Hi, we are currently in the process of renting a house. Upon walk-through we discover a bedroom closet that had a strong methane gas odor coming from plumbing pipes inside of the closet. The RealEstate PM has sent a handy man to the house several time to resolve the issue. I have requested a certified plumber to address the issue due to its hazards. Please advise us on to weather or not this is necessary?
I do have photos and would like to post
Thanks so much

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if a real plumber comes out, you will get alot better advice than having us guess from thousands of miles away..

Not to take anything away from Packy's advice to call one of his union brothers, let me point out that if indeed you really have sewer gas in your house it's usually one of 2 reasons:

1. Trap not full of water (usually if house was empty for extended period of time). Run water in all sinks tubs, etc. don't forget to pour some water in the floor drains too.

2. A drain pipe is broken and leaking gas. If the smell is strongest in that room, start checking there. However, it's also possible you smell it in that closet because the door is kept shut, concentrating the gas.

This is pretty basic tho so if a handyman can't resolve it after multiple visits damn right you need a real plumber!

Thanks
Actually if I might explain: in the closet there are 3 pipes coming out of tha wall and a hole 4-5" hole above near ceiling. It looks like it may have been a bathroom at one time. I will try to post a pics. It looks like a copper water line a vent and perhaps a drainpipe. The PM said that the handyman has capped what looks like the vent and my concern is wether or not the problem was diagnosed properly and repaired properly as well.

[i1381.photobucket.com]
Please view pics
Thanks

[i1381.photobucket.com]
Please see pics
Thanks

Wow.

Looks to me like this closet used to have a washer and dryer in it based on the second photo of that 4" vent up top.

Possibly the stacked kind (dryer standing on top of washer)

Otherwise the pipes look like sink plumbing.

That drain pipe (larger one on bottom) needs to be capped off.

It looks to me from your pics like it's just hanging there.

Palm329 (VA).. although I subscribe to the "measure twice and cut once" theory, I am not union.

Packy sorry, was my belief that you had to be union to work in MA?

don't be sorry.. be glad you moved away after last winter.