Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage

Topic Author
  • Posts: 7
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2 years 10 months ago #55117 by Sherry Tompkins
Update: Forgot to post the outcome! It was the flange! Thank the good lord! Lol…thank you everyone!

Question: Maintenance on PTO and I am trying to avoid a plumber if possible. This unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage. I have checked the drains and they are clear, the p-traps are not dry because there are 3 occupants using 1 bathroom and I checked the clean out just in case. What could be causing this?
2 years 10 months ago #55117 by Sherry Tompkins
Libby Spencer
2 years 10 months ago #55119 by Libby Spencer
Replied by Libby Spencer on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Check floor drains in utility closet and by washer and dryer
2 years 10 months ago #55119 by Libby Spencer
Ramon M Garcia
2 years 10 months ago #55120 by Ramon M Garcia
Replied by Ramon M Garcia on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Heavy use for the toilet could be wearing away at the flange, if it's not sitting correctly and holding the water, the sewage smell could be seeping out from the wax ring area or if bowl isn't holding enough water it could be coming back up through bowl
2 years 10 months ago #55120 by Ramon M Garcia
Chuck Minning
2 years 10 months ago #55121 by Chuck Minning
Replied by Chuck Minning on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Wax ring on toilet?
2 years 10 months ago #55121 by Chuck Minning
HuPerkins Christa
2 years 10 months ago #55122 by HuPerkins Christa
Replied by HuPerkins Christa on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Run a small plastic drain cleaner through the sink and then run hot water for 10mins
2 years 10 months ago #55122 by HuPerkins Christa
Adrianne Luper
2 years 10 months ago #55123 by Adrianne Luper
Replied by Adrianne Luper on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Could be caused by several issues. Vent stack could be cracked/damaged allowing sewer gas in. Could be an issue in another unit connected to this unit and this is where the smell is coming to. Could me a city main line issue (though more units would probably have a problem if it was)
2 years 10 months ago #55123 by Adrianne Luper
Chuck Minning
2 years 10 months ago #55124 by Chuck Minning
Replied by Chuck Minning on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Or could be the line is clogged and needs to be snaked
2 years 10 months ago #55124 by Chuck Minning
Topic Author
  • Posts: 7
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2 years 10 months ago #55125 by Sherry Tompkins
Thanks so much everyone! I actually thought about the flange and then dismissed it. I will pull the toilet and replace flange. Fingers crossed!!!
2 years 10 months ago #55125 by Sherry Tompkins
Brenda Snow Hammett
2 years 10 months ago #55126 by Brenda Snow Hammett
Replied by Brenda Snow Hammett on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Just had this happen to a toilet. The flange was installed at a tilt so it wore out faster smell was very light until the toilet was pulled then it was much stronger
2 years 10 months ago #55126 by Brenda Snow Hammett
Amanda Starch
2 years 10 months ago #55127 by Amanda Starch
Replied by Amanda Starch on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Do you have plank in your bathroom? If not sealed right water can get underneath and smell horrible!!!
2 years 10 months ago #55127 by Amanda Starch
Gene Bennett
2 years 10 months ago #55128 by Gene Bennett
Replied by Gene Bennett on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Molding hair in the sink drain
2 years 10 months ago #55128 by Gene Bennett
Laura Renaldo
2 years 10 months ago #55129 by Laura Renaldo
Replied by Laura Renaldo on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Have had this problem in my house for 3 years!!! Wits end. Pretty sure it’s a busted pipe under the concrete subfloor. Super frustrating.
2 years 10 months ago #55129 by Laura Renaldo
Bonnie Sarah Marie Tinsley
2 years 10 months ago #55130 by Bonnie Sarah Marie Tinsley
Replied by Bonnie Sarah Marie Tinsley on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Get a new synthetic wax ring. Easy to replace with 2nd set of hands.
2 years 10 months ago #55130 by Bonnie Sarah Marie Tinsley
Melissa Block
2 years 10 months ago #55131 by Melissa Block
Replied by Melissa Block on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
RESPECT to you doing everything you can before thinking of calling out a contractor.... so many would say not my job in today's world. This is my I love PROPERTY MANAGEMENT it's where all the die hard good workers end up such great support surrounding us all.
2 years 10 months ago #55131 by Melissa Block
Marylin Evans Alexander
2 years 10 months ago #55132 by Marylin Evans Alexander
Replied by Marylin Evans Alexander on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Had this problem in townhouse style property- cracked sewer pipe under the unit in crawl space.
2 years 10 months ago #55132 by Marylin Evans Alexander
Patrick O'Flynn
2 years 10 months ago #55133 by Patrick O'Flynn
Replied by Patrick O'Flynn on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Not in the bathroom but your condensate drain/stand pipe could be dry allowing smells to come up from the main.
2 years 10 months ago #55133 by Patrick O'Flynn
Manuel Vazquez
2 years 10 months ago #55134 by Manuel Vazquez
Replied by Manuel Vazquez on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
Sounds like a cracked pipe somewhere
2 years 10 months ago #55134 by Manuel Vazquez
Rachelle
2 years 9 months ago #55398 by Rachelle
Replied by Rachelle on topic Unit has 1 bathroom and it smells like sewage
First, I would clean the sink P-trap you cannot believe what I have pulled out of there and it was stinky.  If that's not it and the unit is on the bottom floor, you could have a cracked or broken sewage pipe in the crawl space, I have that happen a few months ago.  

Good luck.
2 years 9 months ago #55398 by Rachelle