Smell Sewer Gas In Your House? Try These DIY Remedies

If your home has started to fill with the smell of rotten eggs, don't panic. You are just smelling a little sewer gas. Before you rush to contact an expert for help, there are some do-it-yourself (DIY) remedies you can try.

Where is it Coming From?

The first step in remedying that annoying smell of rotten eggs in your home is to find out where it's coming from. Chances are, it's emanating from a drain somewhere. The reason that sewer gas can come out of drains is because of how they work. Drains have either a P-trap or an S-trap. Both work the same way in that a U-bend in the drain traps water. The water provides a liquid seal that prevents gas from coming back out. If the water evaporates, the seal is no longer present, so that smelly sewer gas will escape anytime you use a drain anywhere else in your house.

When the Problem is Toiler Water Evaporation

Check all of the drains in your home, including toilets that don't see a lot of use. It's possible that the water in the toilet has evaporated.

The solution then, is to restore that water barrier. Once you find the drain that the smell is coming from, pour about a gallon of water slowly into the drain. That will reestablish the water seal. Then pour a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil into the drain. The oil will float on top of the water, slowing the evaporation that caused the problem in the first place.

When the Problem is the Overflow Drain

If the smell is coming from the overflow drain in your basement (usually near your washer), you should check the cleanout plug. This is a small plug that rests just inside the mouth of the drain and allows access for a plumber to clean and inspect the drain. If the plug has been removed and wasn't replaced, sewer gases can bypass the water seal completely. In this case, you just need to replace the plug. Measure the opening and purchase a new one at your local hardware store.

When the Problem is the Base of Your Toilet

One final source of a sewer gas leak is from the base of your toilet. There is a wax ring that provides a water and gas-tight seal underneath. If the wax cracks, gases will bypass the water seal in the toilet. Replacing the wax seal is doable as a DIY project, but plan for it to take an entire afternoon. Take care after you're done to balance the toilet so the wax seal doesn't break again. Use shims to prevent any rocking before you caulk and seal the base.

For more information, contact Ardalta Vacuum Truck Services Ltd Edmonton or a similar company.