Sewer Smell in the House or Yard in Fullerton

What you might notice

• A sewage or rotten-egg smell in a bathroom, laundry room or garage
• The smell is worse near one drain or toilet
• A smell outside, sometimes with a soggy or extra-green patch in the yard
• The smell comes and goes, often after heavy water use

Likely causes

• A dry P-trap in a drain that is rarely used (guest bath, floor drain, laundry)
• A worn wax ring or loose toilet, letting sewer gas out at the base
• Gunk built up in a sink overflow or drain
• A cracked, broken or disconnected sewer pipe
• A vent problem that lets sewer gas into the house

Safe things to try first

1. Safety first: if it smells like rotten eggs and you have gas appliances, it could be a gas leak. Leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside.
2. Run water for 30 seconds in every drain that is rarely used, including floor drains and guest showers. This refills the trap that blocks sewer gas.
3. Check whether the toilet rocks or has water around the base.
4. Clean the sink overflow hole and drain stopper.
5. Walk the yard over the sewer line and look for soggy, sunken or extra-green spots.

If water starts rising or you see sewage, stop and call. Don’t take apart anything you’re not comfortable putting back together.

When to call a pro

• The smell keeps coming back after you refill the traps
• You see a soggy or sunken spot in the yard over the sewer line
• The smell comes with slow drains or gurgling
• You cannot find where it is coming from

What Rooter Champion does

Most common problems we find in La Habra, Fullerton, La Mirada and Whittier: tree roots in the sewer line, old or failing cast iron pipe, and broken sewer pipes. Many homes here still have their original lines, so a camera inspection is the quickest way to know which one you have.

A sewer camera inspection is the best way to find a hidden cause. We run a camera through the line and show you the footage live, so you can see any cracks, gaps, roots or breaks. If the line needs repair, we explain options like trenchless pipe lining or pipe bursting before any work is scheduled.

A smell plus a soggy yard can mean a broken sewer pipe; roots that crack the line are covered in tree roots. Local to us? See drain service in Fullerton.

Our $55 drain cleaning includes a free camera inspection, so you can see the problem for yourself. Rooter Champion is family-owned, licensed and insured (CA Lic. #1063585).

What customers say

5.0 stars from 52 Google reviews on our La Habra profile.

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