Plumbing that smells like a sewer is the result of several possible causes; some are easily fixed. Others are more complex.

You were dressing to go to the CJGA World Championship this morning when you first noticed a funny sewer-like smell in your bathroom. So, you decided to ignore it because – well, because it seemed natural for a bathroom to occasionally smell like a sewer. But, you changed your mind when you got home and found the smell was still strong. And, you became even more concerned when you could not track the smell to one fixture or drain.

Causes Related to the P-Trap

The bad news, according to home.howstuffwork.com, is that there are multiple causes for the smell. And, the P-trap is the first place to look for the source of a sewage smell. Because, the most likely cause is connected to the P-Trap, the U-shaped pipe underneath the bathroom sink. And, it connects the ceiling and roof to the septic system. The idea is to let any smelly gases escape to the outside. But, the U-shape allows a small amount of water to remain in the P-trap. And, this stops sewage gases from escaping into the house and guides them up and to the outside.

The fix is generally quick and easy.

The most common problem arises when the water in a P-Trap evaporates or loses volume. And, this allows the smell into the house. The remedy is to add water to the P-Trap. And, if that doesn’t work, you can try adding pink RV water-safe antifreeze to the P-Trap. But, if that still does not work, the P-Trap may have a leak. Or the pipe may be clogged. Because some clogs develop smells.

Time to Search for Other Causes

What else could cause a foul smell? Well, one possibility is a lose or broken toilet seal. Another possible cause is a blocked or damaged vent. You can make your search easier by contacting Billy Sunshine.

You have no worries if you call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Home plumbing problems can range from a minor inconvenience to a major headache. But, addressing problems promptly can save you time, money, and stress. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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What Constitutes a Plumbing Emergency?

A plumbing “emergency” varies from person to person. And, a plumbing “emergency” can also change from case to case. But, is there such a thing as a true “plumbing emergency”? Answering some questions should help you decide.

Plumbing crises can come into peoples’ lives at any time and in various ways. For example, you and your family plan to attend tonight’s candlelight service at the Chapel by the Sea on Clearwater Beach. And, you have invited family and friends to stop in afterward for food and drinks.

However, things don’t go as planned. You opened your door to flooded floors.

What to do when faced with a Plumbing Issue

First, find out what the problem is. Then, Angi.com suggests you ask questions. Because, your answer will help you decide whether you have a true plumbing emergency and need a plumber right now. Or, if you could wait until the next business day to get a plumber.

The questions:

• Do you need the broken part now?
• Can you wait to use the broken part?
• Can you turn the fixture off?
• Does the weather affect your need for the broken part?
• Will leaving it alone cause more damage?
• Is it your responsibility to fix the problem?

Some plumbers define “plumbing emergency” as anything that will cause damage or harm to you and your family’s health or property. Now assume you return to an occasional drip rather than a flood. Ask the same questions. Do you consider the occasional drip to be a plumbing emergency? Your answers and your decision are what matters.

You are the ultimate judge when it comes to defining plumbing emergency in your home.

The best way to prevent a plumbing emergency of any definition is maintenance, landmarkhw.com says. “The number one reason that plumbing issues turn into emergencies is due to lack of maintenance. There are many ways to detect and avoid plumbing emergencies in the home. It is important to keep an eye on a home’s plumbing system, the closer the system is monitored the more likely it is that small issues will be caught and fixed before they become plumbing emergencies,” landmarkhw.com says.

No matter how much care is taken the plumbing system will occasionally fail. If you decide you have a crisis and need an emergency plumber, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Home plumbing problems can range from a minor inconvenience to a major headache. But, addressing problems promptly can save you time, money, and stress. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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Help! My toilet is gurgling!

You returned from an afternoon of tobogganing at St. Pete’s Snowfest event to a backed up toilet that was gurgling at you. You’re not sure why your toilet backed up. However, you have noticed that your bathroom fixtures all seem to be running slow these days. Sounds like you have a plumbing problem that’s centered in your sewer. And, those symptoms could indicate you have a blockage or clog in your sewer line caused by tree roots growing in the system.

How do roots get into the sewer system?

Lifehacker.com explains that tree roots search everywhere for water and nutrients. And, if they find a source – even a tiny crack in a sewer pipe – they will creep in and grow until they block the pipe flow. Simply chopping down the tree may not solve the problem. The roots can remain in the pipe for years after the tree is gone. And, there are many indications that you have roots in your toilet. Among them, according to lifehacker.com:

• slow-moving drains in bathroom fixtures
• gurgling sounds in toilets
• backed-up toilets
• low water pressure
• sinkholes or waterlogged areas on your lawn

What’s the best solution to roots in sewer system?

Angi.com says you can prevent root formation in your pipes by using root killer twice a year. Or, you could replace your old pipes. But, before you panic about replacing your whole sewer line,  Angi.com says you may be able to repair pipes with small cracks without the entire line being replaced. (But, pipes that are older, near their lifespan, or severely damaged should be replaced.)

If you are not sure you can detect the root clog and repair it, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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A Plumbing Leak Surprise

A leak you discovered when returning home from the Dunedin Holiday Boat Parade flooded your home over the weekend. And, you were shocked to discover the extent of the leak. Because, the flood covered your entire first floor. The size likely indicates you have more than a few hairline cracks, forbes.com says.  Instead, you probably have a “slab leak.”

What is a slab leak?

A slab leak forms when plumbing pipes beneath a home’s concrete slab foundation—mainly copper water lines—corrode or otherwise deteriorate and leak water. So, if you suspect a slab leak, you need to investigate and address the issue right away. Because, this type of leak can cause damage to your home if left unresolved,” according to thisoldhouse.com.

Slab leaks generally count as a plumbing emergency, forbes.com says. This is because standing water can attract pests and grow mold. The leak has many causes that range from having a home located in the flood zone to cracks in your foundation to leaky and rusted water pipes. Other causes include clogged gutters and sloped landscaping as well as bad gutters, abrasion and corrosion. Main line water breaks are also known to cause slab leaks.

There are almost as many signs that you have a slab leak as causes.

Signs you have a break in the main water line, according to forbes.com:

• Foul smell
• Hissing and gurgling
• Low water pressure
• Consistent drain clogs
• Higher water bills
• Pools of water in the yard

Other signals you have a possible slab leak, according to thisoldhouse.com:

• Cracks in walls or baseboards
• Warm spots on your floor where a hot water pipe is leaking
• Damp floors, or carpets

If you are not sure you can detect the leak and repair it, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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Coffee may be your favorites, but it’s not one of your plumbing favorites.

Yes! Coffee is one of your favorite things in life.

You’re always collecting and passing coffee-related memes along to friends. Not only that, you’re always experimenting with new coffee drinks. And, you are guessing that’s how you managed to clog your kitchen drain. You had no idea your drains and garbage disposal did not get along with coffee grounds.

Why Coffee grounds are not your plumbing’s best friend.

Chowhound.com explains: Coffee grounds can merge when combined with water and form clumps. When this happens, they act like they do in a coffee filter and create a blockage in the pipes, according to ajc.com. Even worse, chowhound.com says, they can smell up your sink and pipe because they trap grease and rotting food that become enmeshed or manage to make their way through the clog.

The best thing to do with coffee grounds is to dump them in the trash or put them in a compost pile.

But housedigest.com offers several alternatives.

• FERTILIZE. Among those are likely the most well known of using them to fertilize your garden. Housedigest.com notes coffee grounds not only provide nutrients to the soil, they also attract beneficial earthworms.
• DEODORIZE. The coffee grounds can be used to deodorize shoes, although housedigest.com says you need to put them in an air permeable sac before putting them in your shoes. They can also repel bugs and be used to clean ovens and burnt on messes on pots and pans, housedigest.com says.
• AND MORE. You can also use them to  dye fabric, make candles, and repair scratches on wood furniture.

If you get a clog you can’t clear – whether is is caused by coffee grounds or something  else – it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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One of your favorite events is the annual Sanding Ovations sand sculpture competition on Treasure Island.

There is nothing like spending a day at the beach, staring at huge sand sculptures, eating hot dogs, and drinking sodas or whatever else pleases you. While you might find it fun to be at the beach for a day, your plumbing may not be has happy.

Plumbing issues can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare, and one common problem that often goes overlooked in Florida (especially Tampa Bay and those who live on our beautiful beaches) is the presence of sand clogs in your pipes. Sand might seem harmless, but when it finds its way into your plumbing system, it can wreak havoc, causing slow drains, blockages, and even pipe damage.

According to deltafaucet.com: Sand is notorious for forming clogs. Anytime sand enters the plumbing system it risks causing a clog and damaging pipes. Forcing sand out of your pipes is the only way to get it out of your plumbing system, deltafaucet.com says.

Prevention is the best cure for sand clogs.

Deltafaucet.com suggests you never open your door to sand. When you get home, rinse off any excess sand with a garden hose before going inside. When you finally take a shower, the only thing going down the drain should be water.

If you do get a sand clog, Billy the Sunshine Plumber can help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

Sand clogs in your plumbing can be a nuisance, but with proactive measures and timely intervention, you can prevent extensive damage to your pipes.

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In a typical household, items get dumped in sinks and flushed in toilets several times every day.

For the most part, the process works as it should and the items disappear. But every once in a while, the stuff doesn’t disappear and backs up. If you’re lucky, it only backs up into the sink, bath, or toilet. If you’re not, then it overflows into the bath or kitchen. Publichealthjhu.edu explains what happens when you flush things you shouldn’t.

EXIT: oil, food scraps, or so-called flushable wipes. ENTER: the Fatberg.

A fatberg is typically made out of fat, oil, and grease—which do not break down in the sewer system—combined with other things that shouldn’t have been flushed, like sanitary products and personal wipes. The fat, oil, and grease harden and stick all these non-biodegradable objects together, causing an immovable clog: a fatberg.” And, yes, while fatbergs are notorious for plaguing public sewer systems, they also form in homeowners’ pipes.

The same goes for condo pipes and business pipes.

Your best bet to avoid a fatberg is to keep from dumping or flushing things that should not be put into the water system – things like personal wipes and fats, oils, and grease. It doesn’t matter if the personal wipes are marked flushable, they are not.

But things happen! Things that shouldn’t, get tossed and flushed. If that happens and you get a clog, it’s time to call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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Have clogged drains that back up and overflow? The drain cleaning pros at Billy the Sunshine Plumber Can Help.

So, you were planning a bit of holiday fun for the kids after you got off from work today. You were going to take them to see Santa and his reindeer live and in person. At least that’s what you were planning. Now it looks as if you’re going to be searching for a plumber. 

That’s because your toilet and sink backed up. And the tub still had water in it when you left home. Clearly, you have some kind of big plumbing clog. You’re just hoping you can find a plumber willing to come out tonight to unblock your pipes and do a bit of drain cleaning because you can’t take time off work to go meet anyone.

And, you have to admit, you’re also wondering what the kids have tried to flush now that they shouldn’t have. 

You’re right in thinking toys, pieces of clothing and other foreign objects have a hard time making it through plumbing. But, your clogged pipes could be a buildup of less obvious things. Like paper towels or paper napkins. They look flushable. But they’re not. As businesswire.com points out, “Paper towels are not designed to break down in water like toilet paper. Flushing them can result in blockages.”

As for finding someone willing to come to your rescue at your convenience, that’s easy. Just call Billy the Sunshine Plumber. Billy Sunshine is open 24/7/365 days a year – he takes no vacations, no holidays. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here when you need him whether it’s a clog or something bigger.

Billy Sunshine has been Tampa Bay’s go-to plumber of choice since 1924. That’s a lot of drain cleaning and clog clearing in almost 100 years in business. Billy has drain cleaning technicians in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. 

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It doesn’t matter why you’re coping with a clog, Billy the Sunshine Plumber will clear it away.

bath When you finished the Fort De Soto classic today, all you could think about was soaking in a hot tub with nice smelling bath oil to relax your tired muscles.

That does sound good but be careful. Bath oils can be bad for your plumbing. It depends on what is in them and how you us them, according to the Washington Post.

“Besides an acid and a base, most bath bombs also contain Epsom salts — known for soothing muscle aches — and oils, such as coconut, soybean or olive, to form a cohesive mass, much like adding an egg allows meatballs to hold their shape. Then, there are essential oils for imparting a scent to your bath. There could also be extras, such as colorants, pieces of dried flowers, confetti and, especially in products targeting younger consumers, oh-so-messy glitter,” the Post says.

That classifies them as FOG -fats, oils, grease – that you don’t want anywhere near your plumbing.

“Although you may bathe in hot water, … after the first 10 feet of your drain, the pipes start to cool substantially, especially if you live in colder climates, and anything in the outflowing water congeals quickly,” the Post explains, Your clog starts forming.

If you do get a clog or blockage you can’t handle, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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Billy the Sunshine Plumber can make sure your sewer lines remain clear.

Recently, you seem to be getting clogs and blockages in the plumbing all over your home. Angi.com suggests that might be an indication you need to have your sewer line cleaned.

“Every 18 to 22 months is the most effective time for a plumber to clean your sewer drain. While many items around your home require regularly scheduled inspections and cleaning, your sewer drain is significantly lower maintenance. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to leave it alone for decades,” angi.com says. “When deciding how often to clean your sewer line, you want to do it often enough to prevent clogs from forming.”

Angi.com adds: “While the goal is to keep your sewer drain clean to avoid clogs altogether, sometimes they happen anyway. Here are the most common signs that your sewer drain is clogged and in need of clearing:

“Backup in the toilet, bathtub, or shower

“Bad smell coming from drains

“Pipes making gurgling sounds

“Clogged drains occur frequently

“Drains emptying slowly

“Water pooling in basement drains

“Washing machine is causing a backup.”

If you need your sewer line cleared, call Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

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