Second Floor Master Bathroom Shower sewer/odor.
#1
08-09-06, 03:07 PM
Second Floor Master Bathroom Shower sewer/odor.
Question: My daughter and husband purchased a house new app. 3 years ago. They have had
a sewer odor in the Master Bathroom in their shower since purchased. They informed the developer many times of this problem. The odor is worse when it is hot inside the house. We can see water in the drain.
We have cleaned the drain very often with bleach and other cleaners and we constantly check for hair and remove it but the smell remains. The developer has ran a snake down the drain, checked it with a camera, and performed a balloon test (water test). The test was ran for 1 1/2 hours. The water dropped 5" overall with him adding water 2 times. The plumbers have smelled the odor but can't find the source of the problem. The vents have been inspected except this shower vent as they can't see it due to the design of the roof. What is your thoughts on the balloon test (water test) mentioned above?
Can you help us with recommending any other types of inspections or tests that can be done on this bathroom shower drain to identify the problem so it can be fixed? The drain line is plastic.
Should we request the developer replace everything the vents, trap and drain line in this bathroom? If yes how do we get them to do this?
We can't stand the smell and we seem to be getting sick more often due to this sewer gas odor. The shower is used daily and we clean the drain regularly. In fact much more often than anyone else dose even the plumers agree that they themselves don't clean their drains this frequently. Something must have been installed wrong with regard to this shower. What are our options to soliving this problem. We are at our wits end and don't want our baby nor us to get sick from the sewer gas smell in our house. Please help!
a sewer odor in the Master Bathroom in their shower since purchased. They informed the developer many times of this problem. The odor is worse when it is hot inside the house. We can see water in the drain.
We have cleaned the drain very often with bleach and other cleaners and we constantly check for hair and remove it but the smell remains. The developer has ran a snake down the drain, checked it with a camera, and performed a balloon test (water test). The test was ran for 1 1/2 hours. The water dropped 5" overall with him adding water 2 times. The plumbers have smelled the odor but can't find the source of the problem. The vents have been inspected except this shower vent as they can't see it due to the design of the roof. What is your thoughts on the balloon test (water test) mentioned above?
Can you help us with recommending any other types of inspections or tests that can be done on this bathroom shower drain to identify the problem so it can be fixed? The drain line is plastic.
Should we request the developer replace everything the vents, trap and drain line in this bathroom? If yes how do we get them to do this?
We can't stand the smell and we seem to be getting sick more often due to this sewer gas odor. The shower is used daily and we clean the drain regularly. In fact much more often than anyone else dose even the plumers agree that they themselves don't clean their drains this frequently. Something must have been installed wrong with regard to this shower. What are our options to soliving this problem. We are at our wits end and don't want our baby nor us to get sick from the sewer gas smell in our house. Please help!
#2
08-09-06, 03:37 PM
Member
JENEAN, welcome to the DIY Forums.
My best guess (since I can't be there) is that there is a break in the vent line. This would allow sewer gas to enter through the walls, not the drainline. Not sure what the wter test was for, but if it went down that much in 1-1/2 hours, something is broke. If you can, block off the shower drain and run a couple inches of water into it. Then release the water and flush the toilet in this room. If you get bubbles in the shower, the vent is at fault. (blocked) Good luck.
My best guess (since I can't be there) is that there is a break in the vent line. This would allow sewer gas to enter through the walls, not the drainline. Not sure what the wter test was for, but if it went down that much in 1-1/2 hours, something is broke. If you can, block off the shower drain and run a couple inches of water into it. Then release the water and flush the toilet in this room. If you get bubbles in the shower, the vent is at fault. (blocked) Good luck.
Last edited by majakdragon; 08-09-06 at 03:59 PM.
#3
08-09-06, 04:00 PM
Second Floor Master Bathroom shower drain oder.
Thanks! We will check the vent out if we can do what you suggested.
Is there any tests like the Smoke test that would help pin point the problem that we could suggest to the developerto run?
What about asking the developer about having an Industrial Hygienistem perform health tests to determine the exact type of odor problem exist?
Is there any tests like the Smoke test that would help pin point the problem that we could suggest to the developerto run?
What about asking the developer about having an Industrial Hygienistem perform health tests to determine the exact type of odor problem exist?
#4
08-09-06, 04:20 PM
Member
Smoke test probably would not work well as the lines are in the wall. I am impressed that your developer is going to the lengths they are. All you can do is ask for specific tests. Sewer gas contains things that can be explosive and/or poisonous. Anything that goes down the drainlines can and will mix with other things to create some pretty bad things. Ammonia and bleach mixed together is lethal. Then there is the possibility that things (gases) from the main sewer line at the street can back-up into your lines. I think I would request an Air Quality test.
