Cause of Smell?
This is a photo of the plumbing in my basement before placing the sheetrock. Can anyone tell if anything they see from this photo could be causing a sewer like smell?
This is a photo of the plumbing in my basement before placing the sheetrock. Can anyone tell if anything they see from this photo could be causing a sewer like smell?
“I could see the potential for the rush of running water from the existing washer drain to pull the water from the sink trap anyway.”
That’s why there are things identified by the Code called sud zones that we plumbers take into consideration when piping stuff like this.
There’s more to the trade of plumbing than people tend to think. Maybe that’s why there’s so much cruddy work out there…
I am not a plumber, but… Couldn’t this whole thing be solved by re-installing slop/utility sink with proper p-trap and then stop using the in wall washer drain completely by placing the machine’s drain hose into sink? You could cap off the drain and leave it in place as a future cleanout for a snake. This depends on whether there is sufficient room for water to drain with out venting. How close is this set up to the main stack?
I could see the potential for the rush of running water from the existing washer drain to pull the water from the sink trap anyway.
…clarification,
the “pvc adapter” I was talking about above is available at home depot or any plumbing supply.
Examining the photo closely, I’m seeing a washer drain adjacent to the fawcet base, if that isn’t sealed, all the sewer gasses from the sewer main there will simply seep back into the laundry room. Unless the drain tube leading from the washer is sealed very tightly at that point of entry into the sewer main, gases will seep out. I belive there is a PVC adapter from the washer drain tube to the 3″-4″ sewer main line. Look for it and make sure it’s sealed.
I’m seeing the end of the sewer main on the left of the photo, I hope that is capped off tightly since that is an obvious source of methane gas, so make sure that’s capped.
Finally, I agree with the previous posters above about the need for a U-trap, preferrably attached to the end of the sewer main on the left and perhaps leading up to a vent as DIBS mentioned. Of course the other line leading from the sink needs a U-trap.
Good luck.
Thank you very much for your suggestions!
Run the capped off pipe on the left up vertically and put a provent on the top. Check it all for leaks and make sure you install both a sink and a washer trap. Make sure the washer trap seals the waste pipe shown and not just inserted & loose.
the smell is most likely coming from the washing machine drain, since there is no trap. lack of a vent is a seperate issue. make sure there is no mold either, aside from it being smelly it may be getting you sick as well.
two words..
vintage poomist
*rob*
looks like the washing machine drain is acting as a vent for the sink trap!