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TWB · Jul 19, 2005, 10:25 PM

I know, not another question about shower drain, but I have a problem. I have searched this forum, and read some helpful tips for getting rid of the odor from the basement shower drain. The problem is, about two weeks ago for the first time since I have moved into my house (8 months ago) I detected an odor from the basement shower drain. The shower has only been used a handful of times, so I checked to see if there was water in the drain, and there was. To be safe I used the bleach method and then the boiling water method. Things were fine for a week, until the smell came back. I repeated the process two days ago, and again the smell went away. Well, today the smell is back, and there is still water in the drain. I can feel some sort of cool air coming from the drain though. I have not detected any other odor issues from any other sink, shower, or toilet. And I have not detected any odors from the floor drain in the utility room in my basement. The smell seems to be directly related to the shower. Before I call a plumber, any other suggestions or things to check. If it is any help the weather has been in the 90's for about 3 weeks now, and we are going through the worst drought in decades. I have no idea if that has an effect.
Thanks in advance.
Tom

speedball1 · Jul 20, 2005, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by TWB

I know, not another question about shower drain, but I have a problem. I have searched this forum, and read some helpful tips for getting rid of the odor from the basement shower drain. The problem is, about two weeks ago for the first time since I have moved into my house (8 months ago) I detected an odor from the basement shower drain. The shower has only been used a handful of times, so I checked to see if there was water in the drain, and there was. To be safe I used the bleach method and then the boiling water method. Things were fine for a week, until the smell came back. I repeated the process two days ago, and again the smell went away. Well, today the smell is back, and there is still water in the drain. I can feel some sort of cool air coming from the drain though. I have not detected any other odor issues from any other sink, shower, or toilet. And I have not detected any odors from the floor drain in the utility room in my basement. The smell seems to be directly related to the shower. Before I call a plumber, any other suggestions or things to check. If it is any help the weather has been in the 90's for about 3 weeks now, and we are going through the worst drought in decades. I have no idea if that has an effect.
Thanks in advance.
Tom

Hey Tom,

Several things come to mind. Would this be a floor drain that a shower was installed over or a shower base? If this is a floor drain some of them have a built in cleanout with a plug that's located just below the grate/strainer.
If this plug's missing this would explain the cool air and smell coming from the drain. Shower odor is caused by grease from the soap and rotting hair. The smell can leach back into the water in the trap, e3specially if it's not been used much and the trap seal replenished. Snake out the line and do the bleach and boiling water thingy again and see if that don't help. TIP: If the shower's just going to sit then replace the trap seal with motor oil to prevent evaporation. Good luck, Tom

TWB · Jul 20, 2005, 03:05 PM

Thanks for giving me advice. I believe from the look of it, that it is just an old floor drain, because it doesn't look like a pipe. I don't know if this helps, but I thought I would let you know. I took the grate off the drain, and can't seem to find a clean out. Any other suggestions would be great.
Thanks,
Tom

speedball1 · Jul 22, 2005, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by TWB

Thanks for giving me advice. I believe from the look of it, that it is just an old floor drain, because it doesn't look like a pipe. I don't know if this helps, but I thought I would let you know. I took the grate off of the drain, and can't seem to find a clean out. Any other suggestions would be great.
Thanks,
Tom

If there's no cleanout in the floor drain letting sewer gas escape and the trap seal's intact then I'm out of sugestions. Sorry, Tom