We're remodeling our bathroom. While waiting for the sink and countertop there is a horrible smell now.?
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at
1:05 am
We have a Septic tank. The pea trap has water in it though it looks gross. There is a vent under the sink, but it looks like all the sinks in the house have this vent under it and they don’t smell. When we flush the toilet the water in the pea trap bubbles. Any idea what the smell is and how we can fix it while waiting for the sink?
Tagged with: bubbles • septic tank • sinks • toilet • vent
Filed under: Bathroom Remodeling Tips
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It’s sewer gases and the reason for the trap is just that–to trap the gases. Trapping of sewer gases is not to keep out offensive odors, but is done because the odors represent a literal "Witches Brew" of toxic sewer gases that are LETHAL.
I apologize for "shouting" with caps, but I wanted to emphasize this. It is not worth yours or a family member’s life to ignore this or wait any longer to get it fixed. If duct tape is not completely removing the odor, you must get a plumber in to take care of it immediately.
Because sewer gas contains methane gas (CH4) there you have a risk of an explosion hazard or even fatal asphyxiation. It only takes ONE breath of Methane gas to kill you–and you don’t get a second chance. It doesn’t take more than a few parts per million to kill you literally within 15 seconds from breathing it in.
Sewer gases also contain hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). In addition, the EPA has said that these gases present possible health hazards such as a bacterial infection of the sinuses. But I think death is lots worse than that!
You were wise to be concerned about these odors, so I am confident that you will do the right thing and think of you and your family’s safety and lives with as much concern. Best of luck.
For diagnosis and cure:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/Sewer_Odors_D.htm
duct tape a plastic bag over the p-trap… it will keep you from smelling sewer gasses when they bubble out.
the P trap is exactly that, a trap. It is designed to keep the sewer gasses contained in the plumbing system by means of a water "plug" this is the water that remains in the trap after the rest has gone down. Remove the trap, and flush the water from it. Then just duct tape over the drain pipe till the new stuff is installed.
Breathing Methane gas does not kill you. Farts contain methane gas. And they certainly do not kill you.
You’re probably confused by the fact that if you were in an environment that was pure methane, you’d die from the lack of oxygen. It’s not the methane that is doing it, it’s the lack of oxygen.
it is highly unlikely the odor will kill you however you should flush the water out of the trap and seal with plastic and tape for several reasons.you should also take the opportunity to add bacteria breeding supplement to your system to breakdown the rotting organics and make sure the automatic vents are opening.
everybody that answer is right on what they say, but you said that in the house all the sinks have vents under them. do they have auto vents on the end of the pipe. they should since they are inside the house. normally the vents should be run outside the house over the roof. if the auto vent is not working the way it suppose to it’s time to replace it. another thing you said, was that when you flush the toilet the p- trap bubbles. that could be signs that your main sew line is clogging up. at this time is most likely the water is not running like should. this will cause smell to come back, when flushing your toilet. that’s why you see bubbles in your p-trap. it’s just like when trying to pour water out of gal jug, you try to pour to fast and it bubble.