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DBThomas · Mar 15, 2009, 01:00 PM

I cannot source the cause of very unpleasant sewage or stale water smells in upper and lower rooms of my house. All drains are clear as is the internal waste plumbing.

speedball1 · Mar 15, 2009, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by DBThomas

I cannot source the cause of very unpleasant sewage or stale water smells in upper and lower rooms of my house. all drains are clear as is the internal waste plumbing.

Well something's not clear or we wouldn't be having this discussion. Look down the drain at all the traps. If they're full of water then you should be OK, but if there's almost no water in any of the traps then you could have a vent that's blocked. Also you've tried everything else you might want to consider replacing the wax rings in your toilets. Sewer gas can escape a defective ring yet not leak water when flushed. The wax ring can emit sewer gases from the base of your toilets and you will swear it's coming from the shower/tub drain, lavatory drain etc.
Sewer gases have a way of dulling the olfactory nerve and make detection nasally impossible.
You must realize that smells and weird noises are the hardest to track down when you're on site and just about impossible when you're not there to check it out yourself..
All we can do is point out likely spots. Good, luck, Tom

brenK · Apr 7, 2009, 08:21 PM

Speedball,
My husband and I were researching the exact smell that you described to be "sewer gas". We read your answer to another post, and tried your solution. Your idea to put water in the trap (simple, but we honestly never thought about it!) saved us!! Thank you so much for your considerate time on this site. We will all sleep better tonight!
BrenK

speedball1 · Apr 8, 2009, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by brenK

Speedball,
My husband and I were researching the exact smell that you described to be "sewer gas". We read your answer to another post, and tried your solution. Your idea to put water in the trap (simple, but we honestly never thought about it!) saved us!!!! Thankyou so much for your considerate time on this site. We will all sleep better tonight!
BrenK

If this trap isn't used fill the trap with cooking oil. Water will evaporate where cooking oil will not. Good luck, Tom

ballengerb1 · Apr 8, 2009, 07:17 AM

Brennk, Tom's advice is sound, if that particular trap is almost never used. However, keep in mind his other point that a blocked vent can cause a trap to siphon and quit working. If that odor returns shortly go back and look for a blocked vent.