I just moved into a small house. I immediately noticed a sewer gas odor.

The landlord called a plumber. He noted that the only vent pipe coming out of the roof was a one and a quarter inch located behind the toilet. He installed a four inch vent pipe into the sewer line just as it was coming out from under the house. Didn't work.

Next, he took a water hose and pushed it down through the one and a half inch vent pipe coming up out of the roof. He hit something at the base behind the toilet, and a cloud of noxious sewer gas came up through the bathtub and washer drains. He seemed to clear the blockage, the water from the hose was draining through and I flushed the toilet successfully. He left, and I went into the house. I poured water into both sinks, and the washing machine and bathtub drains to fill any dry traps. I hoped all was well. But alas, the house filled with sewer gas odor again.

Today, I bought some enzymes like Rid-X, made a slurry out of them and poured the mixture down the one and a half inch drain pipe. I could hear the plop as the mixture went all the way down through to the bottom. Again, a cloud of rotten egg gas filled the house when I did this. I flushed the toilet several times after a half hour, and eventually the smell cleared. This time I actually stopped all drains with rubber instead of just pouring water down them to make sure any subsequent odor was not from a dry trap.

I could breathe much better. I surmised that the enzymes must have been working on blockage in the vent pipe and creating a larger opening. I thought the problem was fixed.

Well, I then went to use the toilet. When I lifted the toilet lid, a cloud of rotten egg gas hit me in the face... again!

What is going on? Why is the concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas so intense right behind the toilet as to saturate even the toilet bowl water?

I need an expert!

Elijones,
I deleated your PM as it was a duplicate post. City sewer or septic tank? (I really need to know). Your house has "S" traps throughout. It's possible. With a unvented "S" trap, to lower the trap seal so far that sewer gas will escape. However, I don't think that's the case here. What I think's happening is that you have a partial blockage coupled with a substandard vent system. Let me explain. You flush or drain and the discharge goes down the drain pipe and hits a partial blockage and bounces back sending a bubble of sewer gas ahead of it. From what you say I believe the stoppage's outside your house in the line leading to the street or septic tank. If you're on a septic tank I would check to see if it needs to be pumped. And you might speak to your landlord about bringing the house up to code. Regards, Tom

Thanks for the quick reply, Tom. The house is connected to the city sewer.

What you said makes a lot of sense. When the plumber stuck the water hose down the vent pipe, he didn't hit anything until the hose went all the way to the bottom "and around the bend." I'll bet he hit the partial blockage.

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elijones

Thanks for the quick reply, Tom. The house is connected to the city sewer.

What you said makes alot of sense. When the plumber stuck the water hose down the vent pipe, he didn't hit anything until the hose went all the way to the bottom "and around the bend." I'll bet he hit the partial blockage.

Thanks again!

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And my question is, "Why did the plumber send a hose down the vent instead of a snake?" Rgards, Tom