we've had a problem with a sewer type smell coming out of our bathrooms intermittently. Any ideas why this might happen? Ideas to solve it? Thanks
If it is a house it may be that there is no vent pipe on the toilet drain line, this is common here in older construction. Depending on how it is built it can be a easy fix or complicated.
Where is the smell coming from exactly? Sink, shower, toilet? Both the sink and toilet should have traps (the piping is U-shaped which holds a seal of water to keep smells and such from creeping back through the piping. The shower likely does not have a trap. You can cut down on the smell by placing a tile or rubber mat over the drain when not in use.
If you do have a vent pipe, it may be too short. If possible, slip a piece of a larger size PVC pipe over it to lengthen it. That sometimes takes care of the problem.
Where is the smell coming from exactly? Sink, shower, toilet? Both the sink and toilet should have traps (the piping is U-shaped which holds a seal of water to keep smells and such from creeping back through the piping. The shower likely does not have a trap. You can cut down on the smell by placing a tile or rubber mat over the drain when not in use.
No doubt, this could also be the issue. Many times the toilet drain feeds right into the shower drain with a Y connection in Mexico. And the smell can come right back up from the cesspool, if that's your case, into the shower.
Both the sink and the shower should have a p-trap, the water is trapped in the p-trap and traps the sewer gases from getting back in the house. If the vent is clogged or not correct the vacuum from flushing can suck the water out of the p-trap and allow the sewer gasses to get back in the house.
Both the sink and the shower should have a p-trap, the water is trapped in the p-trap and traps the sewer gases from getting back in the house. If the vent is clogged or not correct the vacuum from flushing can suck the water out of the p-trap and allow the sewer gasses to get back in the house.
SHOULD have a p-trap and that's the problem in Mexico. Many older construction don't have 'em. Crazy.
After all this is Mexico you are talking about, just another turd world country where everything is done half-assed....... DELIBERATELY! If it don't smell like shit you must be somewhere in the FUSA.
Anyone remember not so long ago when the shitters behind the fish monger stalls along the malecon were built so that you pooped down onto the rocks and the wharf rats and high tide swept it away twice a day?
Ah la sabor de Mehico!
Heading down for a long weekend this Thursday. Got some new recipes for grilled and sauteed Razor Clams to try out.
My 1988 Cholla house didn't have a septic vent pipe or a P trap when built.
I had the sewer smell on and off until I re-did the shower, added a P trap and added the vent pipe.
Problem solved.