A smell from the laundry tub is the trap or the standpipe, and a dry or unvented trap is the usual cause. Resealing the trap and checking the vent clear the odor.
The dry trap
A laundry tub that is used rarely lets its trap dry out, and sewer gas comes up the drain. Pouring water in reseals it. hard water is common across the region, and older neighborhoods still have galvanized supply lines In Alexandria, a rarely used tub is the classic source.
The standpipe
The washer's standpipe shares the trap or has its own, and a siphoned or unvented standpipe smells.
The buildup
Soap and lint can build in the trap and the line, and a cleaning removes the source of the smell.
The vent
A blocked vent can push gas out through the tub, and clearing it restores the airflow.
The call
Seal the trap and clear the smell. Call 888-217-3585 and Alexandria, VA Plumbing Experts will match you with an Alexandria pro.
Plumbing in Alexandria: what to know
In Alexandria, hard water is common across the region, and older neighborhoods still have galvanized supply lines. Pros in our network know the local quirks and bring the right parts on the first visit.
Across Alexandria city County — from Falls Church, Washington and Mount Rainier to ZIP codes like 22302, 22301, 22304 — homeowners deal with the same kinds of issues. The tips above apply locally, and when a job goes beyond a quick fix, a vetted local pro is only a call away.
Need a hand in Alexandria?
If a plumbing issue is beyond a quick fix, don't wait for it to get worse. Call 888-217-3585 and Alexandria, VA Plumbing Experts will match you with a vetted local pro — usually within minutes. Learn more about plumbing help in Alexandria.