What Causes Sewer Gas Smell in Your Watertown, MA, Home?

That smell of sewage hitting your nose upon entering your home is one of the most uncomfortable experiences you’ll ever have. It’s even more frustrating when it continues to linger, and you can’t work out what to do.

You should know that the smell all across your space is a clear sign of problems with your plumbing and drains. Some of these are easy fixes, while others can be challenging.

In this post, your trusted plumbers in Watertown, MA, will look at what causes sewer gas smell in the house and what you can do about each one.

1. You Have Dry P-Traps Around Your Watertown, MA, Home

You’ve probably never paid any attention to the pipe connecting your sink and toilet to the wall. But if you look closely now, you’ll notice that it has a curved section. This is the P-trap (or S-trap, depending on the shape). This section always holds water in it, which keeps gases from entering your home.

If the water dries out or dips too low for any reason, the sewer odor will enter your home. Thankfully, resolving this issue is as simple as pouring water down the affected sink or toilet. Once there’s enough water in the P-trap, the smell should disappear.

2. You Have a Clogged or Broken Vent Pipe

Every plumbing system has vent pipes designed to help release gases safely outside the home. You’ll see these pipes exiting from your roof. A clogged or broken vent pipe will lead to these gases flowing backward into your home.

Vent pipes can crack due to age and foundation shift. They can also become clogged when rodents and birds take up residence there. You should get the vent pipes checked out if you find yourself wondering what causes sewer gas smell in the house when you’re around the upper floors of your home.

3. You Have a Clogged Drain

Clogged drains help trap organic matter, debris, and grease. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and spread. As the bacteria act upon the waste, they release that foul smell into your home.

You can use a drain cleaner or plumbing snake to remove most minor drain blockages. If your DIY efforts don’t yield any results, you’ll need to call in the big guns. Professional plumbers have more powerful tools for dealing with the most stubborn clogs.

4. You Have a Cracked Sewer Line

Have you noticed signs like slow drains, water pooling around your yard, or unusually strong growth of weeds or greenery, in addition to the smell of gases around your property? This combination of signs shows that you have a cracked sewer line.

The line can crack for a number of reasons, including old age, corrosion, ground movement, tree root intrusion, and more. Call a plumber right away if you spot any of the signs of a cracked sewage line.

5. Your Toilet Seal Is Loose

Your toilet might be the problem if you find yourself only wondering what causes the sewer gas smell in the house when you’re in the bathroom.

Toilets often have a tight, secure seal at the base to prevent sewer gases from escaping. However, poor installation work or deterioration of components, such as the wax ring, can lead to a loose toilet seal. In this scenario, you’ll perceive the smell of sewer gases when you get close to your toilet.

If you notice that terrible smell near your toilet, check for signs of wobbling. If the toilet seat is no longer firm, you’ll need to replace the seal or fix the faulty wax ring.

6. You Have Loose Plumbing Connections

The joints between your plumbing pipes can loosen over time due to age and natural wear and tear. The resulting gaps can make it easier for the smell of sewer gas to enter your home. This is one problem you can avoid with regular plumbing inspections and maintenance.