Emergency Plumber in Marietta, GA for Urgent Plumbing Problems

A strange smell is one of the harder emergency plumbing calls to judge, because two very different problems can smell almost alike. Natural gas carries an added odorant that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur, and sewer gas from a drain has a similar sulfur note. In a Marietta home the response to each is completely different, so the first job is deciding which one you might have. A possible gas leak comes before any plumbing question; once gas is ruled out, Alpha Plumbing and Sewer can be called 24/7 about the drains.

If there is any chance it is gas

Treat an odor near the range, the furnace, the water heater, the dryer or the gas meter as a gas leak until someone qualified says otherwise. Get everyone out of the house. Do not flip light switches, unplug appliances, light anything or start a car in an attached garage. Once outside and away from the building, call the gas utility or 911. Plumbing questions can wait until the gas side has been checked and cleared.

Signs the smell is coming from a drain

Sewer odor tends to be strongest at one fixture or one room, and it often changes with water use. It may rise from a floor drain, a shower nobody uses, the base of a toilet or a cabinet under a sink. Gurgling in drains, slow fixtures or a whiff after a washer drains all point toward the drain system. Even so, if you cannot place the smell with confidence, call the gas utility first.

Common sources of a sewer smell

• A dry trap. Every drain has a curved section that holds a little water to block sewer gas. In a guest bath, basement shower or floor drain that sits unused, that water evaporates.
• A failed toilet seal. Odor right at the base, sometimes with moisture after flushing.
• A blocked or damaged vent. The vent pipes through the roof let the drain system breathe; when one is clogged, fixtures gurgle and traps can be siphoned dry.
• A cracked drain pipe or loose cleanout cap. Gas escapes into a wall, crawlspace or basement.
• The start of a backup. A main line that is partly blocked can push odor up before it pushes water.

When a sewer smell is urgent

A faint smell from one unused drain can usually be handled by running water into it. Call for help soon if the odor is strong through the whole house, if it comes with sewage at a drain or on the floor, if several fixtures gurgle or back up together, or if it returns within a day of refilling the traps. Open windows to air the house out while you wait.

How the source gets found

The plumber starts with the easy checks: traps, toilet seals and cleanout caps. When the leak is not obvious, a smoke test can help, sending harmless smoke into the drain system so it shows where gas is escaping. A sewer camera inspection shows cracks, separated joints and blockages inside the lines. A cracked section inside the house is handled through drain repair, while a problem in the line to the street points to main sewer line repair.

Marietta city limits and permits

Before any permitted repair, confirm whether the property is actually inside Marietta; the city's homeowner permit page explains how the county parcel record shows it. Inside the city, the building division generally requires a plumbing permit for work on the plumbing system, water supply and sewer lines included, and the professional doing the work applies for it rather than the homeowner.

Questions about odors in Marietta homes

Why does the guest bathroom smell like sewage when nobody uses it?

The water in its drain traps has probably evaporated. Run the sink and shower for a minute and flush the toilet, and the smell should fade within a short time. If it comes back in a day or two, a trap may be leaking or a vent may be pulling it dry. Running water through rarely used drains every couple of weeks prevents the problem.

Can a blocked roof vent cause a sewer smell?

Yes. Leaves, nests or debris in a vent stop air from entering the drain system, so draining water pulls air through the nearest trap instead and empties it. The signs are gurgling, slow drains and odor that returns after you refill the trap. Clearing a vent means working on the roof, which is best left to a professional.

Should I call the gas company if I am not sure which smell it is?

Yes. Gas utilities ask people to report suspected leaks even when they are unsure, and you lose nothing by ruling gas out first. Leave the house before you call. Once the utility confirms there is no gas leak, a plumber can trace the odor through the drains, traps and vents.

Gas ruled out, smell still there

Reach Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 and describe which rooms smell worst and when.