Bad smell - what could it be?
 

My house is approximately 1 year old and I had it built myself. I
hired all the subs to do the work. Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside. I thought a contractor may
have left me a "present" in a vent in that bathroom but the smell is
only noticeable when it rains. Can someone give me clue as what/where
this could be coming from? There's a pedestal sink and toilet in the
powder room. My HVAC & plumber contractor has gone belly-up so I
can't call him to come smell out the culprit.

Thanks,
tired-of-the-stink!

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

writes:

My house is approximately 1 year old and I had it built myself. I
hired all the subs to do the work. Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside. I thought a contractor may
have left me a "present" in a vent in that bathroom but the smell is
only noticeable when it rains.

Present could be in the stack pipe. Stack pipes are often straight
shots out open to the rain. Hop on the roof, hold your breath and
have a peek down.

But then again, if all your sinks and plumbing fixtures have P traps
and are vented to the stack no smell in teh stack should hit the
interior of the house. So much for that theory.

Hrmm.

--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

We had this same problem in our house -- yes, the smell is awful.
Turned out to be septic gases backing up. Our septic tank was full and
the gases had no where to go but back up into the bathroom. The vent in
the yard was blocked as well. After we had the tank pumped out - no
more problem.

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

wrote:
We had this same problem in our house -- yes, the smell is awful.
Turned out to be septic gases backing up. Our septic tank was full and
the gases had no where to go but back up into the bathroom. The vent in
the yard was blocked as well. After we had the tank pumped out - no
more problem.


Thank for the 2 excellent suggestions. Anything so I don't have to rip
up my beuatiful hardwoods is a blessing.

Thanks

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside.

My wife complains of a similar problem, rain or shine. Seems to happen
about 6:30 every morning


Can someone give me clue as what/where
this could be coming from? There's a pedestal sink and toilet in the
powder room. My HVAC & plumber contractor has gone belly-up so I
can't call him to come smell out the culprit.

I'd still guess a blockage someplace. Traps should stop it, but if there is
a pressure buildup it may be possible to force some gasses through. Could
even be a combination of blocked vent and overfilled septic. Is it
possible that rain is getting into the septic system and overfilling it?

If you have town sewer, disregard suggestions above.

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:20:23 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


wrote in message
oups.com...
Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside.

My wife complains of a similar problem, rain or shine. Seems to happen
about 6:30 every morning


And what time do you wake up?
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

Todd H. wrote:
writes:


My house is approximately 1 year old and I had it built myself. I
hired all the subs to do the work. Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside. I thought a contractor may
have left me a "present" in a vent in that bathroom but the smell is
only noticeable when it rains.


Present could be in the stack pipe. Stack pipes are often straight
shots out open to the rain. Hop on the roof, hold your breath and
have a peek down.

But then again, if all your sinks and plumbing fixtures have P traps
and are vented to the stack no smell in teh stack should hit the
interior of the house. So much for that theory.

Hrmm.

--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

Only smells when it rains? Very odd. What does it smell like?
Sewage/rotten eggs? Musty/moldy?

Sewer gas can back up if a sink or tub is not used often and water in
the trap dries up. Construction worker left his lunch on a rafter in
the attic?

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:37:37 -0700, Abe wrote:

Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside.
My wife complains of a similar problem, rain or shine. Seems to happen
about 6:30 every morning
And what time do you wake up?
I would guess between 6:00 and 6:29

I thought he might say 7:00, but he never got that far.
--
Oren

"Well, it doesn't happen all the time, but when it happens, it happens constantly."

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:37:37 -0700, Abe wrote:

Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside.
My wife complains of a similar problem, rain or shine. Seems to happen
about 6:30 every morning
And what time do you wake up?
I would guess between 6:00 and 6:29

Stop eating beans before bed and you wont fart when you get out of
bed. The average man who eats beans before bed develops 150 to 220 lbs
of gas pressure while sleeping. Upon waking this is released.

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

if the vent is next to the room vent,maybe its coming down the room
vent.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

Bad smell - what could it be?
 

....and you know this how?

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:37:37 -0700, Abe wrote:

Unfortunately, recently, I've
noticed an awful smell in and around the powder room. This smell is
only noticeable if it is raining outside.
My wife complains of a similar problem, rain or shine. Seems to happen
about 6:30 every morning
And what time do you wake up?
I would guess between 6:00 and 6:29

Stop eating beans before bed and you wont fart when you get out of
bed. The average man who eats beans before bed develops 150 to 220 lbs
of gas pressure while sleeping. Upon waking this is released.

Bad smell - what could it be?