Oh No... Why Does The Basement Smell Like Sewage?

Basements often smell a little damp and musty. This is something to be mildly concerned about and address, since you don't want mold growth — but sewage odors are a whole other story. Nobody wants to smell sewage coming up from the basement, and an even bigger problem than the odor itself is the sewer or plumbing issue that may be causing it. Here are three possible problems that could be causing that nasty sewage odor in your basement:

A Dried Out Trap

Are there floor drains in your basement? If so, each of these drains probably has a trap built into it. The trap is meant to hold onto a small amount of water all of the time. This water forms a barrier between the stinky material in your sewer lines, and your basement. If the water in the trap evaporates, which can happen when no water goes down the drain for a long time, nasty odors can seep in. Try pouring a bucket of water down your floor drains. If the odors disappear, a dried-out trap was to blame for the smell, and you just addressed it!

A Leaky Toilet Seal

Is there a toilet in your basement? Take a look at the wax seal between the toilet and the floor. If the wax seal is broken, which sometimes happens if the toilet is not bolted down properly and therefore rocks back and forth a lot, odors could be seeping out. Replacing a wax seal is a pretty big and smelly endeavor, and you usually end up just replacing the toilet at the same time, so call your plumber or sewer repair professional and have them handle this one.

A Cracked Sewer Line

If a toilet or drain is not at fault, then perhaps there is a crack in one of the sewer lines running through or near your basement. Inspect the lines you can see. If you spot a crack, this is the culprit. You should also keep an eye out for the following signs of a leak behind the walls or under the basement floor:

• Grass that is growing greener and taller in some areas than others
• Mushy areas in your yard
• Moist spots on your basement walls or floor

If a sewer line has cracked, your plumber will typically replace it. In some cases, however, they might be able to place a sleeve inside the existing pipe to stop the leak.