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Water Stench

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by phitnessfiend, Aug 9, 2007.

  1. phitnessfiend

    phitnessfiend New Member

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    In ONE of our bathroom sinks there is an awful, rotten egg stench that comes along every so often. Once the water runs for a minute or so, it goes away. This bathroom is used all the time so it's not like it just sits there unused. I've tried pouring bleach and Draino down the drain but it doesn't help. Anyone have thoughts as to what this could be? Does anyone else have this? Thanks.
     
  2. VAluvr

    VAluvr New Member

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    I had the same problem and poored half a gallon of clorox down the drain, shut the drain for the night and rinsed it in the morning. It no longer smells. Give that a try.:)
     
  3. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Re: Water Stench--Possible Solutions

    phitnessfiend and others--

    The cause of the "rotten egg" stench in your sink(s) could possibly be caused by hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide gases are attributed to sulfur-reducing bacteria found in groundwater.

    Try unclogging your drain(s) and using a bleach/water mixture to "flush-out" the "rotten egg" smells. If that does not work--read the following information on the web sites for possible causes and solutions. Anymore problems--just ask and I will see what I can locate for you.

    www.querycat.com/faq/40fa5c6f322437ef7421390b34a4fb83 (Querycat is a forum for research for homeowners and other queries. Great source for info.)

    boards.hgtvpro.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2221090252/m/9501085803 (HGTV's Pro Forum Board for homeowners' queries. Great source and alot of info.)

    Foodie:D
     
  4. T8ergirl

    T8ergirl New Member

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    We have the same issue in our main floor powder room. But in this house it is not nearly as bad as it was in our townhouse on Bankbarn. That powder room smelled like a sulphur mine most of the time. I just leave the door open and then it dissipates enough that I don't notice it.
     
  5. Dan

    Dan New Member

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    A plumber one time told me to pour baking soda and white vinegar down the drain. It actually worked and got rid of that nasty odor.
     
  6. phitnessfiend

    phitnessfiend New Member

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    Thanks All. I'll try some of those things to see if it works. I'll also check out those links!!
     
  7. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    We did the clorox route as well. Worked for about a year then we had to do it again.
     
  8. joy

    joy New Member

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    Wow. We have the same deal. Have to give some of these a shot.
     
  9. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

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    Thanks for the baking soda/vinegar option. I'd never have known and it's hard to find "green" products that take care of this!
     
  10. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    I have to ask this - b/c several of our neighbor's also have this issue. Is your house a Van Metre home and if so is the bathroom located in the Master or powder room?
     
  11. broken skull

    broken skull New Member

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    Ive noticed it in 2 areas in our house, which is a VM home. In the master bath in one of the sinks. And in the wet bar sink in the basement. Vinegar and Baking Soda worked for a while.
     
  12. phitnessfiend

    phitnessfiend New Member

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    The home is a Van Metre. It's not in the master bathroom or the Powder Room though. I have a Parkdale and it's in the bathroom between the two smaller bedrooms.
     
  13. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Hmm... I already checked with LCSA who indicated the water checked out fine and suggested we look into the installation of pipes. I'm not a plumber, but I hired one who confirmed that the plumbing was installed incorrectly (in our MBA), thus causing the gases (odor) to come back up into the pipes versus draining downward.

    So far I have tracked 41 other other VM homeowners in SW who have the same issue...
     
  14. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    we're a vm home and our problem rooms are the middle level powder room and master bath. The bleach worked for about 3 years but it's now starting back up again.
     
  15. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    Us too, I thought the drain in our bathroom was installed incorrectly. I have the same problem.
     
  16. backtothewoooo

    backtothewoooo Member

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    We live in a Devonshire and we have the same problem in the master bathroom, too. I'll try the chlorox "cure". Thanks!
     
  17. lisas

    lisas New Member

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    Add me to the list, too. We have a Faulkner in SW, and I noticed the smell only from one of the sinks in the master bathroom. I poured Clorox down the sink and a year later, and smell returned. I did the bleach trick again, but I'll have to wait till next spring to see if it comes back.
     
  18. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Once I have a few more homeowners who confirm they too have an issue, I would be more than happy to compile a master list and present it to Van Metre reps during the next HOA meeting. I think this is a Van Metre issue and not an HOA issue - however I would imagine it can be brought up during the next meeting. Let me know if that is ok and we can proceed.

    FWIW - the cost to replace said pipes will be several thousand dollars and I cant justify coming out of pocket with that much money for an issue that originated with the construction of our homes in SW. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
     
  19. jblnd

    jblnd New Member

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    Count us in for the master list. We have the Winterset model and have this issue with our 1st floor bathroom.
     
  20. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    I tried the baking soda/vinegar routine in the master bath of our parkdale in SW, and while it helped, I have to say it seemed to just CHANGE the odor. And now I'd swear the odor is coming from the faucet, and not the drain?!
     

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