Sewage smell

[P8riot]

I'm getting a smell in the laundry room. I thought it was my wife...but it turns out it is the washer drain! Lol, Im kidding.

There is a P trap that is about 3-4 feet below the washer under the floor. Then there is a 6 foot horizontal run to the main sewer line run, which is also horizontal.

I have read that modern washing machines with their forceful discharge can cause a dry trap. Could I add in another trap in that 6 foot run to the sewer line? It wouldn't be subject to the 4 foot drop and would be under less force and may not be dry. I think this would solve the problem. Is that bad to add a trap like that?

 

[Jackalope]

I have limited knowledge of plumbing but physics dictates that you wouldn't want two traps in a line without venting the section between. You're essentially air locking the middle section which can cause flow and burping issues. I say try pouring bleach down the drain to make sure the smell isn't growth in the drain and line.

 

[P8riot]

Make sense about 2 traps. Didnt think about that.

I have a septic system so my wife is limiting our bleach usage. We just had it pumped 2 months ago. I have read that bleach kills beneficial bacteria in the system.

So I could eliminate that P trap directly below it and just put an elbow there and then put the trap further down the line where there is less force maybe. I could understand not wanting a longer run for a toilet (poop getting stuck before the trap and defeating the purpose) but this is just laundry water.

 

[giles]

Can't you just stuff a rag in the top and call it a day?

I would also think that just moving the trap further down the line would work.

No experience with this, just thinking simple.

 

[mike hunt]

Maybe a dry trap?

 

[P8riot]

Can't you just stuff a rag in the top and call it a day?

I would also think that just moving the trap further down the line would work.

No experience with this, just thinking simple.

They have silicone sleeves on Amazon for dirt cheap. From what I read, sealing that off can cause issues though.

 

[P8riot]

Maybe a dry trap?

I would say it is definitely a dry trap. Caused by water being pushed too hard from the machine and the 4 foot drop leaving the trap dry. I'm just going to eliminate the trap at the bottom of the drain line. It was used as a trap and the 90 degree turn. Too much monentum for the water. I'll move the trap closer to the main sewer line. It makes the most sense.

 

[Big_Holla]

If the air vent out the roof is obstructed it can cause a gulping as the line drains which can empty the P trap.

 

[P8riot]

I have a cluster f#ck of a vent system in the attic. I wouldn't doubt this either.

Upon closer inspection, there appears to be a negative slope on that run to the sewer line. WTF...

At the end of the negative slope, it does drop straight down a foot into the main line, so sewage isn't backing up, but its still not good.

This house is a poster child for the WTF did I just see thread...Don't get me wrong, I love this house. But every week I'm shaking my head at what I see.

 

[P8riot]

 

[Mike]

Smell the water coming out of the washer first.

 

["J"]

Smell the water coming out of the washer first.

Our (Samsung) front loader has a filter with a drain hose. We (me) drain it every couple months and clean the screen filter. Water smells a little like what your probably smelling when I drain it.

 

[P8riot]

This is a top loader, but I will check the manual to see if there is a screen or filter. The washer is only around 6 months old. My wife runs a septic safe cleaning tablet in it once a month because she is a freak about mold.

The smell is pretty much what was coming out of my sump pump basin. I have a bathroom in the basement that uses a solids pump and it wasn't sealed like it is supposed to be. I have sealed that and now I think all that gas is going to the laundry room that isn't sealed/the trap is going dry.

 

["J"]

This is a top loader, but I will check the manual to see if there is a screen or filter. The washer is only around 6 months old. My wife runs a septic safe cleaning tablet in it once a month because she is a freak about mold.

The smell is pretty much what was coming out of my sump pump basin. I have a bathroom in the basement that uses a solids pump and it wasn't sealed like it is supposed to be. I have sealed that and now I think all that gas is going to the laundry room that isn't sealed/the trap is going dry.

Been about 3 months since we’ve (I’ve) done it. With Xmas and all the kids here and lots of laundry being done, I pulled it and this is what it looked like. Probably the worst I’ve seen it so far. But while draining cleaning I did smell the swamp gas smell coming from both the water and filter. But no smell before or after pulling and cleaning it.

 

[Cogz]

Would a check valve help? Just an idea, may not be an airtight seal but should be pretty good. You could get a rubber fernco version, would think before or after trap wouldnt matter but idk

 

[Quantum673]

Little change of topic.
We flush yeast down our toilet every month or so to add bacteria to our septic tank.

 

[P8riot]

Little change of topic.
We flush yeast down our toilet every month or so to add bacteria to our septic tank.

That sounds extremely personal!

Sounds like a good idea though! I'll reseatch it. I did read that the other crap products advertised to help your septic is just gimmicks and natural poop is the best at eating itself. Yeast is natural and a part of our diets.

 

[Big_Holla]

Little change of topic.
We flush yeast down our toilet every month or so to add bacteria to our septic tank.

Note to self: Don't eat any bread Jon brings to Strouds.........

 

[jagermeister]

Don’t waste your money on septic tank “additives.” It’s snake oil. If you’re using the toilets regularly, you’re putting more than enough good bacteria into the system to keep it happy. About the only time I’d say differently is if you’ve used a bunch of harmful cleaners and killed off the bacteria in your tank, or if it’s a seasonal home and you’d like to give it a “jump-start” after being vacant for months.

There’s actually some research that suggests these additives do more harm than good. Some of them can disrupt the normal “settling” nature of the tank, causing suspended solids to exit the tank and lead to premature clogging of leach lines or absorption fields.

just a fyi

 

[Big_Holla]

Only thing I've ever added to our septic system is copper sulfate to kill tree roots that were infiltrating out septic field. One thing about doing that, it slowly kills the trees too Definitely works though.