A dried-out trap
Every drain has a curved pipe, the trap, that holds a little water to block sewer gas. In a guest bathroom or a floor drain that rarely gets used, that water can evaporate. Run water for a minute to refill it.
Buildup in the drain
Hair, soap, grease and food collect in the drain and trap and start to rot. Cleaning the trap or having the line cleaned usually fixes it.
The garbage disposal
Food stuck under the rubber splash guard or in the grinding chamber smells bad fast. Clean the splash guard, then run the disposal with cold water and a handful of ice.
A blocked or broken vent
Plumbing vents run up through the roof and let sewer gas escape outside. If a vent is blocked or broken, you may smell sewer gas indoors and hear drains gurgle.
A failed toilet seal
A sewer smell around the base of a toilet can mean the wax ring under it has failed. Resetting the toilet on a new seal fixes it.
A sewer line problem
A sewer smell outside, slow drains throughout the house or gurgling toilets can point to a cracked or blocked sewer line. A camera inspection shows what’s going on.
When to call a plumber
- The smell is a strong sewer smell that doesn’t go away.
- More than one drain smells or drains slowly.
- You hear gurgling when other fixtures drain.
- The smell is coming from around the toilet base.
Tip: A rotten-egg smell near a gas appliance or the gas meter is different. Leave the house and call SoCalGas or 911.