Welcome to another Metro-Flow Blog post. Are we excited for the holidays or what! December has been a pretty exciting month for us here at Metro-Flow Plumbing and we hope that it has been for you as well. Today we are going to look into the world of sewer gas. How to spot it, and most importantly, how to eliminate it if it makes its way into your home.The sewage smell that comes out of sewers is one of the worst odors that can be in your house, especially if you are not totally sure where it is coming from. Not only can it be very unpleasant, but it can also indicate more serious plumbing problems down the road. Not to worry, though: that annoying sewage smell is usually fairly simple to address as long as you catch it on time. We’ve put together a list of things you can leverage to identify and help eliminate this horrible sewer odor as soon as possible. However, there is no reason to face this by yourself. Contact our certified and insured Metro-Flow Plumbing plumbers at 214-328-7371. We always recommend that a professional plumber be involved to prevent a bigger problem.
Clean the sink overflow to remove sewer odor
Scum clogged in your sink can cause overflow and can create an unpleasant smell. Put on a pair of disposable gloves and poke around in the center drain of your sink with a long brush or pipe cleaner; this will help you get to the grime and grime in your sink overflow. Rinse the brush periodically and keep scrubbing the dirt until it’s gone. You can also pour boiling water down your drain to clean the overflow. If your sink overflow smells really bad, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, along with 1 cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture foam up and work its magic in the drain; then pour boiling water down the drain to clean it all out. Keep in mind that taking matters into your own hands could potentially complicate things so we always advise to call a certified plumber at Metro-Flow Plumbing first. No need to tackle this on your own.Fill the siphon of the showers and sinks that you do not use
Water traps are the “U” shaped sections of pipe that sit under your sink. This curved pipe creates a water barrier between the sink and the rest of the pipes, preventing bad odors from wafting through the pipes and into your home. Traps help block unpleasant odors from the rest of the pipes. These devices are designed to hold water and block unpleasant sewer odors from reaching your living space. When a foul odor begins to fill the air, pour a pitcher or bucket of water down the drain to refill the water trap; With any luck, you will be able to eliminate sewage odor from your house.Check the wax ring under the base of your toilet
A deteriorated wax ring may be the source of the bad smell. Close the water valve connected to your toilet and remove the toilet from the floor. Next, remove the wax seal and install a new one. This can help prevent leaks at the bottom of your toilet, which will reduce the smell of sewage in the area. You will need a dry towel or sponge, a plastic cup, a flat head screwdriver, a wrench or pliers, and rubber gloves to complete this project. Wax rings are cheap – you can find them online, at home improvement stores, or in department stores. However, this fix is a bit complicated so our number one recommendation is to call us at 214-328-7371 and we’ll schedule an appointment to dispatch one of our certified and insured plumbers to help you.Apply silicone caulk to the bottom of your toilet to eliminate sewer odor
A clear line of silicone putty prevents bad odors from escaping to the outside. Tape several strips of painter’s tape along the rim and base of the toilet, leaving ¼ inch gaps between them. Next, squeeze an even, consistent line of silicone caulk along the front and sides of the toilet, between the strips of tape. Remove the masking tape and allow the putty to harden for a full day. Scrape away any old caulk lines with a razor blade before applying a new line to the bottom of your toilet. First pull the chain and check if water comes out of the base. If you notice water pooling, you’ll need to remove the toilet and install a new wax ring first. This is a relatively simple procedure that can become quite complicated. To prevent a possible headable and costly fix, give a certified and insured plumber at Metro-Flow Plumber a call at 214-328-7371. No need to do this on your own. We are here for you.Unclog the pipes in your kitchen or bathroom
Clogged and blocked pipes can contribute to a foul sewer smell. Check the drains in the toilet, bathtub, sink, and shower to see if they drain slowly or are completely blocked. If you notice slow drainage, take a moment to unclog your toilet, bathtub, sink, or shower drain. Clearing clogs can help eliminate sewer odor.Start by removing the sink trap in the pipes below the sink. Drain whatever is blocking the pipe and replace the siphon. This should clear your pipes easily. A plunger easily clears clogs without damaging pipes. Try to follow the traditional methods of unclogging, such as the plunger and the auger, instead of using chemicals (chemicals are terrible for your plumbing). Plungers are bad for the environment and can damage your pipes over time. Remember that we are always available to help.We recommend you also read our article on how Prevent Clogging Your Sewer Line.Check that there is a stopper in your floor drains
A drain plug prevents sewer odors from coming to the fore. Search the floor drains in your garage, basement, and bathrooms. Remove the cover and measure the width of the drain to find out what size plug you need. Then head to the hardware store or shop online to find a stopper that will fit snugly into your drain opening.Give Your Garbage Disposal a Deep Clean to Eliminate Sewer Odor
Food can get stuck in the garbage disposal, creating an unpleasant smell. Unplug the garbage disposal and remove the rubber boot from the top opening. Rub any leftover grime off the backsplash with a little dish soap and pry any obvious food debris out of the main disposer with a set of tongs. Clean your garbage disposal naturally with a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda. Feel free to grind some lemon rinds in the grinder, too. And never forget what NOT to put in the Garbage Disposal.As previously mentioned, we are here to help. Don’t hesitate to get in touch and give us a call at 214-328-7371. Though you may be tempted to fix things on your own, we highly encourage you to allow a professional plumber to take care of your plumbing problems.
