How do I get rid of sewage type smells that come up through the shower drain?

Question

I've used cleansers from Home depot that claim to clean and freshen up the smell but don't have success beyond 3 days. I've used gels, pipe cleaning solutions, Drano, cleaning the pipe as far down as I can reach. The home is 20 years old. It's almost as if the trap isn't working to keep odors out. I had this problem at my last home (on a slab foundation), this is a second story shower stall. The common denominator is both were stalls. Haven't had any issues with bathtubs or toilets.

Answer 1

There are two things that have worked for me, and the secret is how you use them: enzymes and bacteria. There is a trick to this and if you do not do it right they will not work. You CANNOT just pour this stuff down the drain in one shot and then go about business as usual. It will not work. I recently had a stench coming up out of my tub drain (I have a long horizontal run) and was able to cure it using about a 4-day treatment. Clogged or slow drains are the same process only longer. Here are the steps:

(1) Run hot water down the drain for a couple of minutes to heat up the pipe a bit.

(2) Use enzymes and bacteria. Do not use drano or any caustic cleaners, no bleach.

(3) Pour a few ounces of enzymes down the drain. If there is a trap, follow with just barely enough warm water to flush the enzyme solution out of the trap, but NO MORE!

(4) Do not put any water down the drain for six hours. If other pipes join this pipe, do not use them either, and as a matter of fact it might be a good idea to do all of them at the same time. I have found the best time to do this is at night after everyone has gone to bed or is done using water. The solution has to stand in the pipes.

(5) Alternate these enzyme treatments with bacteria solution (usually very stinky).

(6) Here is the hard part. Repeat this process a couple of dozen times over the next two weeks. You have to do this. It takes time for this stuff to work. You may end up pouring a couple of gallons of enzymes and bacteria down the drain but eventually it will clean out your pipes. if you skip any of this it will NOT work, and it will NOT work in a day. Give it a week or two.

People get impatient and dump the whole thing down the drain at once and then wonder why nothing happens. Duh...

Answer 2

You may have debris trapped in a drain point - try snaking (use a hand augur or rent a longer snake to clear all the length) the drain to brake up hair and stuff that may be causing the odor. After removing the snake run cold water for 10-15 minutes to flush -then pour 1lb of baking soda followed by 2 cups white vinegar this will break down the sludge clinging to the walls that was loosened by the snake. Let sit 10-15 minutes then flush with cold water for another 10 minutes this should fix the problem. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Install a stand pipe (similar to the one you should have already installed for the toilettes in the house). If this is on the second floor of the house install the stand pipe at least 18 inches behind the trap. stand pipe should be at least 2" in diameter and can be run into the existing pipe with a simple "T" joint. This will vent stagnant odors from the piping the same way a chimney allows smoke to escape from a fireplace. This is a fairly simple and inexpensive fix for under $100 and you can do it yourself.

Answer 4

the smell is normal, however, it should be going out the roof vent, not the shower drain. if it's coming up the drain then your trap is not working and may have a leak in the floor under the shower stall. if you are not seeing signs under the shower flooring downstairs, the shower may ba located in such a way that the drain is hidden from below such as over above a wall or closet. you should have a plumber, or someone who can repair it if your husband xan't locate the trap and replace it. otherwise you'll do even more damage by not having it fixed. the acids from the cleaning agents will eventually eat a hole in the wall or base of it and create all kinds of problems later.

Answer 5

If has to be a trap related issue.
The trap should always have water in it - this buffers the house from the sewer gases.
Any leaks at trap ?
An obstruction of the venting pipe would also cause a drained-trap situation.
An obstructed vent pipe would create vacuum in your drain line, sucking out the water which should remain in the trap, creating again, an opening for sewer gases to enter your home.

Answer 6

Probably the water traps on all the sanitary ware were dry, if the house has been empty for a while. Run water on all the santary ware and see if the smell disappears. If it doesn't then contact the builders about it. This is a common thing on houses that have been standing empty for a while

Answer 7

Comp U is right!

If you can get on your roof, get a garden hose and run water down the vent pipe. Could be possible you have a birds nest or some leaves blocking your vent pipe

Answer 8

I would throw some bleach down the drain a few times a week til it clears up. I used to get the same thing in my shower and with the bleach thing it cleared up.

Answer 9

Poor a cup of Clorox down the drain once or twice each week. Bacteria causes the smell. The Clorox will kill the bacteria.

Answer 10

Use Drain-O it does wonders for the Oder and cleans the pipes as well.

Be very careful with Drain-O it is very caustic and can burn you and NEVER look down the drain after you pour it in....Read and follow the instructions on the can.