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Sewer

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1. I have a gas odor in my basement, what is it?

Whether the odor is from natural gas or "sewer gas" you should immediately address the situation by calling the gas company or a plumber. If it is sewer gas the source of the problem is usually within the basement plumbing. There's definitely an odor associated with sewage but a properly installed plumbing system should not allow any of that gas into your house. Check to see if the water has evaporated out of a floor drain trap or any other unused drain such as an unused shower, allowing the gas to enter the house. Fill all those traps with a bucket of water to reseal the system. The problem may also be a blocked plumbing system vent stack located on the roof. Professional expertise may be required to correct that situation.

2. I have a puddle of dirty water around my floor drain, what should I do?

The vast majority of sewer drain blockages occur in the homeowner's lateral (connection from the house to the sewer line in the street) and are the homeowner's responsibility. You should stop using all water in the house until the blockage is opened. Our department will respond but will most likely inform you to contact a sewer service to have your line rodded out. If the water is forcefully bubbling up out of the drain the problem may be in the public sewer and you should contact us as soon as possible. When in doubt contact the sewer department and we will be more than happy to assist you in determing the cause.

3. Why is water splashing up or noise coming from my toilet?

The City of Brookfield has an ongoing sewer cleaning maintenance program to ensure the sewer system operates at maximum capacity. In rare occurrences during cleaning air is forced up through the house's lateral. The favorite location for this air to escape is the toilet. Although this is an inconvenience there is no harm to the house's plumbing. We suggest that the roof vent stack be checked for a blockage. If you have had this happen in the past and reported this to the sewer department the sewer cleaning crew will make an effort to inform the occupants before the cleaning is started so that the toilet cover can be lowered to minimize splashing.