drain odor

We moved into our home 4 weeks ago. It is five years old, 2 story with unfinished basement.

Began to notice "pet urine" smell coming from all drains on 1st and 2nd level (not in basement) only when water is turned on (after about 15 seconds)

We just had a very nice plumber over for about 4 hours of day. It was $275 (OUCH). Although he was able to fix some of our other concerns (expansion tank, new valve on water heater, vent cover under sink), he couldn't figure out smell problem. It was very frustrating for him.

We have 1 bath on top floor--tub/shower combo & sink drain involved
We have 1.5 bath on main floor---tub sep.shower both master sinks, powder room sink, and kitchen sink involved.
Laundry tub and washing machine in basement---no odor ever detected.

We uncovered one of the drain covers outside the house--no smell.

Now, on the main floor off of the kitchen there is a laundry closet which has been used as extra pantry/baking station. Is it possible that the trap might be dry and causing odor in all drains? There is a tight plug on this drain and access is going to be difficult as the counter in the pantry will have to be removed.

Thank you, Lisa Gosser

Are you sure its coming from the drains and not from the water itself? You say its a "pet urine" type odor, but could it possibly be a sulphur type odor? When you run the water and notice the smell, are you running hot, cold or a combination of the two?

BTW the $275 for 4 hours of work? You got a deal.

reply

Well, we "captured" some water in a large soup pot--covered it & let it sit--upon checking, there was no detectable odor.

I thought that was a good deal---he:
--fixed leak in shower
--fixed leak in tub
--put vent cap on pipe under kitchen sink
--flushed water heater
--flushed drains on main level and upper level (clean)
--installed a t & p valve on water heater I had
--installed an expansion tank I had
--fixed gas leak on pipe outside

Anyway, doesn't matter cold or hot. When he flushed the tank, it was clear. None of our neighbors have had this problem. We originally thought it might have been from the previous owners (they had six cats + 3 dogs) washing the litter boxes in sinks--or using sinks as litter boxes. But all drains on main and upper level were flushed clean.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to respond.
Lisa

We live at the end of cul-de-sac---next to drainage "green belt"---

Do you have central heating?

If so could the smell come from the duck works?

yes, we have ductwork

There is an odor coming from a few of the vents on the main level---we think the pets may have urinated there. Could that be connected to the drain? We have a vent cleaning scheduled for Fri.

PS--GO DUCKS! Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon----well, Springfield actually---went to U of O.

found problem

After doing some research on the internet---

We believe the smell is a combination of the VOC's from our new carpet installed upon move-in and the chlorine dioxide used in our county water...apparently, until the reaction stops (carpet smell goes away), there will be that smell upon running of water.

Makes sense:
no smell in basement---no carpet installed
smell gone today---all windows open in house as weather was gorgeous in Georgia today !

Thank you so very much for your responses and if anyone ever has this problem, it could be new carpet !

Lisa Gosser