What Causes My House to Smell Like Sewage? DIY Tips and Solutions

There are few things worse for homeowners than to smell sewer gas odor in their homes. Along with being unpleasant, pungent sewage smells could also be hazardous to your health. We’ve compiled this guide to help you trace the source of a sewage smell in your home and walk you through some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. However, sometimes, only an expert can fix a sewage problem.

What is Sewer Gas?

Sewer gas is a mixture of gasses created by decomposing organic matter in wastewater systems. It primarily consists of hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and other gasses. When improperly contained or released into a home, it produces a pungent and foul odor, often resembling rotten eggs. Identifying and addressing the source of home sewer gas is essential to maintain indoor air quality and safety.

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The Top Reasons Why You Smell Sewage in Your Home

There are several potential reasons why you might encounter a sewer gas odor in your home:

» Drain Trap Issues

One of the most common causes of sewage odor indoors is a dry drain trap. Drain traps, often found in sinks, toilets, and other fixtures, are designed to hold a small amount of water, creating a seal that prevents sewer gas from backing into your home. If these traps dry out due to infrequent use or a faulty seal, sewer gas can leak into your living space.

» Blocked or Damaged Vent Pipes

If the culprit isn’t a dry water trap, there’s a chance that damaged vent pipes are to blame. Your home’s plumbing system has vent pipes that allow sewer gasses to escape safely through the roof. If these pipes get damaged or blocked by debris, preventing sewer odors from escaping, they may run back into your home.

» Leaky or Broken Sewer Lines

Cracks, leaks, or damage in your home’s sewer lines can release sewer gas into your living space. This problem may require professional assistance to locate and repair.

» Faulty or Aging Plumbing Fixtures

If plumbing fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, and floor drains, aren’t installed correctly, they can allow sewer gases to leak into areas they shouldn’t. Over time, these plumbing fixtures may deteriorate, allowing sewer gas to escape. Regular maintenance and timely repairs are crucial in preventing this issue.

» Sewer System Backups

Blockages, root intrusion, and other issues in your main sewer line may cause a sewer system backup. When your sewer line backs up, it can push sewage and sewer gas into your home, resulting in a pungent odor.

Also Read: How To Detect A Gas Leak?

How to Get Rid of Sewer Smell in House: The Solutions

If you encounter a sewer gas odor in your home, don’t panic. There are several steps you can take to eliminate the smell:

» Check and Fill Drain Traps

Fortunately, the most common cause of sewer gas smell in the house is also the easiest to fix. If a drain pipe’s P-trap has gone dry, leading to sewer odors, solving the problem is as easy as running a little water. Pour water into your home’s dry traps, and if they continue to dry out, consider a drain trap primer.

» Inspect Vent Pipes

Check for cracks in the vent pipes, where gas and smells could escape. Also, use a flashlight to check the vent pipe for leaves, pine needles, or other debris, which must be cleared out for the sewer gas to vent correctly outside the home.

» Faulty or Aging Plumbing Fixtures

Inspect all plumbing fixtures for visible leaks, damage, or signs of wear and tear. Replace faulty components, such as seals or gaskets, to maintain an airtight seal.

» Professional Inspection

If you cannot identify the source of the sewer gas odor, or if the issue persists, it’s time to call a professional plumber.

» Sewer Line Maintenance

Regular maintenance of your sewer lines can prevent leaks and damage. Consider scheduling our sewer maintenance services to catch potential issues early and keep your plumbing system in shape.

When to Call a Plumber

While you can use DIY sewage smell remedies to resolve sewer gas issues yourself, there are instances where professional help is essential:

» Persistent Odor

If the sewer gas odor persists despite your best efforts to eliminate it, you need professional assistance to identify and address the problem.

» Backed-Up Sewer Lines

In the worst cases, backed-up sewer lines may result in foul-smelling sewage backing out of your drains, causing significant damage to your property. If you experience sewage backups in your home, it could be caused by blockages, root intrusion, or other sewer line problems.

» Visible Damage

If you notice visible damage to your plumbing system, such as compromised seals, corroded pipes, or cracked sewer lines, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. These issues should be handled by a professional to prevent further damage.

» Safety Concerns

If you suspect the sewer gas odor makes you experience nausea, dizziness, or headaches, evacuate your home immediately and contact a plumber for professional sewer repair services.

Prevent Sewer Gas Odor With Proper Maintenance From Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter

If you suspect you have a sewer gas leak, call the professional technicians at Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter. We serve the Conejo Valley and the surrounding areas with efficient, trustworthy work.

Our professional plumbing technicians have the tools and expertise to conduct a thorough inspection of your plumbing system and identify and address the problem. They might also sniff out other plumbing issues before they escalate. For immediate service, call us directly at (805) 499-0448 or submit a contact form online!

Frequently Ask Questions

How do I locate where the smell is coming from?

To locate the source of foul odor in the house, first check the vent pipes, drain traps, and plumbing fixtures. If you need help identifying the source, contact a professional plumber.

Is sewer gas dangerous?

Yes, sewer gas can be dangerous, as it contains toxic gasses like hydrogen sulfide and methane, which can be harmful when inhaled in high concentrations. Sewage smell health risks include eye, nose, and throat irritation. At higher levels, these gasses can cause organ damage or death.

How to get rid of sewage odor after you eliminate the source of the smell

Once you’ve eliminated the source of the sewage odor, you can freshen up your home by opening windows for ventilation and using air purifiers—additionally, clean affected areas with water and vinegar or baking soda to remove lingering odors.

Conejo Valley Home Services Plumbing & Rooter

4.9

Based on 251 reviews

Carol Moore

16:50 03 Mar 26

Alex did an excellent job during our scheduled HVAC maintenance. He arrived on time, was professional and courteous, and clearly explained what he was checking and why. He worked efficiently, left everything clean and tidy, and made sure all our questions were answered before he left. I appreciated his thoroughness and friendly demeanor. Highly recommend Alex for any HVAC service needs!

Bobby light

23:53 26 Feb 26

I wanted to leave a quick review for Conejo Plumbing even though we ultimately went in a different direction.

Stacy came out and was extremely professional. She clearly knows her stuff not just in plumbing, but in customer service as well. That combination is rare these days. She took the time to thoroughly explain everything, broke down what needed immediate attention versus what could wait, and made sure we fully understood our options.

What really stood out was that there was zero pressure. They genuinely cared more about us being informed and choosing the right solution than simply getting the job. That speaks volumes about the company’s integrity.

Thank you to Conejo Plumbing for providing a free estimate and walking us through the process with transparency and professionalism. That level of service does not go unnoticed.

Alanis Family!

David Torrey

00:03 18 Feb 26

The tech that came, felt he wasn't 100 percent sure on resetting the controller. He called for assistance and he supervisor told him how reset the controller. 15 minutes all done. Clean work. And the heater has been acting good. I trust these guys because they're willing to go the extra mile.

Danny Rand

05:04 10 Feb 26

Our tech was clean and communicated everything about our electrical issue. First thing he did when we opened our front door was slip on some little paper boot covers for use inside the house. Thank you Conejo Services!

Michael Broder

20:20 29 Jan 26

Kevin was really great! He tried to fix my existing garbage disposal, but unfortunately it was too far gone. The prices that were quoted were more than I cared to spend. However, he was very understanding, professional, and courteous. Had the prices been reasonably close I wouldn’t have hesitated to have him do the work. He well represented your company.

Elizabeth Mason

21:00 26 Jan 26

The whole process from requesting service to getting a quote to actually having the services scheduled and done was super easy and quick. Customer service was great.

James came out to look at everything and was able to provide an itemized quote for the services we needed. We went with everything but one item on the list (make sure to communicate with them if you don't go for all of the items on the quote, there was a little bit of confusion about that between a couple of the different customer service reps we spoke to, but it was cleared up quickly).

Service was scheduled, James came back out with all the parts and equipment and installed everything really fast. He was super nice and informative (he kindly answered a couple additional and follow up questions that I had) and the service was professional and efficient.

We'll definitely be calling back for our other plumbing or HVAC needs. We felt that they were giving us reasonable and honest information and pricing. When compared to another service company that we've worked with before, the pricing was comparable but I don't think we could beat the kindness, care, and efficiency of Conejo's team.

shooky darshun

19:21 26 Jan 26

My mom’s furnace was on the fritz this past Saturday after 1 session it died (RIP furnace 1/24/26). Juan Garay from Conejo Svcs was our tech who diagnosed that our furnace was installed back in 1983. It had a good run, 43 yrs!

The only gripe I have was that this wasn’t a free consultation, it was $87 for the visit and now we have a “Comfort Advisor” from their company this coming Tuesday. So this job is ongoing.

In hindsight, I should’ve gone with a company for a free consultation. However, I will be shopping around for best value for a complete replacement for my mom’s HVAC unit. I went with the most reputable company, however, that cost was $87 as I mentioned before.

Do your due diligence and shop around, don’t settle with 1 company!

Ryan Russell

18:59 19 Jan 26

We had a great experience. The team was friendly and wonderful to work with. They were able to get the job done quickly and without issue.

I would recommend them to anyone in their service area.

Max Helix

02:35 13 Jan 26

After recent rains, the lighting in our back yard stopped working. The GFCI would not reset. Omar did a great job. He gathered all the information he could and discussed the procedure he would use to trouble shoot and fix the issue and we discussed options and recommendations. He then followed the plan we agreed upon. He also recommended a whole house surge suppressor to bring the main panel up to current code. He did not use a high pressure sell on the suppressor and was fine with not installing one. We did decide to go ahead and get one installed. He was knowledgeable and friendly and was willing to discuss and explain what ever we asked about.

Brad Bode

18:44 08 Jan 26

I have had both HVAC and Electricians to our home to give estimates. All were professional with great communication skills and knowledge.

Dan came to fix our heating filament and install an iWave. Like everyone I have interacted with he was informative and easy to work with.
I am Very satisfied with the responsiveness and prefissionalism.

Lisa L

09:01 27 Dec 25

I can't say enough good things about Conejo Services. We called them to get a second opinion on a major plumbing issue. Jimmy came out and put a camera though the various lines involved and gave us his opinion, taking the time to explain the issues and the pros and cons of the options we had. He was professional, courteous, and a straight shooter. It's so hard to know what questions to ask when you are trying to care for your home, and Jimmy really made me feel like he wanted to help us make the best choice. While the repair was not cheap, I feel that it was fairly priced. At the end of the day, I am certain he saved us money and a great deal of stress: he put my mind at ease. And when you are trying to make the best decision about your biggest asset, that is truly priceless. After we came up with a game plan, he gave us a detailed quote that clearly stated the scope of work and didn't blink at guaranteeing it for 25 YEARS. Christa at the office called and scheduled our work and was super friendly. The crew was beyond courteous and conscientious and worked their butts off. The actual plumbing work was top notch. In addition, they had to dig up a portion of the yard where there were plants, and they did a very careful job of making sure the plants weren't harmed and put them back perfectly. We are so happy with the whole experience and highly recommend them. Will use them again in a heartbeat!

J Mc

17:51 24 Dec 25

Great technicians! Though IMO overpriced. I joined the Platinum Level Preferred Maintenance Club, to save on dispatching on routine items and get great deals on maintenance routines on HVAC, tankless water heater, water and plumbing. Needed a 30 year old wall shower faucet replaced when I signed up, the job was well done, but the cost was exoberant, imo, and I did not recieve a discount on the repair as I missed the fine print and was not told that when I signed, I needed to be a club member for a consectutive 5 months to obtain those repair discounts. I did ask at least twice to get a call to manager, was told the message was forwarded to the office, no response. Now 5 months later had a Heater Maintenance and Dryer Vent cleaning, Eric was the specialist. Excellent service by Eric. However, I received an invoice that day for $200 for the vent cleaning even though that service is listed as part of the PMC at Platinum level. I called CSHPE customer service and was told they would handle it and to ignore the invoice. Three days later, I got the same invoice, again I called, same advice. Got another invoice yesterday. I have not received one today, but it is still early AM. 🤨 Bottom line, good technical work but undermined by pricing perception, membership benefit confusion/misapplication, and unresolved billing/communication problems.

Jessica Jimenez

01:29 18 Dec 25

George was awesome! He called and let us know he could come sooner but, made sure that was okay with our schedule. He went above and beyond explaining the issue and made sure all was okay to make sure that issue did occur again. He asked if we were okay with the explanation and if we had any other questions or issues to reach out. Excellent service!

Michelle Perez

18:37 12 Dec 25

I have used Conejo Seviced a couple of times now, and they have done a fantastic job both times. They were prompt, professional, easy to talk to, honest, and did the job in the specified time frame. I will happy to continue using them.

Lana Light

02:38 12 Dec 25

Owen was my electric tech,
and from the conversation over a couple of electrical issues here, I understood quickly that Owen knows the line of work very well: educated, smart, polite, with down the the earth professional demineur... He checked the wiring, and explained the possibilities why my appliance keeps tripping the breaker..
Thank you Owen.
The company has a right set up. They would also remind you about the appointment, and would convinietly call you a few minutes ahead.

They have the right codes... they won't walk in their shoes on your floors either...
I strongly recommend the Conejo company for your electrical issues...

Robert Lewis

22:40 11 Dec 25

Juan did an outstanding job. He is very professional and personable. He kept us informed on what he was doing. It was a pleasure working with him and Conejo Services. We have used you before and we have always had prompt and professional service. Thank you so very much.

Leslie Hackney

18:30 08 Dec 25

When our 31 year-old furnace suddenly stopped working, they were out within 24 hours of my call. It was a quick and easy replacement part, but something we wouldn’t dare do ourselves. It’s good to know we’ve found a reliable repair service!

Alejandra Aldana

01:20 05 Dec 25

It was excellent service from the initial request to schedule an appt for electrical repairs and the installation updates as to the time and date of service technician arrival at work site. The service person was timely in his arrival time, considerate , respectful and courteous.

Major Tom

13:06 03 Dec 25

David G. was patient, personable and explained things. He was thorough and cleaned up after himself. He is an asset to the company and exemplifies the level of professionalism and quality that I have come to expect from Conejo Services.