Sewer Smells in Your Basement? Here’s How to Get Rid of Them
Nasty odor in your basement? If it’s being caused be sewer gases leaking into your home, it’s a problem that needs to be taken care of immediately by your plumber in Salt Lake City.
In addition to being disgusting, having sewer gas seeping into your home is dangerous.
The good news? Getting rid of sewer smells in your basement is usually pretty easy. In fact, you probably won’t even need to call a Salt Lake City plumber. Keep reading to learn how to eliminate this nasty problem once and for all!
How to Get Rid of Sewer Smells in Your Basement
Eliminating sewer smells is easy once you know where they’re coming from. Here are some of the most common causes of sewer smells and how to fix them:
Dry Water Trap
A dry water trap is one of the most common causes of sewer smells. When a drain isn’t used regularly, the trap can drop out, allowing sewer gases to seep into your home. The trap could be located in a floor drain, under a sink or in a laundry tub.
To keep sewer smells at bay, there needs to be water in the trap. In time, the water can evaporate, providing an easy access point where gases can enter your home. To fix this problem, simply pour some water down the drain. To delay evaporation, add a few tablespoons of cooking oil.
Missing Cleanout Plug
If the cleanout plug in your floor drain is missing, you might notice foul odors in your basement. Without the plug, sewer gases can bypass the water trap and enter your home. If there isn’t a plug inside the drain bowl, you can find a replacement at any hardware store.
Leaky Wax Seal on a Toilet
If you have a toilet in your basement, a leaky wax seal can allow sewer gas to escape from underneath it. Luckily, toilet repair is fairly easy in most situations! Correcting this problem requires removing the toilet and replacing the wax seal to ensure a good seal. If your toilet rocks, you may want to consider adding plastic shims and caulking the floor joint to prevent damage to the new wax ring.
Serious Plumbing Problems
In rare instances, serious plumbing problems – like cracked sewer lines – may be the culprit for sewer smells in your basement. If you’ve already ruled out the more common causes, you may want to consider calling in a Sewer Repair service in Salt Lake City for further inspection.
If you are looking for a reliable plumber in Salt Lake City, call Neerings Plumbing now!
