What would this cause odor?

Question

We have had an occasional odor, like sewer gas, coming from our kitchen sink. We checked the trap and replaced the septic tank, but still have the odor.

Answer 1

I live rurally and we are on a well and septic tank.

It seems that the builder of our house neglected to vent our water system when the house was constructed. Next door is the same way--same builder.

This is a job for the professionals. We had a plumber in who told us what needed doing. We explained that we're handy and willing to do the grunt work, if he did the "finer" details. So he told us exactly what to do to prepare it for him. We did the ripping and tearing and knocking the hole through to the outside for the vent pipe. He bought the materials because he gets a discount and would get exactly what was required. He installed and hooked up the necessary venting. Then we did the cosmetic repairs. Judith

Answer 2

If water clears the drain too quickly, you could lose that little bit of water that's supposed to stay in the trap. The trap keeps sewer gas from coming back in.

The trap is called a P-trap, but the part that holds the water is that little "U" part. You could put a little bit of vegetable oil in the trap to cut off the backflow of gas.

Answer 3

Try pouring baking soda down the drain. That helps odors.