Perhaps one of the most annoying smells that can happen in a house is the one coming from a malfunctioning sewer. The smell usually indicates that there’s something wrong with the sewer line. While a typical homeowner may not be able to identify the root cause of a smelly sewer, a professional plumber can easily diagnose the problem and may suggest a trenchless sewer repair if need be. Here are the three common causes of such annoying smell.
Loose or Ill-Fitted Sewer Trap Plugs
Sewer trap plugs serve as a water barrier between sewer gases from your home and the city sewer. So, expectedly, if they are not properly sealed or get loose, foul-smelling sewer gases would escape the public sewer. A trap plug is usually found in the bottom of most access pits in the basement. Usually, house traps are double vent which means they require two plugs. Any missing or damaged house trap can be easily replaced and cost less expensive than having even the simplest trenchless sewer repair.
Dried Out House Trap Sump
Another cause of a smelly sewer is from a house trap which water barrier had dried out. All house sewers and plumbing fixtures are required to have a trap but once it runs out of water. By simply running some water to fill the trap will help resolve the issue. But in cases when the sewer smell is like from a methane gas, it should be dealt with immediately.
Leader Line or Area Drains
A smelly sewer that comes from the outside is more likely due to the city sewer that has backed up. Or it may also be due to roof leader line outlets and area drains which are connected to a combined sewer system. Just like other plumbing fixtures, they must also have a trap to serve as a water barrier. If not, the sewer gas can escape and enters the underground drain, causing the foul odor.
While any of these three things can be the possible cause of a sewer smell in a home, it’s still important to have a professional check on to identify the real problem and recommend a solution. After all, modern trenchless sewer repair methods are non-disruptive, require no digging, and costs much less than the traditional excavation technique.