If you have ever had to deal with sewer gas, you know that odor can be obnoxious and overpowering. But did you also know that breathing in too much of the gas could cause serious health issues? Well, it is true. So if you find yourself with a sewer gas issue, it is important to fix the problem as soon as possible.
This article from Ask the Builder outlines what you need to know to alleviate your stinky situation.
There are several ways sewer gas may be leaking into your house:
• Through plumbing fixtures whose traps have gone dry or have lost enough water that the water seal within the trap has broken.
• Cracks in either plumbing drain lines or vent pipes.
• Plumbing vent pipes that are clogged may cause problems.
But there is hope. A qualified plumber should be able to easily find the source of your sewer gas leak in as little as an hour’s time, using a machine that generates smoke.
The plumber connects the smoke generation machine to the plumbing drain system and then blocks off the drain pipe leading to the sewer and caps off all roof vent pipes. Once the smoke machine starts, it begins to slightly pressurize the plumbing system. If there is a cracked pipe or a fitting joint that is loose, the smoke readily exits at that point before it would bubble up through a fixture trap filled with water. Usually the source of the sewer gas leak can be discovered in less than one hour.
So if you think you have a sewer gas leak in your home, call a professional plumber as soon as you can. The problem can be quickly diagnosed so you can take action.