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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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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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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Toilet clogged and backing up? Billy the Sunshine Plumber will help!

You were planning on spending the day biking on the Serenova Tract. Instead, you were in your bathroom, cleaning up the backed up icky stuff from your clogged toilet and trying to get rid of the blockage. It was a really nasty way to spend a Sunday.

It was not only a dirty job, you had to admit it was your fault for flushing wipes down the toilet. In you defense, you thought they were “flushable,” because the label said so.

Rule No.1 of housekeeping – don’t trust labels.

“When a product is labeled ‘flushable,’ it generally means that it will clear your toilet bowl. It does not mean it will definitely clear your pipes or break down in the sewer system or at a wastewater treatment plant. Water and wastewater utilities around the world have found a significant increase of wipes in their sewer pipes and at their plants,” according to nyc.gov. “Truly flushable items are ones that: break into small pieces quickly, are not buoyant, and only contain materials which will readily degrade in a range of natural environments (like paper, not plastic).”

The problem is more than the formation of a clog. The problem is made worse by the fact that the wipes clear the toilet bowl and form the clog farther down in a pipe. That makes it especially hard for homeowners to clear up the mess by themselves.Many find it’s best to call the trusted plumbers at 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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Billy the Sunshine Plumber will help you if you get a clog – in the toilet or elsewhere – that you can’t clear by yourself.

After you took your morning walk around the Pier, you headed out to do some shopping. While you were in the pet store, you noticed something new – flushable kitty litter. That certainly caught your eye. It would be wonderful to simply pick up the kitty waste, dump it in the toilet and FLUSH! All gone!

That is a great dream. Unfortunately, it’s a nightmare that can hurt both your plumbing and the environment.

Betterpet.com explains: “Even though flushable kitty litter itself is made from biodegradable materials, cat poop itself could have certain infectious bugs that can cause harm to human and animal health. The cat excrement that is caught up in the litter residue can seep into sewer lines and contaminate water supplies when flushed.

“This can be especially dangerous as some cat excrement has traces of parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (T-gondii). This parasite found in the feces can spread active spores and oocysts into waterways. Many treatment plants simply aren’t capable of eliminating this particular parasite, and it can end up in our water.

“If humans or animals ingest this parasite, it can be dire. Reports show that sea otters have been affected by this parasite found in water, which has caused them to suffer from cardiac disease.”

Rhode Island and California have taken stances against flushing litter – flushable or not.

As for your plumbing, betterpet.com says: “Although regular clay litter will most definitely clog your pipes, there’s a chance flushing flushable cat litter may clog them, too.

“According to a plumber interviewed by Today, most newer, water-saving toilets only produce 1.6 gallons of water per flush. That’s simply not enough to push the kitty litter down. Plus, cat feces can be harder and drier than human feces. After all, kitty litter’s job is to pretty much petrify poop. So, both the actual cat waste excrement and the litter itself can do a number on your septic tank, which could incur a very costly fix.”

So much for your dreams of easily disposing of kitty waste. At least for now, you need to continue doing what you’ve been doing.

And if you do get a clog of any kind that you can’t fix, you need to call the trusted plumbing technicians at 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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Billy the Sunshine Plumber will help if your plumbing backs up in heavy rain.

If you’re like the rest of us, you’re running around trying to get ready for Hurricane Ian and hoping it just goes past us with no harm. If you’ve got an older house with iffy plumbing, you’re also beginning to wonder if your plumbing system will make it through the storm. You’re right to be concerned, according to thisoldhouse.com.

“You don’t need an article to tell you that a sewer backup is no joke. But, old houses, increased rain, and lack of maintenance can suddenly experience sewage backing up into their homes,” thisoldhouse.com says. “If this happens to you, you’ll need to take measures to fix it immediately to avoid further issues and emergencies.”

Your best bet to avoid having a sewer backup is to avoid having one. As thisoldhouse.com explains, “The first step in how to manage a sewer backup is to not have one. Some plumbing companies offer an annual inspection program where they will scope and clean your existing drains. Among other things, grease can build up and harden in the pipes over time. But with a yearly inspection, minor obstructions like grease buildup can typically be water jetted away.

“Another problem the scope may find is a broken or cracked pipe. The older the house, the more likely the drain stacks are cast iron and they can fill over time, crack, or—worse—be cracked or breached by tree roots or heavy equipment in the yard.

“Long story short, an inspection is inexpensive compared to a repair.”

If you do get a backup, your best bet is to call a trusted emergency plumber, like those at 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 even on Labor Day.

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Billy the Sunshine Plumber will help if your toilet or sewer lines get clogged.

You’re planning a major adventure for this three-day July 4 weekend. You and a couple of friends are going to go backpacking and camping on the 43-mile Cross Florida Greenway. You spent a good part of yesterday getting supplies for the trip – including these new items on the market – toilet paper tablets.

Problem was, you were so intent on trip supplies that you forget to get toilet paper for your own home. Now you’re wondering if you can use the toilet paper tablets in your bathroom.

There seems to be no reason you shouldn’t. Just don’t flush the toilet paper tablets.

“Although toilet paper tablets are convenient for outdoor adventures, don’t use them with your home plumbing systems. You risk damaging or clogging your pipes if you flush toilet paper tablets down the toilet.,” according to drivinvibin.com. “Will you have problems if you accidentally flush it? Not always, but you don’t want to risk the damage of clogging your plumbing system or the cost of repairing it. Most packages will say not flushable to ensure that users don’t take that risk.”

Oops. You’ve already flushed one. If it causes a clog, try your usual methods to clear things up. If that doesn’t work, 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, even on holidays like July 4.

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