Sewer Odors
Do you have a sewer odor in your home? Have you gone through bottles of cleaning solution, repeatedly plunging a toilet to no avail or bottles and bottles of air freshener, yet that smell is not going away? The problem is probably larger than just flushing the toilet. Here are few things that could be causing your issue:
- Toilet wax ring: The toilet wax ring is what seals the connection of the toilet to the floor. If that seal is loose or broken, gas can be leaking out. If your toilet wax ring is not sealed properly, sewer gas can escape into your bathroom.
- Dry p-trap: If you have a guest bathroom that is rarely used, or you have come back from a long trip, the p-trap under your shower, toilet, or sink may have caused the water to evaporated. It is supposed to hold water to prevent gas from escaping.
- Sink overflow: A sink overflow is a hole located either underneath or across from the faucet. It can be a major source of the odor. Sink overflows can build up bacteria, soap scum, and hair, creating a gross odor.
- Garbage disposal splash guard: The underside of your disposal’s splash guard, the black rubber piece you can see when looking into the drain, is prone to build up food waste.
- Damaged underground sewer pipes: Private sewer lines may have collapse causing a back up and may be seeping into the soil
- Clogged vent pipe: The vent pipe is located on your roof and it helps regulate air pressure in your home’s drainage system. Sometimes after a heavy storm or during the fall season, leaves and other debris can clog it up. When that happens, gas can no longer escape efficiently and begins to build up in your house. If you feel comfortable enough to climb up to the roof, check and clear out any debris building up. Make sure the vent is covered when you’re done. If you do not see any clogs near the surface, you may need to call a professional.
The City of Lapeer Department of Public Works maintains and is responsible for the sanitary sewer system in our Right-of-Way. If you do have a sewer odor, please call our office at (810)664-4711 so we can verify that our sanitary sewer mains are flowing freely before you call a plumber for any private issues.