One of the most annoying, mysterious and intermittent problems a home can have is the occasional sewer smell in a bathroom. It’s so elusive that it can be hard to track down the cause. There are, in fact, two very different causes of this obnoxious problem. One is very easy to solve. The other, unfortunately, is very challenging.
The Easy Cause of Bathroom Smells: The Empty P-Trap
Under each drain, there is a curved section of pipe that is normally always full of water. This constant water barrier keeps sewer gases from coming up through the pipes and into the home.
In an unused sink in the garage or a bathroom that is not used, it’s possible for this water to evaporate. This can also happen with an old washing machine that is not in use. There’s no longer a barrier to the sewer gases and they can begin to make the home stinky.
The solution is simple. Just take a glass of water and pour it down the drain. Or run the faucet. When the P-trap is full, there will be no more odor.
The Hard Cause of Bathroom Smells: A Cracked Vent Pipe
In this situation, the smell can be very intermittent. I’ll explain why that happens. From your bathroom, you have drain lines going down and vent lines going up through your roof. In an older house or if the vent line was not installed correctly, this vent line can develop cracks or it can break. When the wind is blowing strongly in the right direction, it can blow the gas back down the vent line. The smell then leaks through the walls or seeps through cracks and there is an unpleasant smell. When the wind changes, the smell disappears.
To find out if this is the cause of the smell, we have to get up on the roof and do what is called a “smoke bomb test.” We plug up all the plumbing inside and blow smoke into the vent. If we see any smoke leaking into the house, we know there’s a crack or break in the vent. The solution, unfortunately, is cutting into the wall, and finding and repairing the crack in the vent.
Yes, a cracked vent is a more challenging situation but it’s an important one to fix! Nobody wants to experience sewer smells in their bathroom or garage!
We’re Ready to Help with Plumbing Problems Big and Small!
Whatever kind of plumbing repair you need, day or night, we’re ready to help. A home needs to have working plumbing so when it breaks down, it’s often an emergency. Our technicians are sent out with all the tools and supplies they need to get most jobs done right away. We want to get you back to normal as fast as possible.
Call us and let us know what’s going on: (505) 243-1227. We serve Albuquerque and all the surrounding communities!