Ever get a whiff of sewer stench in your home the minute the rain starts pouring down in Arizona? It’s easy to assume that the rain itself is bringing sewage right into your living room, but most of the time thats just not the case. The real culprit is usually a change in air pressure, dry plumbing traps, or a blocked plumbing vent, letting those foul sewer gases into your home.
Arizona’s scorching desert heat and intense monsoon storms create all sorts of plumbing headaches that folks around here aren’t used to. And the good news is, once you figure out what’s behind the stench, you can usually fix it before you’re looking at a super-expensive plumbing bill.
At Ready Rooter Arizona, we’ve helped homeowners all across Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and the surrounding areas to sniff out and eliminate sewer odors in no time with our top-notch drain and sewer services.
Why in the world does my house smell like a sewer after it rains?
Rainstorms bring all sorts of changes to the plumbing system in your home, and especially during AZ’s monsoon season. These conditions can become super noticeable, especially combined with the dry climate, old drain lines and other factors. Some of the most common causes include:
Plumbing vent backdraft
Dry or empty floor drain traps
Clogged roof vents
Sewer line blockages
Tree roots getting into the pipes
Damaged pipes
Worn out toilet wax rings
And while the smell might clear up once the storm passes, persistent odors are usually a sign your plumbing system needs some TLC.
Vent Backdraft: a Monsoon plumbing problem
Your plumbing vent system is designed to let sewer gases safely escape through the roof of your house. But during heavy rain and strong winds, the air pressure can shift and force those gases right back into the plumbing system instead of letting them clear out.
This little- known phenomenon is super common, especially during AZ’s monsoon season.
Common Vent Backdraft symptoms
Sewer stenches after a big rain
Gurgling toilets
Bubbling sink drains
Slow-draining fixtures
Multiple drains giving off that sewer smell
Odors that clear up right after the weather clears
If these symptoms keep popping up after every storm, it’s time to get a professional to take a gander at your vent system.
How to Check for Roof Vent Blockages
Your plumbing vent is that thing that sticks out of your roof, and over time it can get clogged with all sorts of debris
Signs of a blocked plumbing vent
Slow drains all over the house
Toilets that gurgle after you flush
Sewer stenches indoors
Bubbling drains
Water draining all wonky
Because people (or critters) can get stuck up in the roof while trying to fix this, its generally best to have a pro look into it.
Floor Drain Trap Loss: An Arizona plumbing issue
Every single one of your plumbing drains has a little P-trap that holds water in to keep sewer gases from your house. If the water in the trap dries up, those stinky gases can make their way back in to your home.
Arizona’s dry climate makes the water in unused drains evaporate super fast compared to humid regions
Floor drain trap loss is a problem we see a lot in:
Garages\
Laundry rooms\
Guest bathrooms\
Utility rooms\
Vacation homes\
That shower in the guest house that nobody ever uses
Fortunately, this is one of the easiest plumbing problems to check on your own.
How to check your floor drain seal
Checking to see if your floor drain has a dry trap is a super quick job.
Step 1
Find all your floor drains and any other uncommonly used plumbing fixtures
Step 2
Pour about a cup or two of clean water into each one
Step 3
Wait a few minutes
STEP 4
If the sewer stench goes away, the trap had probably dried out and lost its seal
Adding water to your unused drains every now and then is a simple way to keep those sewer stenches from coming back
Other Reasons Your House Might Stink Like Sewer
Not every sewer stench is from the vent or the trap. Sometimes, rain just exposes a plumbing problem that’s been developing for a while.
Some other things that might be causing the smell include:
Damaged sewer lines
Tree roots getting into the pipes
Partially blocked sewer lines
Broken plumbing vents
Cracked drain pipes
Failing toilet wax rings
Sewer backups
If the stenches keep coming back after you check your floor drains, its time to get a pro to take a look.
When you should call a plumber
If you’ve got an occasional smell from a dry floor drain, thats usually a simple fix. But if sewer stenches are becoming a regular thing in your home, its a sign that there’s a bigger plumbing issue going on.
Get in touch with Ready Rooter Arizona if you notice:
Sewer stenches every time it rains
Multiple drains stinking it up
Toilets that gurgle all the time
Slow drains all over the house
Sewage stenches that just wont go away
Water backing up into sinks or tubs
Sewage stenches that just wont go away
Ignoring these warning signs can lead to super-big plumbing problems and a huge bill to fix.## How Ready Rooter Arizona Figures Out The Source of Sewer Smells
Figuring out the source of a sewer smell is a bit more involved than just making an educated guess. What our licensed plumbers actually do is whip out some advanced diagnostic gear to pinpoint the exact cause, before giving you your options for repairs.
Our sewer and drain services are pretty comprehensive :
Sewer camera inspections – We get a good look at whats going on in there
Professional drain cleaning – We get the clogs out
Hydro jetting – We blast through tough blockages
Plumbing vent inspections – We check on those roof vents
Sewer line repair\
Sewer line replacement\
Emergency plumbing services – We fix your plumbing on short notice\
Preventative maintenance – We help you stay one step ahead of plumbing problems
Our goal isnt just to get rid of the smell its to get to the bottom of the plumbing issue thats causing it.
Staying Ahead of Sewer Odors Before Monsoon Season
Doing regular maintenance can help prevent a lot of sewer odor problems before they even start.
Some of the top things you can do to stay ahead of the game are:
Pour water down those unused floor drains every now and then to keep them from getting clogged
Get your drains cleaned out by a pro every year or so
Keep that roof vent debris-free – its a simple thing to do
Address any slow drains before they become major headaches
If youve got an older home consider getting a sewer camera inspection to see whats really going on down there
Pay attention to any recurring gurgling sounds or unpleasant odors – theyre often trying to tell you something
The cost of regular maintenance is almost always way less than the cost of emergency plumbing repairs.
Why Arizona Homeowners Love Ready Rooter Arizona
When sewer odors show up, you need some answers fast. What we offer is fast, honest, and reliable plumbing services – all backed up by years of experience serving homeowners in the Phoenix area.
Whether your sewer smell is caused by some vent backdraft , floor drain trap loss, or a blocked sewer line – or whatever the issue is – our techs have seen it all and can figure out the problem and give you the solution you need the first time around
If your house smells like a sewer after it rains, you cant just ignore it – schedule an inspection with Ready Rooter Arizona today and let our experts get your home smelling fresh and clean again while keeping your plumbing system in good working order for years to come.
