An odor like boiled eggs gone bad or rotting debris rises from your drains, making your kitchen or bathrooms feel almost uninhabitable. That sewer smell in houses can originate from numerous issues. Here, MVP Plumbing’s plumbers in Havertown, PA, share where the foul odor might come from and how to plug it.

Vent Pipe Clogs

The vent stack or pipe manages the plumbing system’s air pressure. It releases excess sewer gas that builds up within the drainage system every now and then. Gas can’t escape a clogged stack, though, and will find new outlets – like through your fixture drains. 

A Havertown plumber like MVP Plumbing can quickly locate and remove these clogs. 

Unused S- or P-Traps

Another common cause of foul indoor odors is an S- or P-trap drying up. Toilets have pipes with a P-shaped curvature right below the opening. The sink’s pipe curve looks more like an S.

Either way, the curved shape contains water that keeps air from floating through the drain opening. If the water seal dries from a leak or disuse, the drain’s air supply can infiltrate your bathroom or kitchen in no time.

Blocked Drain Lines

You can’t underestimate the power of a nasty, decaying drain clog. Sure, your soaps might mask the odor at first, but eventually, you’ll catch a whiff of the soap scum, scale buildup, and grime caught in the pipes. 

Flush your drain line every month to keep nasty substances from collecting. Use drain snakes to hook and drag hair blockages out. You can also use lemon juice or vinegar with baking soda to freshen the scent that arises.

Damaged or Misaligned Sewer Lines

Sewer damage comes in all varieties, but whether it’s exposure to chemicals in the soil or sewage contents, it can cause pipe corrosion. The shifting dirt can gradually move pipes out of place, creating tiny openings for wastewater leaks, too. A detectable sewer smell in houses or even outside them might need new or relined sewer pipes. 

You may also notice:

  • A swampy, wet yard, even on sunny days with no precipitation
  • Surprisingly, green patches of grass that don’t match the rest of the lawn
  • New fungal growths concentrated in a particular area

Greener grass doesn’t mean a healthier lawn in this scenario. You might also need a new cleanout cap to keep the air from the wastewater from seeping into your home. 

Toilet Malfunctions

The toilet might be to blame for odorous sewer gases infiltrating your bathroom – and we mean when it isn’t in use. Commodes house rubber seals, metal valves, and other intricate parts that manage the flow of fresh and wastewater. 

The soft seal materials and metal valves may slowly decay, enabling gas to creep into the drain. This makes the toilet smell even more like a toilet than it otherwise would. The porcelain bowl doesn’t last forever either and can develop tiny fractures that enable sewage odors to escape. 

Stinky But Harmless Buildup

Almost all plumbing develops a layer of bacteria called biofilm, which also colonizes the hair and skin cells we shed when we bathe. It can use scummy, slimy soap remnants to feed upon, too. 

Like other bacteria, the biofilm releases waste in the form of stinky gas. It’s harmless otherwise.

Let MVP Plumbing Find the Source of Any Sewer Smell in Houses in Havertown, Pennsylvania

Now, do you know where the sewer smell in houses comes from? Schedule a plumbing maintenance service with MVP Plumbing to find out. Our team services Havertown, Pennsylvania, and nearby neighborhoods with quality services for homes and businesses. 

Frequently Asked Questions

These intrusive odors often conjure concerns about their origins and potential health effects. We’ve answered a few questions about sewer smells below.  

Do Sewer Smells Make People Sick?

Yes, sewer smells do make people sick in high concentrations. An unpleasant wafting throughout your home is unlikely to endanger you. 

Will The Odor Go Away By Itself? 

Sometimes, the sewer odor goes away by itself. However, not addressing the problem often means it returns and worsens.

Should I Use Chemical Drain Cleaners to Combat the Nasty Smell?

No, you should not use chemical drain cleaners to combat the nasty smell. Chemical plumbing products damage pipe materials. Chemicals also kill beneficial flora and fauna in our local ecosystems. 

How Do I Keep That Sewer Smell in My House at Bay?

You can keep that sewer smell in houses at bay with consistent plumbing maintenance, drain flushing sessions, and regular plumbing services. Most smells come from debris buildup and backed-up wastewater.