Sewer gas when washing clothes

[raymondokeefe]

We finished our basement and had extensive plumbing done in the process, not only inside, but also outside. After our most recent work (we had a pipe installed to evacuate our washing machine water that was between the sheet rock and the wall -- it froze this winter. The plumber re-installed the line on the warm side of the sheet rock.), we notice that when we do a load of laundry, we got the odor of sewer gas or methane eminating from our laundry tub. Any ideas what could be causing this? -- it's very frustrating. Thanks.

[Dave Harnish]

Ray,

I wonder if the new plumbing line includes a trap?

God bless,

Dave Harnish Dave's Repair Service New Albany, PA

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570-363-2404

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John 3:3

[Joe Zimmerman]

It's quite possible that if that line is not vented properly the water in the trap could get sucked right out, from another drain in the house.

If there is no water in the trap, sewer gasses will come up.

If there is a removable trap installed on the laundry tub, when your smelling the sewer gasses, put a towel under the trap and take the trap off, if there is lots of water in it there is some other problem. If it's dry, or you don't have a trap it very well could be a venting problem.

Joe

[Joseph Meehan]

Dave may be right about the lack of a trap. I also could be a problem with a vent (or lack of one).

[thehatter]

There should be a vent and that vent may be plugged up or maybe the plumber bypassed it inadvertently when he did the new hookup

Good Luck, tHAT