Sewer Gas Smell in the Basement: How to Find and Quickly Fix

We are going to discuss sewer gas smell in basement and how you can find the cause quickly, as well as some quick fixes. Sewer gas is a result of sewer gases getting into your home through cracks or gaps in the system.

The sewer gas then flows through small openings near your foundation where it seeps up through your flooring and vents into your living space. It has an unpleasant odor which is often described as a rotten egg smell or something similar to sulfur.

This article will give you information on what sewer gas smells like, common causes of sewer gases coming into contact with homes, and solutions for removing this from your home so that things return back to normal!

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How do you get rid of sewer smell in basement?

The sewer gas smell will be most prevalent near the sewer line. To find this, you’ll need to follow your sewer pipe from the point where it enters into your basement until you reach any possible cracks in the sewer system.

If there are no cracks and if all of these sewer pipes seem intact (no leaks), then one possibility is that a nearby neighbor has an issue with their sewer system which is causing sewage to seep through the walls and up into your home.

In order to fix this problem, try contacting them first before calling a plumber or other professional service for help! However, if they have already been notified about this issue and say nothing can be done then contact a plumber immediately so that they can come out and diagnose the sewer gas smell.

If you notice that the sewer pipes are leaking, then a plumber may be needed to come out and fix this issue for you. Sewer gas is dangerous because it can contain methane which is flammable. In order to avoid potential danger or injury from sewer gases, always call an expert if there’s any suspicion of water damage on your property too!

Quick Tip: If there are no leaks in your sewer line but still smells like sewer system air coming up into your home, then you might need to check the condition of other plumbing lines such as sinks and drains.

Check these areas first before moving onto more complicated problem-solving steps! This could lead to various sources like dirty dishes sitting in the sink or a drain that’s backed up.

This could be from sewage seeping through walls, floors, pipes – it just depends. What we recommend for this situation is fixing any leaks along with cleaning off all surfaces swept cleanly (or professionally) by water pressure until it starts to smell better again. If not, then call an expert plumber so they can assess and fix the sewer line issue further.

Is sewer smell in basement dangerous?

Sewer gas can contain methane, a flammable gas. If sewer gases are coming up into your home through cracks in the sewer line system and you’re noticing that there’s an unpleasant odor present (such as rotten eggs) then call for help immediately.

This should be done if you’ve noticed any leaks on your property too – never ignore this issue or try to fix it yourself because it could lead to injury or more serious consequences like structural damage to your home.

Will sewer gas set off a carbon monoxide detector?

If you smell sewer gas coming up into your home, then this should trigger a carbon monoxide detector. Sewer gas is dangerous because it contains methane and could easily lead to injury or structural damage if not dealt with – so stay safe by knowing how sewer gases work in the first place!

Can sewer gas explode?

Methane gas is flammable and sewer gases contain methane. If your sewer pipe has a leak or if sewage from nearby neighbors seeps through cracks in sewer pipes to come up into your basement, then this could lead to an explosion – so call for help right away.

Stay safe by checking the other plumbing lines that may have water damage like sinks and drains too before going any further with problem-solving steps. These areas might not necessarily be emitting sewer smells but can still cause issues such as dirty dishes sitting in the sink or a drain backed up which causes sewer smell in basement air.

How do you tell if your sewer vent pipe is clogged?

If you have sewer gas coming up into your home from the sewer vent pipe and notice an unpleasant odor, then this could be a sign that there’s something blocking it. The sewer vent can get clogged because of things like tree roots or animal droppings so always call a plumber if the issue persists.

This will help them assess the situation better too – they may need to use industrial equipment to safely clear out any blockages inside as well.

The sewer system is composed of four main parts: septic piping which carries wastewater away from homes; sewer pipes (called “laterals”) carry wastewater from laterals down through drains in streets before emptying into sewers; public sewer lines carrying sewage that are owned by cities and sewer systems; and the sewer vent which carries sewer gases.

Can sewer gas come up through the toilet?

Sewer gas can come up through toilets; sewer gases are caused by rotting organic matter in the sewer lines and it can be released from sewer pipes that have a leak.

If you notice an unpleasant odor coming up into your home, then this could also mean there’s something blocking sewer vent pipe outside on property like tree roots or animal droppings. This should always be fixed right away because of the safety risks as mentioned earlier!

How to avoid sewer clogging which will cause sewer gas smell in basement?

Avoid sewer clogs by not pouring any chemicals down the drain or flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste. This will help you avoid sewage backups which can lead to sewer smell in basement as well as blockages. The list below could also help.

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Don’t pour grease down the drain

Sewer pipes can get sewer clogged when grease and other oils are poured down the drain. These won’t dissolve but will instead remain in sewer lines where they can break down over time to create sewer gases that come up into your home.

This is dangerous so don’t pour anything other than toilet paper and human waste down the bathroom sink – it’ll help avoid any sewer smell in basement situations with just one easy step.

Install a backwater prevention valve

If sewer gases are coming up into your basement from the sewer pipe, then this could be because a tree root is clogging it. Sewer gas can also come up through toilets or sinks if sewage leaks through cracks in sewer pipes and seeps upwards so make sure to check these areas too for any breaks before going any further with problem-solving steps.

A backwater prevention valve will help prevent sewer water backup by directing wastewater away from homes during heavy rains; you should always call a plumber when there’s an issue that needs their expertise like clearing out blockages inside sewer lines which may have been caused by animal droppings or tree roots.

One of the things that causes sewer gas smell is rotting organic matter such as leaves, food waste, and sewer sludge. The sewer gas is created when the organic matter breaks down in sewer pipes over time which can make it come up into your home from sewer lines!

Sewage pump maintenance

It’s important to keep sewer gas from coming up into your home in the first place! You can prevent sewer smell in basement by avoiding sewer clogs and checking for breaks when sewer pipes are leaking.

But don’t forget about sewage pump maintenance too; if something goes wrong, then you should have a plumber come out right away so they can assess the situation better.

Sewage pumps help take wastewater away during heavy rainfalls or snow melts – otherwise this could lead to flooding situations at home so it’s important that these sewer pumps are maintained regularly.

Read: What is a Ridge Vent: Everything there is to know.

Conclusion

Sewer gas is created when sewer pipes break down over time and it can make sewer smell in basement, come up through your toilet or sink.

You can stop sewer odors from coming into your home by following these simple tips: avoid sewer clogs with no garbage other than human waste, check for any breaks that lead to sewer smells upstairs such as leaking sewage lines near the house exterior; also keep pumps maintained so they don’t let too much water overflow onto property during heavy rainfalls.

Safely clear out any blockages inside – you should always call a plumber if there’s an issue that needs their expertise like clearing out blockages inside sewer lines which may have been caused by animal droppings or tree roots.