Hello, my name is Lelani O’Malley. Welcome to my website about keeping your plumbing system in great shape. When I bought my first home, I was shocked to learn that it was built in the early 1900s. Another shocking discovery awaited as I learned that the plumbing system remained from its original build. Upon learning those facts, I dedicated my time to learning how to keep that system in great condition. I developed this website to bring that knowledge to you as well. I want to help all my readers maintain their existing plumbing system for years to come. Thank you for coming by.
Diagnostic Tips For Plumbing Odors
No one wants to live in a smelly house, yet you might be forced to do that if your plumbing system smells, and you haven't identified the source of the smell. Below are some of the tips you can use to track such an odor.
Isolate the Odor
A helpful trick is to go around the house and try to isolate the odor. You should know whether the odor is affecting the whole house and where it is strongest or weakest. In most cases, the odor will be strongest at the point of origin. To aid you with the isolation, you can close the doors and windows and walk from room to room. Once you narrow it down to a specific room, you can also walk around the room to isolate the odor even further.
List the Potential Sources of Odors
Another option is to list the potential sources of odors in the house and visit them one by one. Some of the common sources of odors include the toilet, the drain openings, the heating and cooling appliances, the vents, garbage disposal, and trash cans, among others. If you are lucky, then you will be able to narrow down the source of the smell to a specific appliance or object and deal with it.
Evaluate Odor History
If you have lived in the house for some time, then you can evaluate the history of odors or plumbing problems in the house to help you with the diagnosis. It might be that you didn't eliminate the problem successfully the last time, or you didn't deal with its root cause.
For example, if your sewer drains have backed up several times in the past, it makes sense to see if they are backed up again. If you have dealt with blocked vents (that also trigger bad smells) in the past, consider checking the vents again.
Check Appliances for Malfunctions
Some plumbing appliances or fixtures also smell when they malfunction. One example is a malfunctioning toilet that might leak and trigger bad odors. Another example is a broken drain or water pipe that is causing a hidden leak or an air conditioner with a blocked condensate drain. Check which of your appliances is not functioning as usual.
Consider the Nature of the Odor
Lastly, the nature of the odor can also point you in the right direction. For example, the refrigerant in your AC has a sweet smell, almost like the coolant you use in your car. Therefore, such a smell might mean you have a refrigerant leak in the house. If the smell is musty, earthy, or meaty, then you are probably dealing with mold (that might point to a hidden leak). Lastly, a rotten egg smell is likely to mean you have sewer gas in your house.
Contact a company like Eddie B Plumbing today to help you deal with the malfunction causing the bad odor once you locate it. A plumber can also help you with the diagnosis if you are unable to locate the source.