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rachael9 · Jan 15, 2012, 05:06 PM

I am in a single level apartment. Lately there has been an off and on smell of urine in an area of the living room mostly around an outside facing wall and adjacent mutual wall with the next unit. This room is carpeted, but the carpet itself doesn't seem to smell. I lifted part of the carpet, and under is the concrete slab the apartment is on, and in the area I saw, it was cracked. Seemed smelly, but sometimes the rug seems smelly, sometimes the wall, I just can't figure this out. Could a sewer pipe leak or back-up cause a urine odor? Would the pipes be in the slab under the apartment, in the walls, or where?
Thanks for any help, I am really tense about this as I am afraid of facing the landlord with this problem.

speedball1 · Jan 16, 2012, 06:50 AM

I am afraid of facing the landlord with this problem.

I don't see why not since it's his problem and not yours. You didn't cause the odor and the landlord's supposed to provide you with a safe, healthy place to live. Sewer gas escaping into your unit is a health hazard to you and your family. Get the landlord involved. All this should be with no charge to you. Good luck, Tom

rachael9 · Jan 17, 2012, 01:40 PM

Yes, thanks for the reassurance.
The question is, as stated in my original post: could the urine odor come from a backed up or broken sewer pipe? Are the pipes in the wall, could they be in the cracked concrete slab?
Would appreciate an answer to these questions, and for further information, please see my original post.
Thank you very much for assistance.
rachael9

rachael9 · Jan 17, 2012, 01:47 PM

Hello,
I posted about this but got no answer beyond being told not to be afraid to get the landlord involved. Thanks. There is an off again on again strong urine smell in the living room. The question is could it be coming from a backed up sewer pipe, or a broken sewer pipe? Where are sewer pipes generally? The apt. Is single level on a concrete slab, and when I looked under the rug where the smell is worst, the concrete was cracked badly. For more info please see my Jan.15th post. Thanks a lot for any assistance.
Rachael9

parttime · Jan 17, 2012, 02:32 PM

Hi rachael9, the answer to both your questions is yes. And as Tom said, " get the landlord involved" Good luck

speedball1 · Jan 17, 2012, 02:45 PM

I'm sorry you didn't liken the answer that was offered. You told us that

I am really tense about this as I am afraid of facing the landlord with this problem.

I responded

I don't see why not since it's his problem and not yours. You didn't cause the odor and the landlord's supposed to provide you with a safe, healthy place to live. Sewer gas escaping into your unit is a health hazard to you and your family. Get the landlord involved. All this should be with no charge to you. Good luck, Tom

The hardest questions we get deal with smells and noises. Without us being there to check how can we offer a solution f you can't furnish us with a location. If you can't locate the source . And you're on the site how can you expect us to help setting in front of a computer? To answer your question,

The question is could it be coming from a backed up sewer pipe, or a broken sewer pipe? Where are sewer pipes generally? The apt. Is single level on a concrete slab, and when I looked under the rug where the smell is worst, the concrete was cracked badly.

And the answer is, Yes as broken or cracked pipe sewer pipe could leak sewer gas up through a cracked slab. But since you don't want to involve the landlord you can hire outside help to "sewer cam" the pipes and if a break is found contact as plumbing company to jackhammer up the slab and repair the pipe.
Still don't want to involve the landlord? I really think you should since its his responsibility but I wish you good luck in whatever you decide. Tom

MTSnowflake · Mar 3, 2012, 07:08 PM

Hi Tom & Mark,

I have a similar question, but since we own the home, we will be the ones who have to deal with the problem. I will call a plumber, but we were hoping to get some initial investigation out of the way in an attempt to streamline the process.

What would cause a strong periodic urine smell? Ours is in the basement, cement flooring covered with carpet, in a room right next to the bathroom. No other room smells but this one, and it only happens occasionally. The smell is so strong it's hard to breathe.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Jodi