Drain and Sewer Issues Can Cause Odors in Your Home

3/13/2022 (Permalink)

Homes are always being inundated with a variety of odors. Strong smells from cooking, animals, or even cleaning chemicals can leave behind an unpleasant odor. One of the worst to contend with is drain and sewage odors. Here’s why you may have these kinds of smells in your home and what SERVPRO can do to help.

Reasons why you could be having sewage odors

Maintenance is often a culprit in sewage-related smells you may encounter. Dry traps are a very common culprit of a sewer odor. It usually comes from a bathroom that is not used often, like a guest bathroom. Flushing toilets and using sinks in each bathroom can help prevent dry trap odors.  Sometimes the smell is from a lack of proper drain or vent pipes. Every fixture should have a “p-trap” that holds water in a “U” shape that creates a seal, as well as a vent system that equalizes air pressure and allowed sewer gases to escape outside. Failure of any of these can result in an odor. Broken seals around the toilet are another common culprit. Check for air leaks in the wax ring around the toilet by wobbling the toilet bowl to make sure it’s tightly sealed to the floor. Other causes for odors in your home can include clogged vents or a broken sewer lateral pipe or vent stack. Call a professional plumber or sewer company to come out and inspect the lines.

Getting rid of the odors once the cause is addressed

Depending on what caused the odor, the smells may linger even once the cause has been remedied. That’s where SERVPRO of Phoenix can help! As experts in deodorization, SERVPRO of Phoenix is trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors. SERVPRO teaches IICRC technical classes in the proper removal of odors. Masking and other shortcuts don't work when your odor problem is serious or persistent. Our technicians have access to several odor removal products capable of penetrating surfaces to neutralize an unpleasant odor thoroughly.

Keep your home fresh and clean with SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Phoenix offers in-depth cleaning services in addition to odor removal. If your home struggles with difficult odors, contact the SERVPRO team at 480-503-2090 to help remedy the situation!