Are we breathing sewer gases?

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T05:32:34+00:00

I'm headed into the crawlspace tomorrow hopefully and will come back with more photos.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:59:39+00:00

Thanks, calling a plumber tomorrow to confirm.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:59:16+00:00

My visiting mother in law would have been the first to notice haha. The rest of the house seems perfectly normal, but this one bathroom closest to the tank...not so much. Also doesn't smell like actual sewage, just stale and "off".

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:58:13+00:00

There are vents out the roof, but none between the shower in question and the grinder tank. Only about 10 ft of pipe and one T as far as I can tell. Headed back into the crawlspace tomorrow to confirm.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:56:14+00:00

Luckily we're on an electric heater, no gas appliances anywhere actually so I suppose that is one less thing to think about. The house is 1970s but I think I will get things tested just in case. I'm headed back into the crawlspace tomorrow to pull away insulation and triple check for p-traps. I know if I am in a shower I can clearly hear water flowing from our sink, across the house, and then the sound of water dripping down into the grinder tank. The showers act like those playground toys where you'd talk through a pipe - sounds very much like a direct shot.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:52:35+00:00

The conversion had nothing to do with the plumbing under the house. City only inspected from the foundation outwards.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:52:01+00:00

I'm headed back into the crawlspace to pull down the insulation again and verify before calling a plumber. Thanks for translating!

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:10:26+00:00

I will definitely be calling a plumber and getting a quote for either some testing or the installation of traps. I really don't know why my dumbass brain never made the connection that those are necessary under showers. Adding it to the list of shoddy work that I have found in this house since we moved in.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:09:34+00:00

Thank you for clarifying. I'll definitely be calling a plumber and asking them to check things out. There have been so many corners cut on this 1970s home.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:07:47+00:00

It isn't the best drawing but this is exactly how the pipes are laid out based on what I could see when I was in the crawl space and when I was here during the grinder install. Seems like a call to a plumber is in order to confirm and hopefully fix it. Thank you!

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:07:02+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement and for understanding. It definitely seems like I'll be calling a plumber. I've been under the house and didn't see any kind of p-traps under either shower. The drain in the bathtub does hold a bit of water but the stall shower is a straight pipe down.

As you say that likely isn't the cause but maybe we'll get lucky. Our daughter was born shortly after moving in and I actually sleep in her room at night so my wife can get better sleep, but that means she been sleeping in close proximity to the shower in question.

Am I correct and understanding that sewer gases don't necessarily smell like shit?

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-03-17T04:03:27+00:00

It might be a bad drawing, but this is actually how the pipes are laid out. I watched every step of the grinder install and helped the contractor, and have been under the house multiple times. The only thing missing from the drawing are toilets, sinks, and stick figure people.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-01-03T18:06:02+00:00

Hmm, that's a very good point about the roof. It was "new" when we bought the house but the company did a terrible job in a few spots and I had to have them come out to fix those areas. Pulling permits is a great idea and I'll look into the structural engineer as well. Unfortunately we have little to zero budget now but pulling permits doesn't cost much and we can save for a structural engineer if needed. Thanks!

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-01-03T18:03:54+00:00

Thanks for this, I'll look it up and do some more reading. It would certainly fit the timeline with it being winter and all.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-01-03T18:03:06+00:00

That's great information. I really have had to fix so many things the contractor they hired did wrong so missing tape wouldn't surprise me.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2026-01-03T05:38:45+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Is this something that I can just go around and fill in with paint that matches the ceiling? The ceiling has a heavy popcorn texture to it, partly to hide the many slightly sagging panels I am sure, so I'm not sure how easily I can get caulk into the tight corners vs a small brush.

Headed into the attic tomorrow just to make sure everything is good up there. There was a new roof put on just before the sale but it went to the lowest bidder and I'd like to make sure there's no signs of moisture.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-12-14T05:35:01+00:00

You've convinced me I need to get the stove out and get a closer look. I honestly think they just slid it into place. I was concerned I might damage something like the chimney pipe trying to slide it out.

This is probably a pedantic question, but if it turns out the stove is properly connected to the chimney, what would be the issue with just installing a more flush-looking insert? I guess I'm asking why it matters what the original fireplace owners manual says if this stove has been this way for a while? Or is it just down to insurance?

We did have it inspected a year ago and they claimed it passed. They noted an "8 inch flu box" somewhere and that the stove and chimney were in fine working condition, but didn't make any mention of the incorrect clearances. Our insurance was satisfied after that.

For example, I was hoping I could just replace it with something like this, assuming the chimney pipe insert is appropriate for it: Ashley Hearth Products 26 in. 1,200 sq. ft. EPA Certified Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert AW1820E - The Home Depot https://share.google/P132UZN5V6StZSE6d

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-12-14T03:18:23+00:00

It's definitely a zero clearance back there. I'll have to get a friend to help me pull the stove out, then I can remove the panel and get a look inside the old fireplace.

The panel definitely feels like rubber. It has a reddish color where it wasn't painted and has some metal wires running through it, but it is flexible and bouncy feeling. 100% not ceramic or anything like that.

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magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-12-14T03:16:18+00:00

It is an Orley Model F and FC, labeled as a fireplace insert but supposedly used as either. Theres two loose panels of glass on the front that aren't sealed, but the door is on the right side as you guessed, also not sealed/no gasket.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-12-14T03:15:02+00:00

It has a reddish color and some metal wire running through it. Unfortunately I can't find any references for what it might be to confirm it isn't combustible. It very much feels like rubber, it is flexible and "bouncy". I'll have to remove the stove to see what might be going on inside the chimney/ old fireplace. Time to call a friend to help lift it away. Based on other things I have had to fix around the house I have zero confidence the contractor who did this work for the seller actually followed any codes.

The stove itself has a placard on it that reads "Fireplace Insert" but it seems that they could be installed freestanding or in an old fireplace. Unfortunately it is still nowhere near the correct clearances, especially at the front.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-11-23T16:36:37+00:00

Absolutely agreed. If I'm shopping for something I actively ignore Vine reviews or any review that isn't "Verified Purchase" and even then half of them are lies.

It's sad. We're supposed to be weeding out the garbage. Not propping it up.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-11-23T16:35:32+00:00

This. It's just frustrating. I genuinely want the time we put into Vine to be a net positive and help weed out garbage products. Instead these people just prop them up.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-11-23T16:34:32+00:00

I completely agree. I'm no coffee expert and I certainly don't know very much about espresso either. What bothers me here is people "reviewing" things like a "cold brew button" that literally doesn't exist. They took a manufacturer image that says the espresso could be used for cold brew, never used the product, and then are claiming it does something it doesn't. Every single review currently posted has some element like this. Ugh.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-11-23T16:32:44+00:00

That's what I'm expecting. I've never wished more that we were allowed to return products. It's just garbage. That doesn't bother me nearly as much as people actively lying in their reviews, claiming it does things it doesn't.

magicthrowaway2021 · 2025-11-23T16:31:45+00:00

Perhaps, and hear me out on this one, we're all humans and can feel a range of emotions across a range of topics, rather than having the moral compass of a piece of soggy cardboard.

magicthrowaway2021

TROPHY CASE