Moved into a fifteen year old house two years ago, and began noticing
a smell that permeated the first floor. Kind of smelled like wet
socks. First we thought it was a dead mouse in a vent or wall. At
different times, we thought we tracked it down to: water collecting
under the refigerator, water collecting under a wash basin, and
drains, drains, drains. I can smell it coming from at least two,
maybe three drains, including the upstairs shower drain. I can
especially notice it in the morning when first walking downstairs. If
you really want it to stink go away for a good week.

What would be causing such a smell, and not just in one drain, but
several? Mold?

We have tried the bleach, baking soda and vinegar trick. They seemed
to help, but for a week at most.

I've surfed through previous posts, but they all seem to prescribe the
above. Does anyone have any further insights?

Thank you for your time,

Brian

On 29 May 2004 07:25:18 -0700, (Dena) wrote:

What would be causing such a smell, and not just in one drain, but
several? Mold?

We have tried the bleach, baking soda and vinegar trick. They seemed
to help, but for a week at most.

I've surfed through previous posts, but they all seem to prescribe the
above. Does anyone have any further insights?

Get a plumber to ream out _all_ the drains - I'll bet they are just
full of nasty hair and such. Once they are cleaned out, regularly use
an enzyme treatment (the type intended for septic systems). It will
help keep the nasties at bay.



John Davies
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

Dena wrote:
Moved into a fifteen year old house two years ago, and began noticing
a smell that permeated the first floor. Kind of smelled like wet
socks. First we thought it was a dead mouse in a vent or wall. At
different times, we thought we tracked it down to: water collecting
under the refigerator, water collecting under a wash basin, and
drains, drains, drains. I can smell it coming from at least two,
maybe three drains, including the upstairs shower drain. I can
especially notice it in the morning when first walking downstairs. If
you really want it to stink go away for a good week.

What would be causing such a smell, and not just in one drain, but
several? Mold?

We have tried the bleach, baking soda and vinegar trick. They seemed
to help, but for a week at most.

I've surfed through previous posts, but they all seem to prescribe the
above. Does anyone have any further insights?

Thank you for your time,

Brian


probably hair, soap scum, dead skin cells, etc. Bacteria builds up and
causes a black slime. For drains under bathroom vanities and kitchen
sinks, you can remove the p or s trap and clean it out, then reassemble.
Gets messy though but worth the results. Garbage disposals are prone
to smells too, I never use mine though and it smells fresh!

Dena wrote:

Moved into a fifteen year old house two years ago, and began noticing
a smell that permeated the first floor. Kind of smelled like wet
socks. First we thought it was a dead mouse in a vent or wall. At
different times, we thought we tracked it down to: water collecting
under the refigerator, water collecting under a wash basin, and
drains, drains, drains. I can smell it coming from at least two,
maybe three drains, including the upstairs shower drain. I can
especially notice it in the morning when first walking downstairs. If
you really want it to stink go away for a good week.

What would be causing such a smell, and not just in one drain, but
several? Mold?

We have tried the bleach, baking soda and vinegar trick. They seemed
to help, but for a week at most.

I've surfed through previous posts, but they all seem to prescribe the
above. Does anyone have any further insights?

Thank you for your time,

Brian

Yes, mold. Especially bad in houses with well water.
The water in each trap protects you from sewer gases
and mold odors generated *downstream* of the trap,
but the short sections *above* the trap can hold lots
of mucky mold-friendly stuff.

Like you, I've found that dumping bleach down helps
for a short time; then the stuff grows right back.
That's because the muck (mostly soap scum) is till there.
The fix is to take apart the drain pipe above the trap
inlet and scrub inside with a small brush or pull a rag
thru soaked in bleach.

For the shower drain, take the cover off and use a toothbrush
to clean the sides of the pipe all the way to the water level
in the trap.

If you still have an odor problem (especially around a bathroom),
there may be a toilet seal not sealed perfectly or (less likely)
a broken vent pipe, etc.

Jim

In article , (Dena) wrote:
Moved into a fifteen year old house two years ago, and began noticing
a smell that permeated the first floor. Kind of smelled like wet
socks. First we thought it was a dead mouse in a vent or wall. At
different times, we thought we tracked it down to: water collecting
under the refigerator, water collecting under a wash basin, and
drains, drains, drains. I can smell it coming from at least two,
maybe three drains, including the upstairs shower drain. I can
especially notice it in the morning when first walking downstairs. If
you really want it to stink go away for a good week.

What would be causing such a smell, and not just in one drain, but
several? Mold?

Could be sewer gases coming back up through the traps.

We have tried the bleach, baking soda and vinegar trick. They seemed
to help, but for a week at most.

You may have a clogged vent stack, and the traps are drying out because air is
being sucked through the traps instead of through the vent.

Thanks for all the replies.

You've given me some leads that I can work on.

Brian

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