About speedball1 Expertise About me: My Plumbing Expertise: I retired from plumbing after a lifetime in the trade. all phases from service and upkeep to construction, both residential and commercial. I am qualified to do anything in plumbing from fixing a leaky faucet to drafting a set of plans for a commercial shopping center and supervising the construction. My last five years were spent as a trouble shooter for a large plumbing company. I took on all my companys complaints. I have been a expert on the plumbing page at Askme.com. In a field of 200 experts my rating was number one. You may also find me at Answerway.com and AskMe Help Desk.com. This is fun for me and if I can help anybody out that`s iceing on the cake. Degrees & Certifications: As for degrees, I don`t have any. Just a Journeymans ticket, but hey! How about fifty years experience?
Experience Life Experience? Hmmmmmmm! Ran away at 15 and joined a carnival, Navy at 17 Merchant marine at 19 I've had a hellava life.
Question We have an odor coming from the shower drain it smells like sewer gas.
We can see water in the drain, it diddn't gurgle when toilet was flushed.
We poured 1/2 gallon of bleach down let it set overnight. Flushed with boiling water the next morning. (Did this twice) The odor was gone for a couple of days but then it comes back.
What can we do now? Thank you very much for your help.
Answer Good morning Jackie,
Welcome back. Sorry the bleach wasn't a permanent fix. Shower drain odor is caused by two things. Sewer gas that escapes then the water seal is lowered in the trap by a clogged vent. However, since you've told me you hear no "gurgle" and you see water in the trap then it must be rotting hair mixed with grease from the soap that you smell.
When I get a stubborn case like this I run a snake down the drain to loosen up any hair and grease that may be on the walls of the pipe and then flush it out with boiling water. For good measure, that night I again do the overnight bleach and boiloing water thing. You won't have to run the snake out much over 6 foot to clear the line. Good luck and thanks for the rate. Tom
