Sewer smells in your basement are very distinct and off-putting. Even if the smell is contained downstairs, there’s a good chance the smell has drifted into other rooms as well.
The rotten-egg smell of sewer gas comes from hydrogen sulfide. Although it’s stinky, the hydrogen sulfide is not harmful unless experienced in high concentrations or for a prolonged period of time. The powerful smell should alert you to a plumbing issue long before it reaches such dangerous levels.
Still, be aware heavy concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can cause symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. Even if it’s not overtly harming you, sewage smells indicate something is definitely wrong with your plumbing. If ignored, you could have clogged pipes, flooded floors, and failed plumbing on top of a putrid smelling basement.
If you detect a sewer gas smell in your basement, here are some common reasons:
- Clogged or damaged drain line.
- Blocked or broken sewer line vents.
- Bad or broken seal on a vent, drain, or toilet.
- Cracked and leaking pipes.
- Dry plumbing.
This gas smell could also signal a blockage located in your main sewer line. If bathrooms upstairs also start to have that signature rotten-egg smell, it’s a sign the issue is with your home’s sewer line rather than an individual drain, vent, or pipe. Such a blockage is severe enough to eventually impact all plumbing in your home, and quick action is required. Contact an experienced plumbing technician who will safely resolve the matter.
This professional will likely offer sewer camera inspections to determine if the issue is actually in your sewer line. If so, they might recommend hydro-jetting sewer and drain cleaning and other trenchless technology, such as pipe relining and no-dig pipe bursting when sewer lines have collapsed.
A word of caution: if a broken or blocked sewer line is the source of the smell in your house, trying to clean out your drains with do-it-yourself solutions or drain cleaners will only escalate the issue by adding to the blockage or leak.
When you discover sewer gasses in your home, it’s important to act as soon as possible to limit your family’s exposure. Not only is it extremely unpleasant, a sewer smell can cause serious medical issues. Protect the overall health of your home and those within it by contacting your trusted plumber. They will inspect your home and find a solution so basement sewer gas smells are gone for good.
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Flader Plumbing and Heating is uniquely suited to assist you in determining the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our community for over 100 years and 4 generations.
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Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
- The most responsive service. We’re here for you 24/7.
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Flader Plumbing and Heating recommends equipment, models, and brands proven to have the fewest problems and service calls. We specialize in:
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Whether you need help ridding your home of sewer odors, you need a new toilet, or your garbage disposal is not working properly, we are knowledgeable and experts in delivering the services you need. Our professional technicians arrive on time, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. They will recommend the right solution and deliver as promised.
Flader technicians average 15 years of experience and are EPA certified.
Expert service, quality parts, and satisfaction guaranteed. That’s the combination you deserve.
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