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Author:
wehr21 (PA)
We bought a newer home (built 2006) and moved in about 3 months ago. We've been noticing a sewer gas smell in the home. It seems to be coming through the heat/air conditioning vents. Also, only seems to do this or smell is just worse when large amounts of water are drained (ie. shower running, washing machine draining). What to do?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
check ac traps to see if they are dried out and go frrom there
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
lefty75 (ID)
condensate drain may be illegally tied into your sewer system somewhere, it would suck in the sewer gases and stink up the place. Ive ran into that once at a big u haul building. AC guys poked a hole in a vent line in the attic and popped the pvc line through threw some silicone around it, no trap, and called it good.
Might not be your problem but something to check.
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Author:
wehr21 (PA)
I've checked the condensate line and it is not tied into the plumbing. Just ran to the outside. Thanks for the feedback.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
Check for a sewer gas leak near the returns then. 9 out of 10 it was the dried out condensate trap in most cases like this.
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Author:
mjb1962853 (NY)
Also check to see if you have any AAVs (air admittance valves or Studor vents) connected to any fixture.
[www.plumbingsupply.com]
If yes, it may be malfunctioning and letting in the bad smell.
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Author:
wehr21 (PA)
I do have a sink that drain which runs through a return a vent. There are a few joints within the vent. How would you check this for a leak?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
peppermint test maybe? if this is pvc pipe it should not be in the return air space in the first place
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
wehr21 (PA)
This is PVC pipe. Is the peppermint test when you flush it and look for the smell in other areas of the house? Or is there a different test? Thanks Again.
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Author:
mjb1962853 (NY)
Sink drain (or waste vent) running throught a section of HVAC air return and the house is new?
I'm not a plumber, but that seems like very poor system planning. If you had a damper on this air return (not likely since they are typicaly in the supply branches) you could try to close it for awhile to see if the odor stopped. Even if this wasn't the source of your current problem, I would look for a way to separate these 2 systems from each other.
The drain-waste-vent pipe system should have been pressure tested for leaks when your new house was being built. That doesn't always catch the occasional nail (or screw) driven through the pipe. When the nail rusts away, it leaves a hole for the bad stuff to come through. Pressure testing again would verify a leak, but may be difficult now that all the fixtures are installed.
As suggested, peppermint test could work and may be the easiest first step.
See this link for example problem/possible solution:
[www.bobvila.com]
Edited 1 times.
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