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Post by ptamom on Dec 29, 2014 0:48:22 GMT
Our downstairs bathroom had a overflow a few months ago, and some of the toilet water went down the vent. We cleaned up as we could, but didn't know how get to any water in the duct below. I assumed it would evaporate.
Now that the cold weather is here, the furnace is being used, and the bathroom stinks! It's a tiny half bath, with a pocket door and no window. The smell is musty, rather than sewage-y.
I've taken to spraying Clorox disinfectant spray into the vent, which works for about a week, but the smell keeps coming back.
Ugh! Any ideas to get rid of the odor?
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,951 
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Post by Nicole in TX on Dec 29, 2014 1:10:41 GMT
How about duct taping one of these (Clorox cleaning wand):  (maybe even wrapped in rags soaked in bleach water) to one of these (plumbing snakes)  and putting it down the vent as far as it will go? I would give it a couple of good scrubs. If your vent cover is like ours, it will just pull off and is easy to replace. |
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,415
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Dec 29, 2014 15:01:09 GMT
I would be concerned about mold/mildew from the leakage. You may want to consider taking that particular duct apart to clean it if it can be accessed. It looks harder than it actually is but I am certain if you have the money an HVAC pro could do it for you.
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MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,615
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Post by MerryMom on Dec 29, 2014 15:37:44 GMT
Buy some deodorizer crystals (Home Depot or Lowes) that are used for musty basements. Damp rid is one brand.
Put a cupful in a sock or cut off piece of pantyhose and tie off the end. Lay it in the vent.
Do you have a flexible furnace vent or a solid metal furnace vent. If it is the flexible type that has insulation around it, what probably happened is that the water saturated the insulation and the musty smell has permeated that part of the vent tubing.
Also see if Lowes has ZORBX 2oz Auto Unscented Odor Remover. You can lay that in the furnace vent tubing for a couple of weeks and see if that helps.
If the deodorizer crystals don't work, a plumber or a handyman may have to replace that part of the furnace tubing.
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,586
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Dec 29, 2014 16:27:17 GMT
Is the furnace in the basement? Maybe you could check and if so, take the furnace door off. Maybe water pooled down in the bottom of it.
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Time to get off the internet!
