Contents
Content Summary:
- When your basement smells of sewage, you know how unpleasant and uncomfortable it is to be in that area of your house.
- Consider that sewage backup develops harmful mold growth.
- There are many explanations as to why your basement smells like sewage.
- The damage to the home’s sewer line could come from a different reason, specifically, a cracked or broken pipe.
- The best solution is to call a professional.
What Happens If I Smell Sewage?
Sewage gas produces a disagreeable and irritable odor. When your basement smells of sewage, you know how unpleasant and uncomfortable it is to be in that area of your house. It might sound strange, but this odor is not that much of a problem. After all, if the only room that smells like sewage is your basement, it means you are still on time to put a stop to it before it reaches other areas of your home.
Indeed, sewage smell can spread and invade your kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. But even if the smell doesn’t infest the entire house and stays inside the basement, new and more dangerous problems could arise. For example, sewage gas contains Hydrogen sulfide, which is toxic to the human body.
In small amounts, gas cannot harm your health. However, you might experience unpleasant symptoms, like headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and fatigue. We strongly encourage you to tackle the problem as soon as possible.
Consider that sewage backup develops harmful mold growth. Moisture and mold will damage your health, and allergic or asthmatic people could face certain respiratory problems. Owners that are not allergic to mold will probably contract other problems. For instance, mold exposure aggravates the skin, the eyes, the lungs, and the throat.
Where Does the Smell Come From?
There are many explanations as to why your basement smells like sewage. The most common problem is a drain in the basement fixtures – for example, the toilet or sink. Not to mention, floor drains are also a potential factor, especially if the area you live in is prone to downpours and floods.
The damage to the home’s sewer line could come from a different reason, specifically, a cracked or broken pipe. It is not the most likely scenario, but it should be considered. Last, although not a potential problem, poor ventilation does not help.
What You Can Do
Enough with the problems – let’s see what you can do to get rid of this threat.
Although you can do certain tasks like dropping clean water down the drain to reseal the pipe, using a household cleaner to eliminate the smell, or using a plunger to de-clog the drain, we highly encourage you to leave everything in the hands of professionals. The best solution is to call a professional.
Even if you feel unable to deal with these problems, it is not wise to work on your own. After all, you need to detect the cause of the problem to get rid of the smell and avoid it coming back. It is no easy task since the reasons for the sewage odor are plenty. Professionals will immediately recognize the source of the problem and fix it accordingly.
In addition, you risk worsening the situation. If you try to reseal the pipe by throwing water, it might backfire and flood the basement. Also, using cleaning detergents to mask the smell is not a long-term solution; it’s merely a temporary quick fix.
Cleaning a basement and getting rid of the sewage smell is tough. It requires cleaning, inspecting, disinfecting, sanitizing, washing, and drying. When counting on professional help, you the job will be handled perfectly, and you are not risking your health or your family’s well-being.
Look at our directory of amazing home service professionals and start calling them to find if they are the right fit for you!
