Plumbers: Why might my bathroom smell like sewer gas?
At least, I think that's the odor. Even first thing in the morning, when I know the aroma hasn't caused by me yet.
Everything drains and flushes fine. No sign of leaks. In the basement directly below, all the plumbing is exposed. No sign of leaks there; no smell there either. And no backup from the basement floor drain.
I live in northern Illinois, so freezing and thawing is a possibility, but the basement is always in the 50s or 60s and I've had no trouble all winter. The odor is only 3-4 days old.
Where should I be investigating?
mikeyg2009-03-11T15:18:56Z
Favorite Answer
There is a seal, made of wax, underneath the stool, to seal it to the sewer pipe at the floor, These need to be changed maybe every ten years or so. It isn't a complicated job, but it is tedious. You have to drain the toilet tank and bowl and lift the whole toilet off the floor to access the seal.
RE: Plumbers: Why might my bathroom smell like sewer gas? At least, I think that's the odor. Even first thing in the morning, when I know the aroma hasn't caused by me yet.
Everything drains and flushes fine. No sign of leaks. In the basement directly below, all the plumbing is exposed. No sign of leaks there; no smell there either. And no...
Check the exhausts for your waste line. You have them for the sink, toilet, tub, drain(alot of times they're all hooked up to the same waste line) You're not getting the proper draw on and instead of the sewer smell going out the vent, its backing up the lines and into your house
Yes it can make you sick, yes you need to get it fixed right away. Most times it's birds making a nest or something like that.
Check your floor drain to make sure it has a little bit of water in it. Next, look on the roof at the vent pipe, is it frozen shut? Sometimes in these midwest winters, they get some condensation and freeze.
If neither one of those is the culprit, call a plumber, that smell can be toxic.