What's Causing the Sewage Odor in My Building?

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

Clogged drains can cause sewage odor.

Do you have a mysterious rotten egg odor wafting around your Bountiful, UT, building? It could be sewer gas from the sewage system. Decomposing waste materials produce a fusion of putrid chemicals, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and methane. There are several reasons this sewer smell could be released into a building. 

5 Reasons For Sewage Odor 

1. Faulty Toilet Ring

One of the most straightforward explanations for this problem could be a faulty or worn wax ring under the toilet. If you notice the toilet rocking or small leaks at its base, there's a good chance the wax ring isn't fitting correctly and needs to be replaced.

2. Leaky Sewer or Septic Line

You might notice a foul odor, along with your toilet and/or drains making gurgling sounds or draining slowly. These are reasonable indications of a sewer or septic line leak.

3. Backed Up Sewer or Septic Line

Sewer and septic lines can become obstructed, which can cause a sewage backup into your building. This can cause a foul sewer smell in the building and damage to your flooring and other materials. If the building sustains damage, you should hire water cleanup experts to clear, clean and sanitize the affected area.

4. Dry Water Traps

Water traps (aka P-traps or S-traps) are typically located near floor drains and underneath sinks. They're designed in a curved shape to trap water in the arch. This design is supposed to block sewer gas from entering the building. However, if there's no water in the trap, the gas has a free path to inside of the building.

5. Clogged Air Vent or Drain

Air vents can become clogged with debris and other blockages. These obstructions can prevent sewer gases from escaping from the vents outside. As a result, the gases travel into the building.

If you notice a sewer smell in your building, it's probably time to call a plumber to assess the issue. A sewer leak or backup could turn into a significant and expensive disaster if it's not controlled immediately.