6 Tips for Controlling Sewer Odors in Commercial Buildings

Dirty water and branches pouring out of an outdoor sewer pipe. Buildings under construction are in the background.

Managing a commercial building brings its fair share of challenges, and sewer odors often create issues that escalate quickly if ignored. Complaints from tenants, disruptions to daily operations, and the risk of creating a negative impression can turn these odors into a constant headache. The good news? You can take charge and resolve the problem by following these six tips for controlling sewer odors in commercial buildings.

Understanding Sewer Systems

Sewer systems move wastewater away from your property to treatment facilities. These systems handle everything from restroom plumbing to kitchen drains. However, wastewater carries gases produced during material breakdown, including hydrogen sulfide and methane, as it travels through pipes.

These gases can escape the system through the vents, causing vent line leaks or backups that can create foul odors that affect indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, improper maintenance or blockages can lead to stagnant waste, amplifying these smells.

Knowing how your sewer system functions can make it easier to understand why odors arise and how to address them effectively. Let’s discuss proactive measures to keep unpleasant smells at bay.

Tip 1: Ensure Proper Operation of Vent Pipes

Vent pipes are a frequent cause of sewer odors. These pipes funnel sewer gases away from your building, but errors during installation can create pathways for these odors to seep into indoor spaces instead of out of the vent’s outlet on the roof. Beyond the smell, these pathways can make the air uncomfortable to breathe and reduce your property’s appeal.

What can you do? Hire a professional plumber to evaluate your vent system. They can identify misaligned pipes, improper sealing, and other issues that may allow gas leaks into the building. Another common problem is when sewer gases exit the vent pipes only to be drawn into the building through the HVAC intakes located on the roof. However, using our Industrial Odor Control’s Super Wolverine Vent filter will resolve this problem.

Tip 2: Prevent Clogged Vents

Clogging in vent pipes is another reason sewer gases end up where they shouldn’t. Leaves, debris, or even animal activity can obstruct airflow, trapping sewer gases inside your system and forcing them into indoor spaces through plumbing traps.

You can prevent this issue with regular inspections and maintenance. Industrial Odor Control’s Activated Carbon Vent filters control odors and can act as a screen to prevent unwanted debris from entering your plumbing vents.

A person wearing cleaning gloves and clearing out a clogged sewer pipe with a metal rod. A pile of debris sits near the pipe.

Tip 3: Promptly Address Sewer Line Backups

Control sewer odors in your commercial building by immediately addressing sewer line backups. Backups in the main sewer line occur when blockages obstruct waste flow, causing sewage to accumulate and release gases. Bad smells often signal that something’s wrong, appearing well before visible sewage overflows.

Schedule regular camera inspections of your sewer lines to detect potential blockages before they escalate. A plumbing contractor can also use high-pressure jetting to clean out grease, roots, or other materials causing backups. Acting quickly keeps your system flowing properly and eliminates the odor problem at its source.

Use Preventive Measures To Avoid Blockages

Implement the following preventive strategies to avoid sewer line blockages:

Regular maintenance of Sewer and septic bacterial using our Industrial Odor Control’s EZ grease trap and drain concentrate. Our EZ grease trap and drain concentrate is a unique liquid bacterial blend formulated specifically to control fats, oils, and grease (FOG) levels and odors associated with grease traps and drain systems.
Install commercial-grade drain strainers to catch and prevent debris from entering the plumbing system.
Educate tenants, employees, or building occupants on proper waste disposal practices, such as avoiding flushing non-degradable items or pouring grease down drains.
Schedule routine professional maintenance, including drain cleaning and sewer line inspections, to address issues before they escalate.
Use grease traps in kitchens or food preparation areas to prevent grease buildup in the sewer lines.

Tip 4: Maintain P-Traps in Low-Use Drains

P-traps prevent sewer gases from traveling up from your plumbing system into indoor spaces. They do this by holding a small amount of water to create a seal. However, the trapped water can evaporate if you don’t use the drain frequently, leaving the gases free to escape.

The solution is simple. Periodically run water down seldom-used drains to replenish the barrier in the P-trap. Setting a maintenance schedule to run water through these pipes is an effective preventive measure for larger commercial buildings with unused restrooms or emergency drains.

For instance, a retail store’s stockroom might have a floor drain that goes unused for months. Running water through it weekly can keep sewer odors in check without needing additional plumbing solutions.

Tip 5: Eliminate Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Gas Emissions

Hydrogen sulfide, known for its rotten egg smell, often stems from organic material breaking down in wastewater systems. Beyond the odor, H2S can irritate respiratory systems, damage materials, such as pipes, and lead to significant complaints if left unresolved.

Addressing H2S involves a mix of improving ventilation and using odor-neutralizing technology. An activated carbon filter may be beneficial for buildings with high levels of this gas.

Tip 6: Manholes Odors

The rear view of a worker kneeling near an open manhole and writing on a clipboard. Grass surrounds the manhole.

Manholes near or within your commercial property are a common source of sewer odors. Installation of our Industrial Odor Control’s Manhole Odor Insert will fix your problem while allowing the sewer line to breathe and operate normally.

Final Thoughts: Taking Control of Sewer Odors

Eliminating sewer odors in a commercial building may feel difficult at times, but it’s far from impossible. If the odor is emanating from the vent pipe or manhole, installing our Industrial Odor Controls activated carbon filter will resolve your issue. You may need repairs if the problem is due to a damaged or clogged vent or drain line.