your home.
The problem? If you have a sink, shower, or floor drain that you rarely use (hello, guest bathroom or basement), that water can evaporate. With the water gone, there’s a wide-open path for that nasty odor to invade your living space.
Fortunately, the fix for this problem is easy. Just pour a quart of water down the unused drain. Give it a minute, and if a dry P-trap was the culprit, the smell should begin to fade. It’s a good idea to do this once a month for any drains that don’t see regular action.
When It’s More Than Just a Dry Trap
So, you tried pouring water down the drain, and that rotten smell is still hanging around. This usually points to a slightly bigger issue. The gas is finding another way in, and we need to figure out how.
One common source is the wax ring that seals the base of your toilet to the floor. This ring creates an airtight seal with the sanitary sewer line. Over time, that ring can dry out, crack, or get shifted if the toilet becomes loose. When that seal is broken, sewer gas can leak right into your bathroom.
Another possibility is a cracked pipe or a clogged plumbing vent. Your plumbing system has vents that go up through your roof, allowing gas to escape and regulating air pressure. If a vent gets clogged with leaves or debris, it can create a suction effect in your drain lines, pulling the water right out of the P-traps and letting that sewer gas flow in. A crack in a drain pipe, even a tiny one, can also release that unwanted gas into your home, often long before you notice any water damage.
Roots and Old Pipes
Sometimes, the problem isn’t inside your home at all but underneath it. The main sewage line that runs from your house to the street is a prime target for issues that can push gas back into your home.
A classic issue we see is a tree root invading a pipe. Roots are naturally drawn to the water and nutrients inside your sewer line. They can work their way into a small joint, and once inside, they grow and create blockages or even break the pipe completely. A blockage in your main line is a serious problem that can cause a sewage backup in addition to foul sewer odors.
Older homes with original cast iron or clay pipes face their own set of challenges. These materials can corrode, crack, and collapse over time. A failing pipe underground is a guaranteed source for that persistent sewer gas odor. Sewer services like pipe bursting and sewer line repairs can fix the section that’s been invaded by roots.
Protecting Your Home & Your Health
When you detect a sewer gas smell in your home, you will want to pay attention. The gas itself is a mixture of compounds, including hydrogen sulfide, which is what gives it that rotten-egg odor. Inhaling this stuff isn’t good for your health and can cause headaches and other symptoms.
Beyond the immediate health concerns of air pollution in your home, the source of the gas can create bigger problems. For example, a slow leak you can’t see behind a wall can lead to serious water damage and the growth of mold. Eventually, what starts as a foul odor can quickly become a much more complicated and expensive situation. Therefore, getting to the root of the problem protects both your family and your property.
Keeping That Nasty Odor Away for Good
Once you’ve solved the mystery of the smell, you’ll want to keep it from coming back. A little bit of proactive care goes a long way.
- Make it a habit to run water in all your sinks and showers at least once a month to keep those P-traps full.
- Be mindful of what goes down your drains. Grease and coffee grounds can build up and cause clogs that interfere with proper drainage. Even so-called “flushable” wipes can create massive blockages in your main sewage line.
- If you’re planning a home renovation, it’s the perfect time to think about your plumbing. Upgrading a bathroom or kitchen gives you a great opportunity to have a professional look at the drain lines and vents that are already exposed. After all, it’s much easier to address a potential pipe problem when the walls are already open.
We Sniff Out Problems So You Don’t Have To
One of the best parts of working with a great plumbing company is knowing we see the situation from your perspective. We put ourselves in your shoes and provide the same quick, effective service we would want for our own homes to get that sewer gas odor solved ASAP.
We provide advanced sewer line inspections for homeowners in Tucson, AZ, and the surrounding areas, so we can see exactly what’s happening inside your pipes, including any blockages, root intrusions, cracked pipes, and more. If you need help getting rid of a stinky sewer smell, contact our experts and trust us to help you and your family breathe easy again.