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Plumbing Apartment Living Bathrooms

Sewage odor coming from my bathroom faucet, tub, and toilet

4 years ago

I live in an apartment complex (1bd/1bath) and I get this horrible sewage odor that comes from my bathroom that happens pretty frequently now (2-3 times per week). It's absolutely horrible because it ends up filling up my whole apartment and I'm basically skunked out from my own home. Over the course of these past 6-7 months, it started off as happening once every 2-3 months to 2-3 times/week over these past 2 months. I've spoken with the apartment complex's maintenance guy and the only solution he found was to go into the apartment next to mine (vacant) and run the water. As soon as he runs the water, the smell disappears. With this happening so often now, I'm not sure what to do. If anybody has a permanent solution to this problem, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Featured Answer

PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

4 years ago

The water in the traps in the vacant apartment is evaporating, allowing poison sewer gas out the drains. The smell is permeating into your apartment. When he runs the water, he refills the traps and blocks the gas.

You've got a vent problem somewhere.

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Comments (10)

Bri Bosh
4 years ago
Put bleach down your drains.
HU-679783697
Original Author
4 years ago
Bri, that's a great way for someone to kill themselves. Smh
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Thanks, greg_2015, you explained that better than I would have. Lucija, what you did doesn't hurt and may have helped if the problem was a blockage or just something nasty in the drain (you can also use a plunger to clear out), but the fact that it keeps happening suggests that the trap/venting combination is not working to keep water in the trap and block sewer gas - so probably the main advantage of what you did was just adding water. As a short-term fix and to diagnose, putting regular water in just refills the trap and blocks the sewer gas from coming up - a few large glasses should be enough. Then once you know that, you'll be able to discuss with plumber what needs done. Maybe a better trap, maybe it's only caused by your own toilet flush suctioning water out (and some 'local' solution might be possible), or maybe it's an issue through the whole building. It couldn't hurt to ask your neighbours (especially above and below you because it's probably the same vent) if they have this problem too. Or maybe they know a better plumber. )) I have a shower that has a similar issue and it's obvious that running the shower for a few seconds after flushing the toilet stops the sewer gas issue - the toilet flush suctions water out of the trap. Will get the plumber on a better solution sometime soon.
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kathleen MK
4 years ago
Sounds like you share a plumbing vent stack or other line with a neighboring apartment. keep calling apartment maintenance.
they may need to drain and clean a water heater.
HU-679783697 thanked kathleen MK
Bri Bosh
4 years ago
Oh, for Pete’s sake. Putting bleach down your drain doesn’t kill you. https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/Phew-Whats-that-awful-smell-Could-it-be-sewer-gas-invading-your-home
HU-679783697
Original Author
4 years ago
Bri, I may not know much about plumbing but a master's in chemistry is enough to tell me that I dont want to be pouring bleach down drains that potentially have methane and ammonia gas. The reaction creates chlorine/chloramine gas which is extremely dangerous. To give you an idea, chlorine gas was used in WWI. So yeah, I'm not risking that. If you've been doing it and have respiratory problems, you might want to get that checked out.
gtcircus
4 years ago
Until management addresses the problem, close all of your drains including the overflow (use paper towel). Sewer gas contains methane and it can cause an explosion so this is a dangerous situation. Put the complaint in writing to the landlord and send it both regular mail with a post office certificate of mailing and certified mail. Read your landlord tenant act in your state so you know your rights. If nothing happens, contact local authorities such as the health department and start complaining.
HU-679783697 thanked gtcircus
HU-679783697
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you all for your responses! I'll speak with the maintenance guy and management with all your ideas!
User
4 years ago
I don't know what your management is like, but be careful. Our on-site manager is horrible and caters to her friends whom she has knowingly allowed to have 5-6 adults living in a one bedroom apartment. We recently had a similar problem and found there was a huge clog in the system where tenants were flushing those flushable wipes as well as pouring grease down the drains. Management accused me of doing these things even though I've never used those wipes and I don't fry / cook with grease. She was ready to write me up / evict me for denying I had anything to do with any of it.
HU-844892960
last year
Ask the landlord if the water in the vacant apartment can be left dripping, so that it fills the trap and thereby prevents the sewer smell from coming up into the vacant and your apartment.

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