Q. I notice an odor coming out of our first-floor bathroom. What could be causing this odor?
Martin Gilbert, Somonauk, Ill.
A. Every plumbing fixture in a home is designed to have a water trap, which acts as a barrier to keep sewer fumes from coming into the home. The water in the toilet bowl and the water in basement floor drains are examples of traps. For sinks and tubs, a portion of pipe in the wall or under the floor is set to hold water for this purpose.
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If a homeowner smells sewer gas, it may be coming from a rotted, cracked or separated pipe, said Robert Melko, of Bishop Plumbing, in Des Plaines. He recommends hiring a licensed plumber to conduct the peppermint test, which should pinpoint the area of the leaking odor.
The test is done with two people. One person gets on the roof and drops a small amount of oil of peppermint and water down the vent stack, which is part of the plumbing maze. While he does this, another person is in the bathroom waiting for the first whiff of peppermint. Before the smell fills the entire room, this person needs to sniff out the source of the smell, which could be very faint if it is behind a wall or under the floor, he said.
Once the problem area is pinned down, the contractor will need to get to the pipe to evaluate the needed repair–most likely a portion of pipe will need to be replaced.
This kind of test could also be done by pumping smoke into the vent stack, Melko said.
Clearing climbing vines
Several weeks ago, this column answered a question about cleaning aluminum siding after climbing vines have been cleared away from the exterior surface. A contractor suggested a couple ideas, including the cover-up approach of paint.
But reader, Maria Martinek, of Evanston, wrote asking for clarification on the option of painting. She said the recommendation to “paint the old siding would be a disaster, as the paint would either not adhere to the remaining plant bits, or would flake off as they broke down.”
For more information, we talked to Doris Taylor, plant information specialist at Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Taylor said there are various types of vines that creep along arbors, fences, trellises and home exteriors. They attach to surfaces with small rootlets or tiny suction cups. The powerful adhesive of these vines can pull mortar out from a brick wall, she said.
If a homeowner were to pull down the branches and vines, he would find small plant remnants stubbornly attached to the siding. The plant residue will eventually wear off, but it takes years, she said. If a homeowner is determined to clean the siding, Taylor said, “try soap and water and lots of elbow grease.”
If a homeowner chooses to paint aluminum siding, he should consult with his paint retailer for the correct paint and be prepared to thoroughly scrape, sand and clean the surface before painting.
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Have a question about home repair or maintenance? Send a brief note to Home Remedies, Your Place, baiduhai, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611, or e-mail [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, address and daytime phone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns.