If there is a strong smell coming from your home, it’s certainly something that is hard to ignore. As it turns out, that disgusting odor you are smelling is most likely the result of a sewer line back up. Not only is the smell horrible, but you may be dealing with a toilet that will not flush, as well as water that seeps into your bathtub. Lake Cook Plumbing is here to tell you that this is a problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Within your household, there is a large network of piping that is responsible for ridding the area of waste. The sewer line connects to the public sewer system, but a break or blockage can prevent this constant flow. When you first notice a sewage smell in your home, there could be an issue with the transfer of waste to the sewer system.

Here are some of the most common reasons for this and how you may be able to get rid of the issue yourself:

• Lack of required traps or vents. These are installed to keep smells from entering the home, so if they are missing you need to have a plumbing professional install them immediately.

• Broken seals around the toilet that allow water to dry out the traps resulting in smells entering the house. Rotted or damp wood could also be causing the smell. Check to see if the toilet is tightly sealed to the floor. If it’s not, you may need to have another wax ring installed.

• If you notice the smell mainly around a sink, try flushing a strong cleaner and bleach down the sink’s overflow (the small holes inside the bowl near the rim) and see if that helps. Avoid harmful drain clearing chemicals, however, as these might damage the pipe lining.

• Check the top side of horizontal drain pipes for rust. If rusted, it will leak sewer gas, possibly causing the smell in your home.

• Clogged vents. This can be resolved by calling a technician to disconnect the vent pipes and clean your vents all the way through the roof.

Don’t just “hope” it goes away. Even if the issue is minor, it is best to be sure. If you notice a foul smell in your home and need help, call Lake Cook Plumbing today.

By zachadmachinescom