Hello all, There is a awful sewer smell coming from my bath tub, it leave some type of brownish film over the drain almost up to the spout, it fumes or what ever it is also burns my eyes some, I don't know what it is I have lived here over two years with no problem and this just happened over night, I noticed yesterday that there is a smell coming from my water heater as well, my tub is the only thing having the problem everything else is just fine, toilet, sinks water hoses, is this hazardes for our health, what should I do? my land lord is kinda tight so i want to try to figure this out on my own if I can, can anybody please help me. Worried Mom

When you next get the smell, check the traps to see if there is enough water in there to fill the trap, if one is less then it looks like water is getting sucked out when toilet is flushed or that trap (usually bath or shower) hasn't had water going in (lack of use) and water has partially evaporated.

The smell is sewer gas coming back in the house from the sewer or septic tank ether from a dried out water trap in a floor or fixture drain, or from the roof vent, or a hole or separation in pipe or fitting. Like wax ring under toilet. First pore water down every drain to fill any trap that might have gone dry, then flush toilet or run washer or drain bath tub.This will displace gas in pipe and will cause the smell to increases if there is no smell then the problem is fixed if not check roof vent it may need a charcoal filter on top, There is no water trap on air vent on roof and is an open hole to the sewer or septic, The heating system in the winter or AC in summer will draw the gas inside from the vent.If it is the vent you should be able to smell it from outside. If all tests fails You will need to have a smoke test done. A smoker is set up outside and the line is filled with smoke and will show where gas is coming from. Also it might be a good ideal to check all gas fittings in case it is a gas leak.

Check the basement. There may be a valve (two valves) that someone partially closed in the past to limit how much water was used for a bath.

The drain pipe that your drain hose goes into is more than likely the problem. The drain pipes should have a p trap which looks kind of like an S- shape the water stays in the trap preventing the smell from backing into your home . If there is none, install one.

The problem is mildew that is on the outer tub (the one that surrounds the metal tub that you can see). There has been much written and discussed about this. I have a Whirlpool that smells awful if we don't leave the lid up and a fan on it. Whirlpool makes a product that will abate the smell somewhat, but the smell comes back and the product isn't cheap.

I have had temporary success with bleach or Lysol (the good old fashioned disinfectant in a brown bottle) but you have to douse the tub from top to bottom. Be careful with allowing bleach to remain in a washing machine as it will corrode all metal parts inside the unit.

I wish I had an easy answer for you. Prior to this washer, I had a GE washer for over 30 years that never, ever smelled bad. I want it back.

Good luck from Detroit, MI.

You always need to vent a sink. If you do not vent the sink it will create a vacume and **** water, or air from the nearest fixture.. example, if you connect to the sewer line near a bath tub, when you run the sink water it will **** air from the bath tub drain. If it sucks a lot of air, you will smell the sewer odor since the water is no longer blocking it.
If you cannot run the vent to the roof, there is an in wall vent valve called a studor vent that may work. Get with someone at Lowes or Home depot to show you one.

I hope you put trap back on,or you need to fill trap with water--that is the water seal for sewer gas

Check your main vent line for obstructions (animals, nests, leaves, etc.) and then have your drains inspected. There is likely a "log-jam" (pun intended) in the sewer drain line - as it is not allowing the water to drain as fast as the washer pumps it out.

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After you turn water off in about 30 secs pull the diverter up and leave for a few minutes This should allow the water left in shower piipe to drain out the spigot

Something was flushed that should not have been flushed
You will have to have your drain snaked out.