I noticed a foul sewage smell in my bathroom upstairs. Today, I noticed raw sewage after flushing the toilet, I went downstairs to find the sewage in my utility sink (used for drain for washing machine). I checked the one main vent and it appears to be clear. In my bathroom upstairs (where the foul sewage smell lingers) I opened the access to the pipes for my bathtub and found an old drain behind shower wall left opened. Now, mind you my family and I just moved here 2 weeks ago and do not know who did the plumbing here but I do not feel they assembled the drain correctly. This is definitely where the smell was coming from because when I opened the access up, the smell was so STRONG, it made me GAG. I ended up pouring some of my wife's apple cinnamon oil down the drain followed by water and seemed to take care of the smell for now. I stuffed a rag in the hole of the drain until tomorrow, where I can get in there and fix it. What could I do to fix this so we do not have this problem again? Thank you in advance!

Hi Slash:

Sounds like all you should need to do is cap this open pipe and you should be back in good shape.

If after capping this pipe the drainage of tub is slowed then probably a good idea to post a picture of the setup you are talking about.

Let me know what you think...

MARK

Raw sewage in the utility sink below the toilet makes me think you may have a main drainage pipe clogged. Yes you need to cap the old tub drain pipe. But waste coming up the utility sink suggest further drainage problems. Let us know if you have any drainage issues with other fixtures in the house.

Maybe try flushing the toilet, running the shower, and draining washing machine all at the same time. Let us know what find.

Thanks MGD...

My little guy distracted me and I lost the first half of the post.

Sorry Slash...

Listen to MGD here...

No need to apologize. You apparently have your priorities in line. Good for you.

Amen!