Causes of Sewer Gas Smells

One might not consider that a plumbing problem could result from the home's electrical system, but it's possible.

Sewer gas poses a significant problem for a home due to its unpleasant odor and potential hazards for those inside. The smell of sewer gas indicates a malfunction in the home's plumbing system, which could be caused by one of the following reasons.

Electrical problems

One might not consider that a plumbing problem could result from the home's electrical system, but it's possible. Some systems use a natural ventilation method for septic tank sewer gas to leave a home, while others use a forced ventilation system with an electrical pump. If this pump or its connected electrical line fails, the sewer gas won't be able to escape. This can lead to it returning to the home, and the smell becomes noticeable.

Damaged pipes

A home's septic pipes can become damaged over the years. The damage they can sustain depends on the material the pipes are made of. For instance, metal pipes are prone to rusting, and PVC pipes are prone to cracking—any joint where two pipe sections meet is also prone to failing. If the pipe fails, sewer gas can back into a home. The pipes used for the ventilation stack can also become damaged and cause a similar problem.

Malfunctioning sink traps

A home's drains have traps that help prevent debris from entering the pipe and causing a clog, but they also prevent sewer gas from entering into the home. These drain traps are the curved pipe pieces underneath a sink. These traps provide crucial protection against sewer gasses but can malfunction and allow gas to enter a home.

A trap can malfunction if any of the joints holding the trap together become loose. Water can drain out of the trap, leaving a gap for sewer gas to come up through the pipe. The water might evaporate because of infrequent use, leading the trap to become dry.

Septic tank backup

Any home with a septic tank is susceptible to the tank backing up into the home. This happens when the tank is full, and the waste has nowhere to go. This problem can be fixed by pumping the tank to remove the waste.

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