Shower Drain Smells Like Sewage? The Tempe Bathroom Problem Most Homeowners Misdiagnose

Shower Drain Smells Like Sewage? The Tempe Bathroom Problem Most Homeowners Misdiagnose

When you walk into the bathroom and smell sewage, it’s unpleasant. Whether your shower drain smells like sewage or your bathtub drain smells like sewage, you may worry it’s a major problem or expensive repair. Sometimes, it is. However, in most cases, the problem is easier to fix.

Why Sewage Smells Come Through Bathroom Drains

Every drain in your home connects to the plumbing system, which eventually connects to the city’s main sewer lines running through your neighborhood. To prevent sewer gases from backing up int your home, plumbing systems use a curved pipe to trap the gases, called a T-trap.

You may have noticed the curved section of pipes underneath your sink. That’s the P-trap and there’s one built into your toilets, shower drains, and bathtubs drains, too. The curve keeps a small amount of water in it to form a seal that the sewer gas odor doesn’t flow freely back into your home.

However, if the water dries out, you may find your shower drain smells like sewage.

This is common in Arizona, particularly in bathrooms that aren’t used as often. We see this often in guest bathrooms and vacation home where the water evaporates and the water barrier disappears, allowing the sewer gases to get into your home.

Sometimes, the fix is as simple as running more water down the drain for a few minutes to refill the P-trap and reform the seal. If that gets rid of the small, great! If tour shower or bathtub drain smells like sewage still or the smell comes back in a few days, it may not be as simple to fix.

The Smell May Not Be Sewer Gas

Over time, the inside of a shower drain develops a layer of organic buildup known as biofilm from

• Soap residue
• Hair
• Body oils
• Bacteria
• Organic debris

As biofilm builds up, it can smell a bit like sewage. Simply running the water down the drain won’t get rid of this gunk.

Hard Water Makes the Problem Worse

While the water is safe to drink, Tempe water quality reports show elevated levels of dissolved minerals that contribute to hard water conditions. Over time, these minerald build up inside your drains and plumbing system. This traps hair, soap, and other material more easily. So, that bathroom smell may linger because of years of mineral scale inside your pipes.

When the Problem Is Actually a Plumbing Vent Issue

You may not even know you have a venting system attached to your plumbing, but every home has vents that extend through your roof. They allow air into you pipes so your drain flow properly and also provide a safe path for any sewer gas to vent outside.

If your vent’s blocked, though, the sewer gas may not make it outside.

When Sewage Odors Point to a Bigger Sewer Problem

While many bathroom odors have relatively simple explanations, some situations require a closer look. Here are some of the most common symptoms and the possible cause.

When It’s Time to Call a Plumber

If you’ve tried refilling the P-trap and the smell keeps coming back, it’s time to get a professional evaluation. There may be something deeper within your plumbing system that needs some attention.

In Tempe, you can trust George Brazil Plumbing & Electrical for all your plumbing needs. You get fast services from a team of professional plumbers that you can trust. Serving Tempe and the entire Phoenix are for more than 35 years, George Brazil has built a reputation of honest, quality work and transparent pricing.

When you call for service, the professionals at George Brazil will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your drain issue, using sewer line camera inspection when needed. Depending on the problem, they will recommend the most effective cleaning method, which may include high-pressure hydro jetting to clear your pipes. You get complete removal and cleaning, and testing to make sure the problem is solved.

Schedule same-day service with George Brazil today and get your bathroom smelling clean and fresh again.

Caesar