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 Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI-SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HOT WATER HEATERS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MIX VALVE SCALD PROTECTION, Best Practices MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings BOAT & CAR SMELLS & ODORS CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CARPETS & PADDING ODORS IN buildings CAT DANDER in buildings CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS HEATING SYSTEM ODORS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS METHANE GAS SOURCES MOLD ODORS, Musty Smells in buildings MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES ODORS, URINE REMOVAL ODORS IN WATER OIL HEAT ODORS OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING OIL TANK LEAK ODORS OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN buildings PARTICLE SIZES & IAQ Particulates & Allergens Indoors Pesticide Exposure Hazards PET ALLERGEN REMEDIES PLASTIC CONTAINERS, TANKS, TYPES PLASTIC HEATER VENT PLASTIC ODORS-SCREENS, SIDING PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES TOXIC GAS TEST PROCEDURES VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WELL WATER CONTAMINANT SOURCES OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL TANKS PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types AGE OF PIPING AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS DRAIN & SEWER PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR COPPER PIPING in buildings DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES LEAD PIPES in buildings PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING TRAPS on DRAINS VENT PIPING SUPPLY PIPING BRASS WATER PIPES COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING LEAD PIPES in buildings LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS PLASTIC PIPING PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES Transite Pipe Water Supply Piping VALVES, PLUMBING WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types Water pipe clog diagnosis Water pipe clog repair guide WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH Plumbing Materials & Fixtures, Age, Types PUMPS & WELLS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - Water Heaters TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES WATER HEATERS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PUMPS & TANKS WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP & WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Floor drain odors & smell troubleshooting: this article explains how to track down and cure a sewer gas odors that appear to be due to basement or crawl space floor drain or drain trap problems. We describe the likely sources of sewer gas or septic smells that seem to come from a floor drain, and we explain how to complete the diagnosis & cure of these odor problems. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Floor Drain or Drain Trap Odors: Leak & Repair Diagnosis SuggestionsOur page top photo shows use of a trap primer to keep a basement floor drain from becoming dry and an odor source. Draining air conditioning or heat pump condensate in this manner can solve two problems at once. Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates. For a case history of diagnosing sewer odors due to a broken under-floor sewer line, see CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR. Also see CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING. See PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS to start diagnosing the broad category of smells from plumbing system drains. Other types of building piping systems are discussed at GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS and at OIL TANK PIPING DEFECTS. Also see ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE for procedures to diagnose and cure all kinds of odors in and around buildings. The articles at this website will answer most questions about water supply & drain piping, wells, & water tanks as well as many other building plumbing system inspection or defect topics. Reproduction of this web page electronically at other websites is prohibited. Question:
The odor seems to be strongest and most often present in a mechanical room in the basement. The only plumbing in the room is a floor drain [photo at left from reader]. No other drains are under the concrete slab. I know because I built the house. I suspect that drain, but the water level in the trap seems to be full and I even sent a metal feeler down to make sure the bend in the trap was below the water level. The concrete floor does have settling cracks. Is it possible that the plastic drain pipe could be slightly cracked or loose glue joint down stream from the trap, caused by the settling concrete? Would plugging the 4 inch drain just outside the house and filling the drain with water up to the top of the floor drain give enough pressure to any leaks thereby lowering the level of the water in the drain? Assuming all the other drains downstairs are slightly higher than the specific drain in question.
[Photo at left (from reader) shows a portion of the drain-waste-vent DWV piping in this building.] This house is 30 years old and this problem is about a year old. This question is a tough especially with all the floors being finished with tile or carpet. I was an electrical contractor so I do have tools and abilities for any of your suggestions, i.e.: shove a metal fish tape down the drains and then trace the tape to verify the drain path under the concrete slab. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, - D.M. Reply: Floor drain and trap odor diagnosis suggestionsRooftop plumbing vent as odor causeIt would be uncommon for leaves to block a roof vent unless the vent projection above the rooftop were very short and the vent was covered with leaves (or snow). But we have indeed seen roof vent pipes blocked by frost if there is a shower or laundry or other source of hot water that sends a lot of steam up the vent in very cold weather, esp. if the vent is small in diameter - say under 2"; We have also found roof vents blocked by wasp nests, and once even a frog. If you can safely examine the vent from rooftop without falling off due to snow or other slippery conditions, it's worth taking a look. Other plumbing vent failures that send odors into buildings include a vent or drain line that is disconnected inside the building due to an unglued joint or broken drain line; These should show up as an odor or when you perform a pressure test of the vent line. Of course if your floor drain piping is actually used to drain a plumbing fixture (such as a washing machine) and the drained fixture is more than 5' from any plumbing vent, then depending on what waste flows through that drain line, it could on occasion siphon water out of the trap and allow odors into the building. It is also possible to siphon water out of a remote but un-vented trap as waste passes down the joined drain line, but that problem would have been present from the time of original construction whereas your problem has just recently appeared. And you've confirmed that there is water in the basement floor trap so that's not our first suspicion. Drain line under the floor as odor sourceIndeed we have had cases of under-floor drain lines that were leaky, sending sewage odors into the building; that problem is more common when the under-floor drain is carrying sewage. See CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR for an example. If you have easy access to this same drain line from outdoors and can temporarily block the line at that point it would be a good diagnostic tool since you are sure that there is no other plumbing connected to this drain. If you block the line from outdoors (and at a point before it joints any other sewer piping) then if that's the odor source, the odor ought to stop. If that step confirms that the line is the odor source, and presuming the building is new enough that your piping is plastic not cast iron under the floor, I'm guessing that the bad news is the line would have to be abandoned (sealed off outside) or dug up and replaced. Before doing so it may be worth asking a plumber who has a drain line inspection camera to send that through the line to see what's going on, on the chance that you can find and dig up just a short section of line that is damaged or disconnected. Floor drain trap as odor source
We solve that problem either by pouring some mineral oil into the drain trap or installing a floor trap that includes a check valve designed specifically to prevent gases from passing backwards up the drain line and into the building. When a building is more than a year old and the floor trap is always filled with water, and if we think that the drain line is never used, where is that water coming from? Is that a clue that there is water under the building leaking into the trap (i.e. an open or broken drain)? Other Possible Sources of Basement Sewer Odors
Additional floor drain or trap odor problem diagnostic questions:
Follow-up from reader about smelly basement floor drainWhole drain is not 4 in…4 inch is a main drain with taps off of it under the slab. The floor drain in question is a 2 inch line and trap. All abs piping. Drain in question is just for spillage as is the other one in a different room. The reason water is in the trap is because I diligently keep it full. Have thought of putting antifreeze, like a travel trailer uses, instead of mineral oil. But not until this is settled. Check all roof vents this morning with a 1/4in metal fish tape. No restriction and a visual with flash light showed no problem. Also, the gas odor coming out seemed consistent at all four roof vents. Since last writing, I did plug the 4 in drain just outside the home and then filled all the pipe under the slab until the water level was even with the top of the floor drains. I left it for 14 hours and the water level never changed. Therefore, I feel there is not a big leak under the slab. I suppose a real small leak might take more time to be apparent. An air test would be more accurate but would complicate plugging the pipe completely. After plugging the 4 inch line, I aired out the house and no odor returned. This makes sense because all the lines leading to the septic tank were plugged with water. Also, this morning I had the tank emptied. It probably could have gone another three years, but because of the problem, I had it cleaned anyway. After careful review of when this intermittent problem occurs, It seems like the odor follows the draining of one particular bath tub. The tub was used for three consecutive days, and each of those days we had the odor. Is there any type of flushing action that can cause the odor getting through. Remember, this is a problem that occurs when it is cold out, not neccesarily freezing, and the problem started a year or so ago and we have been here for 20 years..I can’t even think of a place where a nail could have been put through a pipe. No one works on this house but me.. Included four pics; 1. The outside four inch clean out used to plug entire house drain 2. The suspect floor drain [see at top of this Q&A] 3. Misc. piping to suspect tub/lav/ toilet area on first floor, as seen from basement [see at top of this Q&A] 4. Outside vents, all were clear… What can you tell me about a smoke test? I am looking into plugging all pipes and putting and doing an air pressure test. This would take the talk out of a leak but would not tell me where it is..ugh… Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about how to diagnose & cure basement floor drain odors & smellsQuestion:Reply:x Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about how to track down and cure basement floor drain odors & smells. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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