peppermint test/smoke test
Has anybody used a peppermint test or smoke test to find the source of sewer smell in their home?

returnrestoration
in General Discussion 3 years and 3 months ago
2
Please log in, in order to post replies!

cate | 3 years and 3 months ago
string(1) "1" object(WP_User)#4934 (8) { ["data"]=> object(stdClass)#4910 (12) { ["ID"]=> string(6) "176696" ["user_login"]=> string(4) "cate" ["user_pass"]=> string(63) "$wp$2y$10$4JNbGAK5cKoEp6kzsYVSBO7oMZphxvnQPCDInpVARCm3B1Dj6U75i" ["user_nicename"]=> string(4) "cate" ["user_email"]=> string(20) "cate@brownstoner.com" ["user_url"]=> string(0) "" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2017-08-10 14:24:59" ["user_activation_key"]=> string(0) "" ["user_status"]=> string(1) "0" ["display_name"]=> string(13) "Cate Corcoran" ["spam"]=> string(1) "0" ["deleted"]=> string(1) "0" } ["ID"]=> int(176696) ["caps"]=> array(2) { ["administrator"]=> bool(true) ["editor"]=> bool(true) } ["cap_key"]=> string(15) "wp_capabilities" ["roles"]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(13) "administrator" [1]=> string(6) "editor" } ["allcaps"]=> array(191) { ["switch_themes"]=> bool(true) ["edit_themes"]=> bool(true) ["activate_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["edit_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["edit_users"]=> bool(true) ["edit_files"]=> bool(true) ["manage_options"]=> bool(true) ["moderate_comments"]=> bool(true) ["manage_categories"]=> bool(true) ["manage_links"]=> bool(true) ["upload_files"]=> bool(true) ["import"]=> bool(true) ["unfiltered_html"]=> bool(true) ["edit_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_posts"]=> bool(true) ["publish_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_pages"]=> bool(true) ["read"]=> bool(true) ["level_10"]=> bool(true) ["level_9"]=> bool(true) ["level_8"]=> bool(true) ["level_7"]=> bool(true) ["level_6"]=> bool(true) ["level_5"]=> bool(true) ["level_4"]=> bool(true) ["level_3"]=> bool(true) ["level_2"]=> bool(true) ["level_1"]=> bool(true) ["level_0"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_pages"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_pages"]=> bool(true) ["publish_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_users"]=> bool(true) ["create_users"]=> bool(true) ["unfiltered_upload"]=> bool(true) ["edit_dashboard"]=> bool(true) ["update_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["delete_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["install_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["update_themes"]=> bool(true) ["install_themes"]=> bool(true) ["update_core"]=> bool(true) ["list_users"]=> bool(true) ["remove_users"]=> bool(true) ["promote_users"]=> bool(true) ["edit_theme_options"]=> bool(true) ["delete_themes"]=> bool(true) ["export"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Gallery overview"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Use TinyMCE"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Upload images"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage gallery"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage tags"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage others gallery"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Edit album"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Change style"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Change options"]=> bool(true) ["email_users_notify"]=> bool(true) ["email_single_user"]=> bool(true) ["email_multiple_users"]=> bool(true) ["email_user_groups"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Attach Interface"]=> bool(true) ["copy_posts"]=> bool(true) ["ure_edit_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_create_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_delete_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_create_capabilities"]=> bool(false) ["ure_delete_capabilities"]=> bool(false) ["ure_manage_options"]=> bool(false) ["ure_reset_roles"]=> bool(false) ["edit_ads_txt"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_settings"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["read_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["delete_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["edit_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["publish_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_manage_seo"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_general_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_advanced_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_schema_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_social_settings"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_edit_htaccess"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_titles"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_general"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_sitemap"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_404_monitor"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_link_builder"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_redirections"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_role_manager"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_search_console"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_site_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_general"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_advanced"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_snippet"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_social"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_admin_bar"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_analytics"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_content_ai"]=> bool(true) ["srm_manage_redirects"]=> bool(true) ["SPF Manage Analytics"]=> bool(false) ["administrator"]=> bool(true) ["editor"]=> bool(true) } ["filter"]=> NULL ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=> int(1) }
Just saw your post below. So sorry you are having this trouble. Please email me at cate at brownstoner for more info.

cate | 3 years and 3 months ago
string(1) "1" object(WP_User)#4932 (8) { ["data"]=> object(stdClass)#4935 (12) { ["ID"]=> string(6) "176696" ["user_login"]=> string(4) "cate" ["user_pass"]=> string(63) "$wp$2y$10$4JNbGAK5cKoEp6kzsYVSBO7oMZphxvnQPCDInpVARCm3B1Dj6U75i" ["user_nicename"]=> string(4) "cate" ["user_email"]=> string(20) "cate@brownstoner.com" ["user_url"]=> string(0) "" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2017-08-10 14:24:59" ["user_activation_key"]=> string(0) "" ["user_status"]=> string(1) "0" ["display_name"]=> string(13) "Cate Corcoran" ["spam"]=> string(1) "0" ["deleted"]=> string(1) "0" } ["ID"]=> int(176696) ["caps"]=> array(2) { ["administrator"]=> bool(true) ["editor"]=> bool(true) } ["cap_key"]=> string(15) "wp_capabilities" ["roles"]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(13) "administrator" [1]=> string(6) "editor" } ["allcaps"]=> array(191) { ["switch_themes"]=> bool(true) ["edit_themes"]=> bool(true) ["activate_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["edit_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["edit_users"]=> bool(true) ["edit_files"]=> bool(true) ["manage_options"]=> bool(true) ["moderate_comments"]=> bool(true) ["manage_categories"]=> bool(true) ["manage_links"]=> bool(true) ["upload_files"]=> bool(true) ["import"]=> bool(true) ["unfiltered_html"]=> bool(true) ["edit_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_posts"]=> bool(true) ["publish_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_pages"]=> bool(true) ["read"]=> bool(true) ["level_10"]=> bool(true) ["level_9"]=> bool(true) ["level_8"]=> bool(true) ["level_7"]=> bool(true) ["level_6"]=> bool(true) ["level_5"]=> bool(true) ["level_4"]=> bool(true) ["level_3"]=> bool(true) ["level_2"]=> bool(true) ["level_1"]=> bool(true) ["level_0"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_pages"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_pages"]=> bool(true) ["publish_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_posts"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_pages"]=> bool(true) ["delete_users"]=> bool(true) ["create_users"]=> bool(true) ["unfiltered_upload"]=> bool(true) ["edit_dashboard"]=> bool(true) ["update_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["delete_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["install_plugins"]=> bool(true) ["update_themes"]=> bool(true) ["install_themes"]=> bool(true) ["update_core"]=> bool(true) ["list_users"]=> bool(true) ["remove_users"]=> bool(true) ["promote_users"]=> bool(true) ["edit_theme_options"]=> bool(true) ["delete_themes"]=> bool(true) ["export"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Gallery overview"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Use TinyMCE"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Upload images"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage gallery"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage tags"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Manage others gallery"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Edit album"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Change style"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Change options"]=> bool(true) ["email_users_notify"]=> bool(true) ["email_single_user"]=> bool(true) ["email_multiple_users"]=> bool(true) ["email_user_groups"]=> bool(true) ["NextGEN Attach Interface"]=> bool(true) ["copy_posts"]=> bool(true) ["ure_edit_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_create_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_delete_roles"]=> bool(false) ["ure_create_capabilities"]=> bool(false) ["ure_delete_capabilities"]=> bool(false) ["ure_manage_options"]=> bool(false) ["ure_reset_roles"]=> bool(false) ["edit_ads_txt"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_settings"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_source"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_sources"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_source_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_item"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_items"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_item_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklist"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_blacklists"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_blacklist_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["read_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_template"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["publish_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["read_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_private_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_feed_templates"]=> bool(true) ["manage_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["delete_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["assign_feed_template_terms"]=> bool(true) ["edit_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["read_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["delete_shortcoder"]=> bool(true) ["edit_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["edit_others_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["publish_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_published_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["delete_others_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["edit_published_shortcoders"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_manage_seo"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_general_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_advanced_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_schema_settings"]=> bool(true) ["aioseo_page_social_settings"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_edit_htaccess"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_titles"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_general"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_sitemap"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_404_monitor"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_link_builder"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_redirections"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_role_manager"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_search_console"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_site_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_analysis"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_general"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_advanced"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_snippet"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_onpage_social"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_admin_bar"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_analytics"]=> bool(true) ["rank_math_content_ai"]=> bool(true) ["srm_manage_redirects"]=> bool(true) ["SPF Manage Analytics"]=> bool(false) ["administrator"]=> bool(true) ["editor"]=> bool(true) } ["filter"]=> NULL ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=> int(1) }
What seems to be the trouble? We’ve had all sorts of difficulties (and fixes) with strange smells over the years. The spice store at the corner of Rodney and Broadway in Williamsburg sells peppermint oil. I think we did do a peppermint test and didn’t smell the peppermint (and didn’t have a leak). If the bad smell you are getting smells like mushrooms (or sometimes boiling potatoes) it’s probably mold. Even a speck of mold from a previous leak can produce horrible smells when it comes into contact with a drop of water. For example, a drop of water can penetrate the base of a toilet and if it makes contact with mold in the floor, it will smell. If the bad smell smells like a baby’s dirty diaper, it is probably sewer gas. Usually if there is sewer gas you will smell it around the fixture where there is a problem. During this cold weather we’ve been getting a lot of sewer gas smells near a party wall where there is a bathroom on the other side, and occasionally in our own bathroom too. Supposedly cold weather can create downdrafts that push the sewer gas back into the hous e. It can be caused by other issues also, such as a lack of a trap, blocked vent pipe, or leak. If you have an actual leak, you will see the moisture on the ceiling below and/or the oozing, festering, disintegrating pipe and be able to feel that the pipe is wet. It is not subtle.