Every day when I come home from work, after the house being closed up, you can smell the sewer - yet it is not backing up anywhere. I understand we don't have a vent in the roof, can that be done or please post any other solutions. If you did not know different, you would think it was toxic!!!
2006-12-08 10:17:44 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The house was built in 1975'ish, we purchased it in 1986 - it has only been going on a couple of years, but not all the time. Seems to vanish when either air/heat is running.
2006-12-08 10:37:13 · update #1
Wjat is wrong w/ having these gases in the home - there are 2 children here also, 4 and 1?
2006-12-08 12:40:28 · update #2
Please advise?
2006-12-08 12:41:41 · update #3
We have just remembered there is an unused bathroom in the home - that is probably the problem - covered up w/ boxes from daughters move in after tornado - plumber says to flush water down all spouts in said bathroom
2006-12-09 05:37:35 · update #4
actually, I meant 1996, not 1986 purchase
2006-12-09 05:38:13 · update #5
No vent is the problem. It should go through the ceiling or outside against the wall to above the ceiling level. Your problem is "methane" gas trapped inside your house. The contractor that built the house must have been in a hurry. You need to correct the problem ASAP!
2006-12-10 09:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by redbass 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have a vent stack going through the roof there wouldn't be any way for the sewer fumes to escape. Have a licensed plumber look at you pipes and give suggestions. Don't get a "handyman" becuase that is probably who did the work in the first place. It is not safe to have sewer fumes in your house all the time so you should make this fix a priority.
2006-12-08 11:27:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mustbcrazy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a basement? If there is a drain in the floor of your basement, try pouring some water, maybe with a little bit of bleach or some cleaner, down the drain. There's supposed to be liquid in that trap to prevent sewer gasses from backing up into the house. If it gets dry, you'll smell sewer. It goes away from having the fan running because it filters the air so you don't smell it any more.
2006-12-08 12:39:07 · answer #3 · answered by OK yeah well whatever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first off sewer gasses are methane gas and can be deadly so if you feel that this is a sewer gas smell then you should have it checked by a licensed plumber immediatly. it may be that whomever did the original plumbing simply forgot to extend the vent pipe threw the roof and you may find that it is still in attic space.
2006-12-08 23:39:34 · answer #4 · answered by paulbadluck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a septic tank, or city sewage? If its a septic tank..you may need to have it emptied. Sometimes the gases from it can build up, and cause the smell to come up through the toilet, and or sinks. Try to pour some bleach or Lysol liquid down the sinks before locking up the house for any periods of time, see if it is possibly the sink drains... good luck
2006-12-08 10:47:19 · answer #5 · answered by deflepfan67 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been having a strange smell in my house also. I really cannot figure out where it is coming from . I think that it is from dampness in house. Does it seem to go away when the heat is on?
2006-12-08 10:28:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No vent! You are supposed to vent gasses in your house.
Who built it anyway. You need to call your county/township and have the building inspector come out
to check and see what is out of code.
2006-12-08 10:27:06 · answer #7 · answered by Ammy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sure it aint natural gas? Maybee a small leak somewhere. If not it may be a dead varmit somewhere. Try to sniff it out and find the source.
2006-12-08 10:40:18 · answer #8 · answered by bob j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋