Have you ever had a strange smell in your kitchen or bathroom and you can’t decipher it because it comes and goes. There are many cases where sewer gas can be the source of this odor. The first question that comes to mind is “How does sewer gas get into my home?”
It seems that mold has been blamed for all kinds of odors in the home lately. Recently, we were called to a house due to a strange smell in the kitchen. There was no humidity anywhere in the kitchen that could be the cause of the strange smell. The customer informed us that it comes and goes after we determined there was no moisture anywhere. We knew immediately that there was something else besides mold to blame for the smell. It was a puzzling case of a smell that comes and goes; which is the worst case scenario to diagnose.
When checking the plumbing in the kitchens, we noticed that there was a “Studor vent” in the island kitchen. “Studor Vent”, what is your next question? Well, because people wanted to save money on building houses, the construction industry invented a ventilation system that opens into your home instead of going to a roof vent. These Studor vents have a bad habit of not closing completely due to algae build-up on the spring plug that allows odors from the plumbing system to seep back into your home.
What is sewer gas and what does it contain. Sewer gas is a mixture of toxic and non-toxic gases that are present in the sewer system. If you’ve ever removed a toilet bowl to replace the wax ring because it was leaking, you already know the smell of the odor I’m talking about. Condo buildings are the worst for these types of odors.
Sewer gas can be hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, sulfur dioxide, and other nitrous oxides. It depends on what is in the sewer drain system as to what odor may be in the sewer system at any given time. You can be exposed to these odors in many different ways. We will explore this now.
1. Odors can enter a home through the shower floor drain because there is no water in the drain trap due to no one using the shower for a long period of time.
2. If you do not use a sink for a long time and the water evaporates in the drain trap, it may cause an odor to start in this area.
3. Roof vent chimney can crack on old cast iron pipes that were used before PVC pipes were used. We found one in a Condo that had an 8 foot long crack. These guys can only be found by opening the wall.
4. A cracked pipe in the foundation of your home can also be a source of odors. The smell will find a way into your home through a crack in the foundation.
5. The backing of a septic tank drain field can also cause odors in a backyard area of a home. We had one where kids got sick from playing in the backyard.
In conclusion, if you suspect that there is a problem with possible sewer gas exposure, immediately call a licensed plumbing contractor to fix the problem. In case you experience physical symptoms like headache, nausea, dizziness or drowsiness, seek medical treatment immediately. It is important that you leave the area until it can be repaired by a professional who knows what they are doing. Remember, it is not always the mold that causes the problem. If you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website.