Hey everyone, I've got a bit of a problem. We have a large tub and a one-person shower next to each other, but we hardly ever use the tub—just the shower mostly. About 50% of the time after I take a shower, a really unpleasant smell shows up in the bathroom, and it kind of smells like sewer gas. I noticed that if I run the tub faucet for a bit, the smell goes away, but I'm wondering if there's a way to fix this issue so I don't have to deal with it anymore. My house was built in 1996 and is part of a subdivision with about 120 homes.
3 Answers
It sounds like your tub might have its own P trap that's gone dry. If that trap dries out from lack of use, it can definitely let sewer gas into your bathroom. Running water in the tub occasionally can help fill it up and eliminate the smell. Just make sure to keep it filled if you're not using the tub much!
I've also noticed that P traps can dry out quickly if they're not used. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on that.
You might also want to check your vent pipes. A clogged one can cause smells to back up in your drains, especially if you're not hearing any gurgling noises when the water drains. If there's any hair buildup in the drain, that could be rotting and contributing to the smell too!
I haven’t noticed gurgling either, but I’ll definitely look into the vent pipe more. Thanks for the tip!
Yeah, clogged vent pipes can really cause issues. It's worth investigating further!
Another quick fix: if you rarely use the tub, you could plug its drain. This might help keep the P trap from drying up so fast, preventing the gas from coming through it. Just a thought!
Totally agree! I’ve had the same issue with my rarely used shower, and just running the water often has fixed it for me too.