Intermittent & horrible sewer smell

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Inigo Montoya

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Apologies for blowing up the forums of late. I suspect these issues are ultimately related to each other.

We have, for a very long time, dealt with staggering sewer smells from the floor drains of our restrooms. Seemingly at random and with no clear tie to weather or pressure or anything of that nature as far as I can recall.

This morning is one of those times.

Aside from checking the sealant around the bases of the commodes, flushing floor drains slowly with hot water to refill traps (if indeed they're dry) and checking roof vent, what else do I need to be doing?

Also, what all can be a cause for such paint-peeling smells in the first place?
 

Terry

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rheem_rack_primer.jpg


Your floor drain may be lacking a trap primer, or it may have quit working. In the circle is a trap primer, connected by a 1/2" line to a fitting above the trap below the slab. This keeps a floor drain from drying out.

I have been in many large bathrooms with horrible smells. You don't need hot water, you just need water period. And on a regular basis. When the trap dries out, you have a direct connection to every bad smell that your sewage lines can give you. It ain't pretty. :(
 
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Inigo Montoya

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Thats fascinating. I don't believe the floor drain to our commercial restrooms has ever had a source of water from elsewhere. I'll investigate further, thank you
 

Cacher_Chick

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I have been in more buildings that did not have trap primers than those that have. I fill the trap and then pour an ounce of vegetable oil in, which floats on the water and slows the evaporation process.
 

Terry

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Seems like installing one after the fact might be quite the effort, no?

If you have someone checking paper in the stalls, keeping things clean, just add pouring water in the floor drains to the list.

Otherwise.......open the floors and installing tubing under the floor, patch and refloor, and add the primer with the lav cold water.
 
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