P-trap Gasses

• A P-trap is a U-shaped pipe that connects on one end to the vertical pipe running down from a sink's drain hole, and on the other end to the sewer pipe coming out of the wall. The bend holds water that acts as a barrier in stopping gasses from traveling up the pipe into the bathroom. If the water in the trap has dried, you can refill it by turning on the sink's faucet.
  
  

Sewer Pipe Break

• Household sewer pipes are generally polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) hard plastic. They run down interior wall cavities into the cellar/basement area. Both pipe types are very durable, but if accidentally knocked, they may crack and drip sewer waste. The damaged pipe section is repaired by cutting it from the line and replacing it with a new pipe section the same diameter as the existing pipe.
  
  

Exterior Sewer Pipe Break

• Each home's main sewer line runs underground from the basement/cellar area to either the city sewer or private septic tank. While the pipe is covered, outside construction or minor earthquakes can damage the line, leading to raw sewage working its way to the ground surface and emitting gasses.
  
  

Cracked Closet Flange

• The closet flange is the first piece of the toilet's sewer pipeline. Shaped like a small section of pipe with a lip surrounding one end, the flange sits on the bathroom floor and secures in place with screws or small bolts. With the toilet bowl sitting over the flange, the flange lip can crack, which produces a wobbly toilet and possible waste leakage around the bowl base. The flange lip can at times be fixed without having to cut into the sewer line and replace the whole flange unit.