Sewer Gas

[ptb123]

We recently had a tiled shower installed to replace a tub/shower. After completion, there was a sewer gas odor around the newly seated toilet. I caulked around the toilet which solved the problem, but now there are sewer gas odors in the other upstairs bathroom and the downstairs bathroom. What could be causing this and what is the solution?

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Sewer gas, that rotten egg smell, is actuall a gas called hydrogen sulphide. This gas is harmless in small amounts such as yours.In water systems the source of this gas is usually bacteria. Some bacteria release this sewer gas when they eat. If you never noticed this smell before there is almost a 100% chance that bacteria are the problem.The reason the smell was noticed after you removed youre toilet is simple. The bacteria came in contact with air when your toilet was removed. These bacteria need air (oxygen) to eat and therefor produce this gas.With time the smell pass as any air leaves youre system.If you cant wait, you can try adding about 1 cup of bleach to the back (resevoir) of the upstairs and downstairs toilets. Flush each toilet about 3 times immediately after you add the bleach.This should reduce the smell by killing the bacteria. Try this a few times over a period of a week until you notice the smell is gone.This should work great.

[Hal BakerParticipant]

When there is sewer gas smell around a newly reseated toilet, I would first suspect that the wax seal below the toilet did not get install quite properly. If this is your problem, sealing around the base of the toilet might only allow the sewer gas to travel through the void inside your second story floor. That might explain how the odor moved to the other bathrooms. Considering the facts you gave, I would suggest pulling that toilet up for inspection and a new wax seal. Good luck

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Dear Hal,The odors may be a backup of gases from your septic tank or sewer line. IF this is the case, this problem can be solved by the use of Bacteria Concepts SEPTI-MATE and SEPTI-SHOCK.When used on a regular basis, these products help to greatly reduce or eliminate bad odors from the septic tank (if there is one at your house), slows down the sludge build-up process, maintains proper biological activity of the septic tank and where applicable, keeps leach fields free-flowing.If the odors are caused by organic waste build-ups in the pipes, you can use Bacteria Concepts DB-X100 on a regular basis to keep drain free-flowing and choke free. Since the live bacteria in DB-X100 degrade the organics in the pipes, the source of bad odors is also removed.We encourage you to contact us to order some product to solve the problem.You will also received detailed instructions on how to use the product to solve any problems you may be facing.Bacteria Concepts manufactures the highest quality bacterial products on the market. Each contains a scientific blend of multiple strains of naturally occurring active bacteria, which function precisely to solve a specific problem. The blend is synergistic, which means that all strains are compatible with each other and compliment each others activity. The strains are chosen to be highly resistant to disinfectants, sanitizers, and to hot water. This feature permits their use in any normal home, commercial or industrial environment without imposing undo restrictions on accepted methods or on personnel. All bacteria strains used are non-pathogenic (i.e. they do not cause disease) and thus, will not harm humans and pets.Bacteria Concepts products are non-toxic, fully biodegradable and hence, environmentally friendly.Best regards,Customer ServiceBacteria Concepts, Inc. 1400 Brook Drive Downers Grove, IL 60515-1025 U.S.A. Toll free in U.S.A.: 1-877-BCI-DRBUG (1-877-224-3728) Tel: (630) 261-0061 Fax: (630) 261-0064 Corporate e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.bacteriaconcepts.com: We recently had a tiled shower installed to replace a tub/shower. After completion, there was a sewer gas odor around the newly seated toilet. I caulked around the toilet which solved the problem, but now there are sewer gas odors in the other upstairs bathroom and the downstairs bathroom. What could be causing this and what is the solution?

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Dear Corbin,You are correct in saying that the source of the bad odors is from bacteria.However, I would like to clarify some misconceptions you have.Note that Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is only produced under anaerobic conditions (in the absence of Oxygen), as with another common anaerobic gas, methane (CH4). (That is why the whole world does not small like one, huge rotten egg – you only get rotten egg smells from areas that are anaerobic and with the correct bacteria that are able to produce H2S).Septic Tank systems were originally built and designed to contain human waste for a sufficient period of time to allow the human waste to degrade naturally by bacterial and other microorganismal action on the waste. This constitutes the biological activity in the septic tank system, for example.Human waste contains lots of microorganisms (protozoa, yeasts, bacteria, fungi, etc.) that is part of a persons normal gut flora. No two individuals gut flora is similar. Given that there are more than 2000 types of bacteria (not including viruses, yeasts, fungi, protozoa as yet) that have been identified and classified by scientists (However, note that not all types of bacteria can survive in a human gut, but a jolly good number can), you can imagine the various combinations of gut flora for any one individual.Likewise, septic tank systems and sewerage systems inevitably end up with the bacteria and other microorganisms from human waste. Given the predominant anaerobic nature of septic tank systems and sewerage systems, bacteria that thrive without oxygen tend to dominate these areas. However, note that not all of these types of organisms produce odorous gases such as Hydrogen Sulfide and Methane.By pouring bleach down your drains (this is never advisable), the following happens: 1. Bleach, being a strong oxidizing agent kills many microorganisms in the septic tank/sewerage system (this prevents odors from being formed, since the bacteria are dead); 2. The oxidizing nature of bleach increases the reductive-oxidation (redox) potential of the system towards a more positive size (more oxidizing), thus making the septic tank/sewerage system less condusive for growth of bacteria that thrive well in anaerobic conditions (Note: the more aerobic, the more positive the redox potential, the more anaerobic – the more negative the redox potential. Septic tank systems normally have a redox potential of -160mV to -220mV); 3. The biological activity of the septic tank/sewerage system is significantly or completely destroyed, thus, sludge in the system accumulates faster. Also, when this occurs, and the toxic substance (Bleach in this case) is washed away, the organisms that will eventually dominate the system would be the ones that are first introduced back into the system or the organisms that grow the fastest. If these happen to be odor producing microorganisms, the problem returns. Concept wise, you can liken this to milk fermentation. If Lactobacillus sp. (L. acidophilus is commonly used) is added to UHT milk (in other words sterilized milk), you will get yoghurt. However, if Bacillus sp. is added, the milk will rot and smell. (note that not all Bacillus are bad and/or harmful).Best regards,Customer ServiceBacteria Concepts, Inc. 1400 Brook Drive Downers Grove, IL 60515-1025 U.S.A. Toll free in U.S.A.: 1-877-BCI-DRBUG (1-877-224-3728) Tel: (630) 261-0061 Fax: (630) 261-0064 Corporate e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.bacteriaconcepts.com: Sewer gas, that rotten egg smell, is actuall a gas called hydrogen sulphide. This gas is harmless in small amounts such as yours.: In water systems the source of this gas is usually bacteria. Some bacteria release this sewer gas when they eat. If you never noticed this smell before there is almost a 100% chance that bacteria are the problem.: The reason the smell was noticed after you removed youre toilet is simple. The bacteria came in contact with air when your toilet was removed. These bacteria need air (oxygen) to eat and therefor produce this gas.: With time the smell pass as any air leaves youre system.: If you cant wait, you can try adding about 1 cup of bleach to the back (resevoir) of the upstairs and downstairs toilets. Flush each toilet about 3 times immediately after you add the bleach.: This should reduce the smell by killing the bacteria. Try this a few times over a period of a week until you notice the smell is gone.: This should work great.

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Customer Service, Bacteria Concepts Very interesting response to Corbin Elle. Really enjoyed it. Thanks. In regard to Hals situation, if his problem is in the septic tank or sewer lines, how does he smell it if his plumbing is vented properly. I look forward to your response. Don

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Dear Don,Thank you for your contribution. If Hals plumbing is properly ventilated, he would not have severe odors problems, as he describes, especially since Hal initially found and plugged the original point where the gases were escaping from (please refer to Hals posting).A possibility is that even if he has a well ventilated system (sorry to point this out, but Hal has not mentioned anything about the status of ventilation for his plumbing – good or bad), there could a be a leak somewhere else. Or maybe his ventilaton system is impaired? Or perhaps, it is as you suggested in your posting, Don.Regardless of these possibilities, the main focus of using Bacteria Concepts products is to target the source of the problem – the fact that the bad odors can be greatly reduced or eliminated by treating the source of the problem which may be from either organic build-ups in the pipes or from the sewer system/septic tank itself.With either or perhaps a combination of ideas/suggestions gained from the postings on this Bulletin Board, we do hope that Hal has/will manage to solve the problem he is facing.Best regards,Customer ServiceBacteria Concepts, Inc. 1400 Brook Drive Downers Grove, IL 60515-1025 U.S.A. Toll free in U.S.A.: 1-877-BCI-DRBUG (1-877-224-3728) Tel: (630) 261-0061 Fax: (630) 261-0064 Corporate e-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.bacteriaconcepts.com: Customer Service, Bacteria Concepts : Very interesting response to Corbin Elle. Really enjoyed it. Thanks. : In regard to Hals situation, if his problem is in the septic tank or sewer lines, how does he smell it if his plumbing is vented properly. : I look forward to your response. : Don

[Hal BakerParticipant]

Bacteria Inc.You are exactly right.However you are incorrect in some aspects of your diagnosis.I incorrectly stated that bacteria of this type need oxygen to respirate. However, bacteria of this type are usually present with some aerobic bacteria. If oxygen was not present next to these bacteria you would be unable to smell the hydrogen sulphide. Air is the only way these smells can be carried to our noses.As for the bleach addition; the stated amount of bleach would in no way effect the septic tank contents. The chlorine will most often be reacted before it reaches the septic tank. If all of the chlorine is not reacted the simple point of dilution will prove chlorine concentrations in the tank would not be high enougn to cause any substantial bacterial kill rates.Thank You.

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