Common causes
- Dry floor drain trap
- Unused basement shower or sink
- Loose toilet seal
- Cracked vent or drain pipe
- Blocked plumbing vent on the roof
What to try
- Pour water into every floor drain and unused fixture.
- Add a little vegetable oil on top to slow evaporation.
- Rock each toilet gently and look for damp grout at its base.
- Look for wet spots around drain pipes.
When to call
If the smell stays after refilling traps, there may be a cracked pipe or vent problem. A smoke test can find it.
The roof vent
Every drain system has a vent pipe through the roof. If birds, leaves or ice block it, drains glug and traps can be sucked dry, letting gas in. In Brampton winters, frost can close a vent opening during long cold snaps. If the smell comes and goes with cold weather or wind, the vent is a likely suspect.
A smell only after a long weekend away usually means dry traps. A smell that hangs around every day, worst near one wall, suggests a cracked pipe or a failed seal that needs proper testing.
Rather hand it over? Our plumbers handle backflow prevention testing and drain cleaning along with everything else on our residential plumbing list.