On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:33:29 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:


"Pete C." wrote in message
nster.com...

Bob-tx wrote:

In one of our three bathrooms, we have a slight sewer gas odor.
But, even a slight sewer gas odor is unpleasant, so I need to fix
it.

The odor is not coming through the shower or lavatory drains,
but from the commode area. We have tried airing out the room,
then not using this bathroom for two or three days, but the odor
remains. The toilet bowl holds the normal level of water, so
I don't think it is coming up through there.

The only thing I can think of is the wax ring must have deteriorated,
although I have not ever heard of this happening. Our house is
sixteen years old, and we have lived in much older houses, and
never had to replace a wax ring.

I don't think it makes any difference, but we are on a septic system
since we are outside city limits. The system is working properly, and
has recently been pumped out. This did not have any effect on the
odor.

I'm too old and stiff to tackle the job of changing the wax ring myself,
but wonder about how long of a job this might be since I'll hire it out.

All comments welcome and appreciated.

Bob-tx



If it's just a wax ring issue, it's under an hour to replace, if a
problem is found such as a crack in the waste pipe it could take a lot
longer.

OR a blocked vent forcing the smell up through any escape that is available.

Check and see if the odor is coming from the sink or bath tub drain.
We bought a new house in Lexington, KY an within a month or so we were
smelling a sewer gas type odor around the sinks. The plumber came back
to check for the problem. He said that it was quiet common for the
traps to have a bacteria growth that smell like sewer gas. He
suggested using Listerine, however I used chlorine bleach. I kept a
plastic squirt bottle filled with bleach and would squirt about a
table spoon full in the drains as needed.