Sewer Odor & Smoke Testing in Ontario, CA

Signs you may need this

• A rotten-egg or sewage smell that comes and goes
• Odor near a floor drain, laundry or unused bathroom
• Smell after heavy rain or when the AC or fans run
• Odor with no obvious clog

Where sewer smell comes from

Every drain has a trap, a U-shaped bend that holds water and blocks sewer gas. When a trap dries out (a guest shower or floor drain nobody uses), gas comes straight in. Other common causes are a failed wax ring under a toilet, a blocked or broken vent pipe, and cracked drain pipe inside a wall or under the floor.

Try this first

Run water for a minute in every sink, tub, shower and floor drain, including ones you rarely use, and pour a little water into floor drains in garages or laundry rooms. If the smell goes away, a dry trap was likely the cause.

When to call

If the smell persists, a contractor can smoke test the system to find where gas is escaping. Sewer gas contains hydrogen sulfide, which is what gives it the rotten-egg smell. If the smell is strong or anyone feels unwell, get fresh air first. Cracked old pipe found this way may need descaling or lining; a camera inspection confirms it.

Sewer odors in Ontario

Older Ontario homes and commercial buildings with cast iron drains are the most common places to find cracked pipe behind an odor. Smell coming from a street manhole or public sewer, rather than your own plumbing, should be reported to the City of Ontario Municipal Utilities Company.