What can I do about the smell coming from the drain in our basement floor?

Question

We've only lived in our home for 9 months, the house is roughly 30 yrs old. We have never had a back up in our basement. However, there is a drain in the floor of our basement that from time to time omits a strong smell. I'm no plumbing expert, so any advice will be helpful. The tube/line from our central air unit drain into this drain. About 6"-9" down the drain is where the nasty dark murky water is, but it has never backed up. I guess my first question is... is this normal? If not, what should I do to eliminate the smell? Thanks!

Okay, here's the latest. I poured bleach into the drain, after about an hour or so I checked on the drain. There was a thick white gooy substance on top of the water...i scooped off about a 1/2 gallon of this "stuff". I snaked down the drain, which went down about a foot and then off to the left. The snake I used was one for the toilet, so it went down the drain about 3-4 ft. I've dumped a bunch of water down the drain where our washer machine and deep sink drains and that was fine. WOULD THE BLEACH CAUSE THE WHITE STUFF TO FORM? ALSO, I DO NOT HAVE A SEPTIC SYSTEM....IT'S CITY HOOK UP

Answer 1

There are powdered products that are used in toilets and .septic tanks. They are available at home depot stores or
home hardware stores. I just thought of Javex also might kill the odours. I would ask a person in the drain business to help you with information. Call one on the phone.

Answer 2

if it is connected to your septic system and has a "p" trap you need to make sure the trap remains full of water. If the water evaporates then there is nothing to stop sewer gasses form coming in. If there is no P trap then cap the drain unless it is needed. If you see murky water then it probably doesn't have a trap and make sure the drain is not plugged to get rid of the murky water.

What else is the drain used for? If it is just for the ac drain and not to the septic system then you can put a rubber cap on it and prevent air flow up.

Answer 3

Do what I do. Periodically, I upload a field of baking soda to each drain, enable it "mingle" for awhile and flush. This helps in keeping the odors away. Baking soda (Arm & Hammer) is low priced and a treatment for many stuff. The plug interior the floor drain is a reliable concept so save with that.

Answer 4

This is sewer gas it the drain below the floor is a trap section pour water in the drain and it will stop the smell. About a gallon should work.

Answer 5

Get a condensate pump to take the a/c drainage to a sink or other drain and seal the floor drain with a temporary test plug. The drain is not getting enough water to keep the sewer gas out of the house, especially in winter.

Answer 6

more than likely the former owner or renter has poured something down drain shouldn't have best solution would be to flush drain till smell goes and remember to run water at least a gallon or 2 a week

Answer 7

the trap in the floor drain is dry.fill the trap ith water than pour some cooking oil in.the cooking oil will stay on top of the water so no evaperation will happen

Answer 8

Use Clorox Bleach to eliminate the odor

Answer 9

Bleach will kill the bacteria causing the odor.

Answer 10

call the plumbing service