Introduction to Sewer Odors
Few things are more unpleasant than the foul stench of sewer gas invading your home. That noxious, rotten egg smell is not only disgusting, but a clear sign of bigger problems brewing beneath the floors and walls.
Sewer odours, caused by a buildup of toxic gases like hydrogen sulphide, methane, and ammonia, should never be ignored. If left unchecked, these stinking gases can wreak havoc on plumbing and sewer systems, corroding pipes and fittings. What’s worse, they also pose serious health risks like nausea, headaches, and breathing issues if inhaled.
Embarrassing sewer smells wafting through a home or business can be mortifying for owners. Guests and customers may wrinkle their noses, family members may avoid bathrooms, and residents themselves lose sleep to escape the stench.
That potent, rotten stench also indicates damaged plumbing lines and cracked drainage pipes permitting sewer gases to leak inside. Sewer odour problems will only worsen until underlying issues are properly diagnosed and resolved.
The good news? Stopping these sewer smells at the source is possible with professional drain cleaning and repairs. Advanced solutions like pipe relining can even create a long-lasting sewer gas seal, preventing unpleasant odours from escaping into living spaces ever again.
What Causes Sewer Odors?
Sewer odours arise when toxic gases build up inside drainage pipes and seep out into homes. Two main culprits are responsible for this nasty sewer scent:
- Blocked vents – Plumbing vents along the roofline allow sewer gases to escape outside. When they become clogged with debris, gases get trapped below.
- Pipe damage – Cracks, broken joints, and holes in sewer pipes allow smelly gases to leak indoors. Tree roots infiltrating and crushing old pipes are a common cause.
As waste accumulates, bacteria breaks it down, releasing smelly hydrogen sulphide, methane, and ammonia gases. With no escape route upwards, these gases diffuse through any breaches and pores in ageing drain lines.
Pipe relining seals these cracks and gaps to block sewer gases. Epoxy or other polymers are used to form a new barrier layer inside the original pipe. Once hardened, it prevents gas leaks and restores structural stability.
Common Signs of a Sewer Odor Problem
Several clear signs will alert homeowners that a sewer odour problem is brewing:
- Smelly drains – Foul odours wafting from bathroom or kitchen sinks, especially when water runs, are a telltale indicator of gas leaks.
- Sewage stench in one room – If only your bathroom carries a stench, a drain trap issue or cracked pipe below the floor is likely trapping sewer gases.
- Whole home odour – Gases permeating an entire home point to a main sewer line breach outside.
- Stronger smell at night – Less air circulation at night means gases aren’t dissipating, so smells worsen.
- Rotten egg stench – The signature rotten egg smell of hydrogen sulphide gas leaking indoors is cause for alarm.
- Repeated plumbing backups – Gurgling drains and recurring clogs show damaged pipes are struggling to carry waste, while allowing gases to leak.
These red flags mean sewer gases are invading instead of venting outdoors. Professional drain inspections and pipe relining can permanently seal cracks to banish odours.
How Pipe Relining Prevents Odors
Pipe relining is an advanced, long-term solution for sealing dangerous sewer gases and banishing odour problems for good. This trenchless process involves inserting a flexible epoxy coating inside your damaged sewer, drain, or ventilation pipes to form a smooth, watertight barrier.
Once cured, the sturdy epoxy lining — called Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) — seals all cracks, holes, and gaps in the old pipe walls. These problem areas typically allow sewer gases like hydrogen sulphide to escape into homes, causing those embarrassing rotten egg stenches.
The seamless epoxy barrier locks gases inside pipelines so they can only vent through outdoors plumbing vents. You’ll never have to worry about another sewer gas leak once ageing pipes are reinforced.
Relining outperforms full pipe replacement since it restores structural stability and flow capacity without having to dig destructive trenches. The process takes only hours, not days, and prevents future root intrusions.
Home and business owners should always turn to certified technicians to handle sewer odour issues. Professional drain cleaning, inspections, and pipe relining are the proven methods for tracing gases to their source and cutting off escape routes for good.
The Pipe Relining Process
The pipe relining process involves several key steps to safely renew drainage systems and banish sewer odours:
- Camera inspection – High-tech cameras are fed through pipes to locate breaches permitting gas leaks. All problem areas are identified.
- Pipe cleaning – Your drains are thoroughly cleaned using pressurised water or mechanical cutters to remove old pipe coatings and obstructions.
- Resin coating – A flexible, woven tube of epoxy resin is saturated then inserted into your pipe. It adheres to form a smooth new barrier.
- Curing – The epoxy resin hardens under light steam pressure or ambient temperatures, bonding tightly to your pipes.
- Final testing – Cameras verify the new epoxy lining has cured correctly and sealed all defects and leaks.
Relining restores drainage capacity, resists corrosion and infiltration, and provides long-term protection against costly gas leaks. The process is fast, effective and prevents the need to dig up pipes on your property.
With over 25 years of experience, our licenced technicians are experts at assessing sewer odour issues and relining damaged pipes. We guarantee our trenchless solutions will permanently block unpleasant gases and odours from tainting your home again.
The Benefits of Pipe Relining vs. Replacement
When ageing pipes allow sewer gases to invade homes, many homeowners assume full replacement is needed. However, relining pipes provides immense benefits compared to digging up and replacing drain lines.
Here are key advantages relining offers:
- Cost savings – Relining only fixes damaged sections but costs 50-70% less than complete pipe replacement.
- Minimal invasion – It’s a trenchless fix requiring no digging or destruction to floors, walls or landscaping.
- Speed – Pipe relining takes just one day not several weeks like replacement.
Specific benefits provided by top epoxy methods like Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) relining include:
- Full pipe reinforcement – Epoxy coats the entire pipe length, strengthening it against leaks.
- Long life – CIPP linings last 50+ years due to advanced resin mixtures.
- Roots blocked – Waterproof epoxy is impenetrable to root growth.
Compare this to drawn-out pipe replacements that require:
- Trench digging across properties
- Yard and landscaping destruction
- New pipe materials and fittings
Relining avoids all that damage by restoring pipes in-place. Highly experienced teams like Mortdale Plumbing use industry-leading tools and materials for safe, effective gas sealing and odour prevention through trenchless epoxy relining.
How to Choose a Qualified Pipe Relining Contractor
When it’s time to remedy persistent sewer odours through professional pipe relining, finding an experienced local contractor you can trust is crucial. Here are key tips for identifying dependable experts:
- Look for full licencing - They should hold all legally required licences for plumbing and drain work in your city or state.
- Verify pipe relining expertise - Ask how many years they’ve specialised in CIPP epoxy relining and how many projects they’ve completed.
- Check industry affiliations - Well-regarded associations like NASTT demonstrate advanced training and standards compliance.
- Review ratings and testimonials - These validate quality of work from past clients.
- Confirm warranties - Multi-year warranties on parts and labour reflect confidence in their solutions.
- Request protective equipment - Proper safety gear prevents property damage during relining.
- Inquire about follow-up - The best will thoroughly inspect linings and provide maintenance advice after projects.
At Mortdale Plumbing, our 25+ years of trenchless pipe relining experience, 5-year warranties, and thousands of satisfied local customers attest to our expertise. Trust our certified technicians to safely restore your plumbing and permanently block unpleasant sewer gases from invading your home.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
While minor plumbing issues can often be tackled as DIY projects, there are times when calling in a professional plumber is truly essential.
If pipe relining or thorough drain cleaning fails to resolve persistent sewer odours in your home, this indicates a larger underlying issue that requires expert diagnosis and repair. Severe cases with extensive pipe damage may even need partial or full replacement.
It’s also crucial to call a licenced pro right away if you experience any of the following:
- Backed up sewage - Sewage overflowing sinks or toilets needs immediate attention to clear blockages before catastrophic flooding and property damage occurs.
- Low water pressure - Reduced flow at faucets could mean corroded pipes, leaks or other problems are constricting water supply lines.
- Leaking pipes - Pipes visibly leaking require urgent repairs to prevent water loss, mould risks and possible ceiling or wall collapses.
- No hot water - A non-functioning water heater likely needs professional repairs or replacement.
- Gas leaks - The rotten egg odour of natural gas or hissing from pipes demands emergency gas line repair.
Our experienced, licenced plumbers at Mortdale Plumbing offer 24/7 emergency services when serious issues arise. We also specialise in leak detection, drain cleaning, water heater repair and top-quality pipe relining to proactively restore your plumbing systems and prevent major disasters.
Don’t live with persistent sewer stenches or put off other plumbing concerns. Call our team today at 1300 349 338 for upfront pricing and fast, effective solutions the first time - guaranteed.