What Is That Sewer Smell In My Laundry Room?

Are you experiencing an awful sewer smell in your laundry room before, after or even while you’re doing your laundry? Have you been wondering what that sewer smell in your laundry room is and where that sewer odor is coming from? Well here’s the answer; that foul sewer smell in your laundry room that you’re experiencing is actually Dangerous Sewer Gas and it’s coming from your Laundry Room Standpipe! The Laundry Room Standpipe, aka Washing Machine Standpipe or Washing Machine Drain, is the pipe that the washing machine discharge hose drains into. These dangerous sewer gases are entering into your home because there is either no water or not enough water in the standpipe’s “P-Trap.” This condition is called a “Dry-Trap” and is very dangerous.

Why Is This Important?

The only thing preventing the extremely dangerous sewer gases and sewer smell from entering into your home is the water contained in the “P-Trap.” Traps are commonly seen under Kitchen & Vanity Sinks and they serve a very important purpose. Many people think the purpose of a trap is to catch your valuables that unintentionally fall down the drain. While this may be true, the real purpose of any Plumbing Trap is to “Trap” and keep water in the pipe. Plumbing systems are intentionally designed with traps because the trapped water in the pipe creates an airtight seal, thus preventing the dangerous sewer gases and that terrible sewer smell from entering into the dwelling. If there is no water or not enough water in the standpipe’s trap, then a “Dry-Trap” situation occurs. This means there is no longer a protective seal and nothing to prevent the sewer gases from entering into your home.

What Causes a “Dry-Trap?”

There are many reasons why a “Dry-Trap” can occur, but in this situation it is usually due to the high velocity of the water being discharged from the washing machine into the standpipe. Many people won’t experience any sewer smell problem until they replace their old washing machine with a new model. This is because discharge pumps on older model washing machines typically discharge at a rate of 10-12 Gallons per Minute (GPM), whereas new washing machines discharge at a much faster rate of 17-24 GPM. Manufactures do this to create faster wash times with more water circulations during the wash cycle, which means cleaner clothes in less time for the homeowner. The unintended consequence of this extra water velocity is that the discharged water is forced completely out of the P-Trap, creating a Dry-Trap and allowing the dangerous sewer gases to enter into your home. This is the reason why you now have a sewer smell problem! Watch this video from our friends at This Old House, How a Plumbing Trap Can Lose Water.

What Is Sewer Gas and Why Is It Dangerous?

Sewer gas is a mixture of inorganic gases that contain such compounds as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and hydrogen resulting from the decomposition of human waste and other organic materials. Some of the serious health effects resulting from exposure to sewer gas are headache, nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, dizziness, nervousness, drowsiness, fatigue, eye and respiratory irritation, sore throat/cough and shortness of breath. Serious illness may also be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi which can come from sewage and sewer gases. Long term exposure can result in organ damage or even death. In addition, methane and hydrogen sulfide are extremely flammable and highly explosive. If you have a sewer smell in your home, you have sewer gas! Watch this video, Dangers of Sewer Gas.

So What Can Be Done?

Many people ask “Can I seal my Washing Machine Standpipe?” Or, “How do I get rid of that sewer smell in my laundry room?” You would think the simple answer is to just seal around the discharge hose so no sewer gases or sewer smell can exit the standpipe into the home. This would seem to make sense, but it only creates additional problems such as overflowing/flooding and siphoning. All plumbing systems need airflow. While sealing around the discharge hose will prevent gases from escaping the standpipe, it doesn’t allow the necessary airflow into the standpipe during the draining process. This results in overflowing and possible flooding of the home and/or the siphoning of water from the washing machine. A simple way to understand the need for airflow is when you fill a straw with water and hold your finger on the end; the water will stay in the straw until you move your finger which allows air to enter the straw.

How Can I Fix That Sewer Smell?

With The All New and Patented STANDPIPE SEAL! STANDPIPE SEAL is the simple solution to your sewer smell problem. STANDPIPE SEAL is a specially designed Standpipe Adapter that seals off the laundry standpipe in order to prevent dangerous, harmful and foul smelling sewer gases from entering into your home, while still allowing the necessary airflow into the plumbing system. It is the first and only product of its kind and it’s now available to YOU! STANDPIPE SEAL is very easy to install and designed to fit inside any standard 2” PVC Standpipe. STANDPIPE SEAL fits inside most washing machine outlet boxes with little to no adjusting. STANDPIPE SEAL is the only Standpipe Adapter that actually opens and closes! This is accomplished by using an Air Admittance Valve (AAV) to seal the standpipe preventing sewer gases from entering into the dwelling and then opening, only when necessary, to allow air into the plumbing system. The rubber gasket is used to seal around the washing machine’s discharge hose to create an airtight seal. STANDPIPE SEAL is perfect for new construction or as a retrofit. Sewer Smell Problem Solved! Watch this video and see how Fast & Easy it is to install the STANDPIPE SEAL Adapter. FIX THAT SEWER SMELL!

Buy Your STANDPIPE SEAL Today and Fix That Sewer Smell! STANDPIPE SEAL – No More Sewer Smell! Order Yours Today!
STANDPIPE SEAL is protected by one or more U.S. and foreign patents, including U.S. Patent No. 9,534,363