The smell of rotten eggs or raw sewage throughout an office or school could be sign of sewer odors leaking into a facility. Below are several tips on how to detect sewer odors in your facility, according to tips provided by Waterless Co.—a manufacturer of drain and pipe products—that were published by Health Care Facilities Today.
- Identify the smell. Sewer odors are caused by a combination of compounds like hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ammonia, which creates the powerful scent.
- Find the source. Odors can appear from a variety of places. Blocked air vents can prevent odors from leaving the building; a damaged drain line can leak sewage and thus, the odor. Additionally, a dry trap, the U-shaped pipe which connects the drain to a sewer line, can become odorous if it dries out when left unused.
- Fix the problem. In some cases, removing sewer odors can be as simple as cleaning out a blocked vent or pouring water down a smelly drain. However, a cracked drain line may require help from a professional plumber.
Posted On February 28, 2017
