odor in shower stall

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#1

Originally Posted By: kbliss
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I have a problem with my own house. I get an odor from my shower drain after a shower. I have run a garden hose down my vent stack and this has helped. I think I`m getting a build up of a combination of different things in the air gap? We have three cats and that means hair on everything and plus I have a lawn care business right now and have a lot of grass on my clothes. So what do you think.


Kurt Bliss

#2

Originally Posted By: rmeyers
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Kurt,


Sounds like a possible problem with the trap not holding water. Thus allowing sewer gases to back up into the house. Do we have access to the area below the shower or are we on a slab? A description or pic of the trap configuration may allow one of our members with a plumbing background to give us a more detailed analysis of what's happening.

(Do plumbers ever become HI's or is that considered a step down for them ![icon_question.gif](upload://t2zemjDOQRADd4xSC3xOot86t0m.gif) )

--
Russ Meyers

#3

Originally Posted By: kbliss
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Russell


Ya its definitely a trap problem. I ran my garden hose down the vent stack as far as the hose could go and ran it for a few minutes and this stops the problem for a while. My home is on a slab but I have an access panel to the drain where the washer drain goes into the trap. I just need to move washer and Ill take a picture. I never liked the way the county had the plumber plumb that in the first case.


I built the house nine years ago and the plumber had that area all plumbed and the county made him put an access panel there to clean the trap. I need to investigate it.


Thanks Kurt Bliss

#4

Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Kurt,


Econo size draino and let it sit at least 24 to 48 hours. Then run the hose right down the drain and let her go. If the water starts pushing back up stuff a rag or something around the hose.

Works every time.

Joe Myers

#5

Originally Posted By: ecrofutt
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Joe’s advice sounds okay if the drain isn’t draining. I prefer mechanical drain cleaning rather than chemical, but that’s just a choice thing. You could also get a bulb that attaches to the end of the hose, expands when you turn on the water and keeps the hose in place and water from coming back up. The grass and cat hair would contribute to clogging the drain and stopping water from leaving the shower. Not really applicable to your situation.


With the problem being the trap not holding water to prevent the sewer gases from backing thru the trap, it's more likely you have a problem in your vent. That would allow the water to be sucked out of the trap.

I'd focus on the vent issue. Maybe run the same hose, with the bulb on it, down the vent stack and try to blow it out.



Extract from:


http://www.pcaofchicago.com/traps2.html



There are other ways by which a trap can lose its water seal. One is self- siphonage; a natural phenomena which sucks that water out of the trap because the fixture is not properly vented. You’ll recognize this plumbing ailment by the loud “swoosh” which accompanies the departure of the water. Another trap-drainer is called assisted-siphonage, resulting from suction built up when the water from another waste pipe flows too close to the fixture trap. Both are problems for your licensed Plumbing Contractor



You mentioned you have to remove the washing machine to get to the access. Is your washing machine running when this happens. That could contribute to the "assisted-siphonage" thing.

Good Luck,

--
Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, Kentucky
www.b4uclose.com

#6

Originally Posted By: kbliss
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Erby,


It sounds like an assisted siphoning. The washer isn`t aleays running when this happens but come to think of it it is worse when it has recently run. Could the hose be too tight of a fit in the waste drain?


If I run the garden hose down the stack that usually works. The washer drain is also higher than the shower. Both drains are corrected. hope this helps and thanks for the help so far.


Kurt Bliss

#7

Originally Posted By: ecrofutt
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As I understand “assisted siphoning”.


The water from the washing machine going down the drain passes the pipe where the shower enters the drain creating a suction that pulls the water out of the shower trap.

Kinda like the drafting used by race cars where the first car kinda sucks the second car along. Not a real good analogy, but the closest I can come this morning. It's all about air pressure.

Perhaps re plumbing to move the washer drain entry to the drain line downstream of the shower drain. Bummer that its on a slab as that makes it more difficult.

Until you get a permanent fix, just dribble some water down the shower drain to refill the trap.

--
Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, Kentucky
www.b4uclose.com

#8

Originally Posted By: kbliss
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Erby,


Thanks for the help. Could weather conditions ever play a part in this problem. Maybe just my imagination but when the weather warms up it seems to start then, but then again I am mowing more.


Thanks Kurt Bliss

PS whish I could get busy enough with HI so I can sell my lawn business.

#9

Originally Posted By: kbliss
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Erby,


I almost forgot sometimes when the washer is running, I`m not sure in what cycle but the commode that is in the bathroom will gurgle or make a bubble sound.


Kurt Bliss

#10

Originally Posted By: jmyers
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Kurt,


It defenitely sounds like Erby is correct on this one. If you take notice the toilet water level will actually go down, usually it will do it on the spin cycle.

Joe Myers

#11

Originally Posted By: ecrofutt
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Hmmm, shower, toilet, & washing machine on a slab ALL having or contributing to the problem?


Sounds like it's time to get a real plumber in there!

And, NO, the grass isn't causing orcontgributing to the problem. It's all in the venting *& air pressure.

--
Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, Kentucky
www.b4uclose.com