How the trap keeps sewer gas out
Under every sink, tub and floor drain there is a curved section of pipe called a trap. It always holds a little water, and that water is the seal that keeps sewer gas down in the pipes where it belongs. In a bathroom nobody uses, or a basement floor drain, that water slowly evaporates, especially with the heat running and the air dry.
Refill every drain in the room
This takes about two minutes.
- Run the sink for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Run the tub or shower for about 30 seconds.
- Pour about a quart of water down any floor drain, slowly so it doesn't splash.
- Flush the toilet once, too.
- Turn on the exhaust fan and give the room 15 to 30 minutes to air out.
If a floor drain or guest bath dries out over and over, add a reminder to run water in it once a week. A rarely used drain stays sealed as long as somebody remembers it.
When the smell doesn't go away
If the smell is still there after every drain has been run and the room has aired out, something else is going on, like a loose or failed seal at the base of the toilet, a venting problem, or a drain issue. Don't take the plumbing apart to look. If you ever smell rotten eggs near a gas appliance, that is different: leave the house and call your gas company from outside. For a sewer smell that stays, call me at (470) 999-7395 or book online for a $79 diagnostic.
