Why is there a sewage smell in my house?
Frequently Asked Questions
The smell of sewage indicates something wrong somewhere in the plumbing system. Follow the smell to see if it’s coming from a fixture or particular area.
Where is the Smell Coming From?
The location, room, or fixture, can isolate the smell and lead to lead you to possible solutions. Getting rid of the smell could be easy or difficult depending on what you find.
Why Does the Source Make a Difference?
If the sewage smell seems to be coming from a drain, it could be the result of a dried-up trap, a goose-neck-shaped plumbing pipe that is connected to your drain. It can be found underneath sinks, bathtubs, showers, and floor drains, etc. In a toilet it’s built-in and can be seen in the exterior curve of the fixture between the bowl and the floor, in some cases.
The trap will dry up in fixtures that have not been used for a long time. It is the main culprit for the smell of sewage in your home because water or wastewater in the trap keeps the odour where it belongs, in the drain pipe that leads to the sewer line. When the trap dries up the sewage gas has a direct route into your home.
To prevent it from drying out, turn on a tap, and let water flow down the drain from time to time. Adding a little bit of vegetable oil to the drain will help prevent the water from drying up in a fixture that doesn’t get used a lot.
Why is the Smell So Bad?
Once you smell it you’ll never forget it. Nor will you want to smell it again. The smell, similar to rotten eggs, is a gas that comes from hydrogen sulfide.
Sewage creates bacteria and a mix of gases that range from hydrogen sulfide to methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. Beyond the obnoxious smell, it can also be hazardous to your health.
Exposure to the gas can produce physical symptoms that range from fatigue, headaches, nausea, or vomiting to dizziness or lightheadedness, poor memory, and difficulties concentrating. The severity depends on how high the gas level is.
The Other Hazards of Sewage Gas
It’s dangerous because it is so flammable. Some, in their search for the sewage smell, have used a lighter as a light source in an attempt to look into the drain. That is not a good idea because the gas emanating from the drain can catch on fire and create an explosion.
It would be better to use a flashlight or call Plumbtech to investigate. The plumbers can run a snake through the drain or send a camera into it to see if there is a blockage as well as identify the location within the pipe.
Drains & Sewage Smells
Drains can be one of the common causes of a sewage smell. Possible causes could include a blockage somewhere in the pipe. When water dries up in a drain sewer gas will rise in its place. This can also occur in a floor drain in the basement.
The floor drain is usually located on the lowest part of the basement floor. It connects to a drain line underneath the floor that goes to the main drain pipe and municipal sewer system or septic tank.
The floor drain is designed to remove water that has come into the basement because of heavy rain, a major snow melt, a leak from a water heater, and more. If that does not happen or if it only occurs infrequently, the water in the floor drain can dry up. Prevent that from happening by pouring some water down the floor drain from time to time.
Smelly Sink Drains
In the bathroom, the drain will clog up with a mix of toothpaste, soap, and hair resulting in a slimy green/black gunk that builds up in the drain. Mould may also start to grow. Also, any kind of leak that has gone on for a while will cause mould to grow.
The kitchen sink is a prime spot for a smelly drain. Bits of food particles, crumbs, coffee grounds, and more mix with oil and grease that solidifies in a cold drain. It will build up and eventually block the drain.
Smelly Shower Drains
Like bathroom sinks, the drain pipe can smell because of accumulated hair and soap.
Why Does My Water Smell Bad?
Anywhere bacteria have the opportunity to grow, a foul odour will follow. If your hot water starts to smell bad, it is likely coming from a defective anode in the water heater. The anode rod (a sacrificial anode) helps protect against corrosion and rust. Replacing it will extend the life of the water heater. There are many different types of anode rods available, depending on your water source (municipal, well, lake, or river).
The cold water line can smell too, a rotten egg odor, indicating hydrogen sulfide, from bacteria. This is more common in private well water than municipal water. Some forms of iron will also affect the appearance and smell of well water.
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The Toilet
Beyond the drains and traps, the next most common source of sewage smell is the toilet. This could be the result of a gasket that has dried out or failed. Its role is to keep water from leaking out of the tank and into the bowl. Made from rubber or wax, it creates a seal between the tank and bowl.
There are two different reasons the smell of sewage comes from a toilet. The most common reason is a seal has dried up or cracked, the floor underneath the toilet has deteriorated, or the toilet is loose.
This seal, a toilet gasket or wax ring, seals the toilet bowl to the floor. It prevents water and sewage from leaking out onto the bathroom floor. If there has been a renovation and the floor level has changed, from linoleum to tile, for example, an adjustment will need to be made when replacing the toilet. It will affect the seal between the toilet bowl and the floor.
There could also be an issue with the toilet flange which bolts the toilet to the floor. It looks like a disc with holes. The flange can break if stressed by a change in floor level or if the toilet is loose. The flange connects to the toilet base which leads to the main drain sewage pipe or septic. To bridge the thickness gap, a renovation flange can be added to make up for the height difference. Alternatively, a double or thicker gasket can be added to raise the toilet to the new floor level.
Residents of a multi-story building can be impacted by another issue that affects the toilet seal. As heat rises through each floor, the wax ring softens and deteriorates. A foam-type gasket is recommended for these applications.
The Sewage Pit
Another common spot for homeowners on septic systems is a sewage pit. Located in the basement of the home, it has to be pumped out regularly. If the lid isn’t fitting correctly or isn’t replaced properly, it will smell.
Sometimes the seal on the lid has been compromised in some way or it could have compressed. It may also be the extra seal on the access panel, which serves as a reminder to pump it out. It may need to be resealed.
Another possibility is the wires between the float and the pump have become dislodged. The pump inside the pit may need to have the rubber grommets replaced and/or the pump may need to be resealed. A sewage pit can also be found at a cottage that is on a septic system.
Additional Sources
There are a variety of other situations where the smell of sewage can occur. If the vent pipe has not been properly tied into the plumbing fixture, it will smell. The smell of sewage could also be coming from your main drain/sewer line, which can be a serious issue.
Everything in the plumbing system is connected from the water coming into the house through waterlines to the sinks, shower, and toilets. The outgoing water and waste water runs down the drain of each fixture to hook up to the main drain line which flows into the municipal sewer system or septic tank.
The main drain can block resulting in multiple slow-draining sinks and even cause sewage to reverse course in the pipe moving back into the house through the drain.
There could be an obstruction drain outside the house such as from roots growing into pipe. Roots look for water wherever they can find it. Roots can grow up to 10 years after a tree has been cut down. It could also be an issue with the pipe itself. Perhaps it has rusted, cracked, or is not aligned correctly.
What Does My Vent Pipe Have To Do With the Smell of Sewage?
A vent pipe is an essential part of all plumbing systems. It helps to regulate air and releases sewer gas from fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and showers. As the vent pipe rises through the roof, it can become plugged it if isn’t high enough. It can become plugged with leaves and debris, snow or ice, or, even a small bird that becomes trapped. If the vent blocks, the sewer gas cannot escape and it cannot regulate air in the plumbing fixtures.
If there is a higher building or hill nearby, the building located on the lower level may get a downtown draft from the higher one. The downdraft means the wind is going into the vent so the sewer gas cannot vent naturally. Plumbtech can install a 180-degree elbow in the vent pipe which will help to correct the problem in some applications.
Septic Tanks
Septic tanks are part of a septic system. To make sure everything runs smoothly, the tank(s) will need to be pumped out regularly. How often depends upon how much is it used. If it isn’t pumped out, it will back up and smell bad.
Cleanout
All homes are required to have a cleanout as a part of the plumbing code. It is usually found at the front of the house, inside on the floor. Cleanouts should also be located on a drain pipe under a kitchen sink and laundry tub. It is capped and sealed to make sure sewer gas does not escape. Because they don’t have a trap, all cleanouts have a seal, a rubber ring, or a Teflon seal or gasket which may need to be replaced if there is a sewage smell. An older home may not have a cleanout.
Plumbtech Plumbing receives numerous calls about sewage smells daily. Give Plumbtech a call to help isolate the source, diagnose the cause, and fix it.
