 | Braden Peak is the manager of Roto-Rooter Sewer, Drain, Septic and Grease Trap Service in Pittsburg, KS. A Girard native and a graduate of Pittsburg State University, he is a licensed sewer contractor and has been with the company since 2002. He can be reached at 620-231-5630 or by emailing kpp_rotorooter@yahoo.com. You can also become a fan of Roto-Rooter of Pittsburg on Facebook.
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Plumbing
2012-08-30 08:36:51
Stinky man cave
A- Let’s dig into this annoying situation and see if we can come up with a solution to this problem. The first place to look is your floor drain if you have one. These have a trap in the bottom to hold water. This design keeps the sewer gas and odors from filtering through the floor drain. If the water evaporates from the trap, the odor can filter into the basement via the sewer line. A simple fix is to pour water into the floor drain and do this periodically. You should see water at all times in the bottom of the floor drain. A majority of older floor drains also contain a clean out plug in the side of the floor drain housing. If this plug is missing, it is a direct and open line to your sewer and can allow sewer odors to escape. The plug could have been taken out at one time or another if the trap had a problem. By taking out the plug, it will sometimes allow the water to drain out if the floor drain will not allow incoming water to drain through the trap. Keep in mind, all drains should contain a trap if connected to sanitary sewer service and this practice is not recommended for a long term solution.
Other areas to explore are any drains that may not be used such as a lavatory sink or shower. If one or more have not been used in a long period of time, the traps on these can also go dry and allow sewer odors to escape. Again, the best practice is to keep the traps hydrated on a regular basis. It is a good idea to do this throughout the house at any level of the structure.
If these steps have been exhausted yet the smell still persists, then it could be more than a DIY project. The problem could be a result of a faulty seal under the toilet, a sanitary service line with a partial clog, or a faulty or inadequate vent. If the house is on a septic tank, the tank may need pumped. Of course, sometimes the culprit is in the last place you look and can be something totally off the wall. I hope these tips make your man cave experience a little more pleasant.
That’s it for this month. Good luck to all of our local football teams. It’s a special time of year for players and fans alike. I know I’m excited to watch our Gorillas defend their title this year. Have fun and stay safe!
