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Why Your Guest Bathroom Smells Like Sewer (Fixes)

  Why Your Guest Bathroom Smells Like Sewer (Fixes) A sewer-like odor in a guest bathroom is almost always a plumbing or drainage issue. Because guests may notice it immediately, it’s worth treating the smell as a warning sign: even if the problem is small (like a dried-out trap), it can point to a pathway that allows sewer gas to escape into your home.   Below are the most common reasons a bathroom smells like sewer—and practical steps to identify the culprit.   1) A dry P-trap or floor drain   Every sink, tub, and many shower drains use a “P-trap” (or similar trap) filled with water. That water forms a barrier that keeps sewer gas from entering the room. If a bathroom is rarely used—or the drain hasn’t been run in a while—the trap can evaporate, leaving the barrier gone.   What to do: Run water in each drain (sink, shower, tub) for 30–60 seconds. If the smell fades, a dry trap was ... Read more »
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How to Prepare Your Storm Drain for Chicago Rainy Season

 How to Prepare Your Storm Drain for Chicago Rainy Season

How to Prepare Your Storm Drain for Chicago Rainy Season


As Chicago heads into its rainier months, blocked or poorly maintained storm drains can quickly turn routine downpours into street flooding or basement backups. While local infrastructure does much of the heavy lifting, homeowners and property managers can improve flow by preparing drainage paths before the busiest storms arrive.

 

The goal is simple: keep water moving into the storm sewer system by reducing debris, leaves, and sediment that accumulate around inlets and grates. Even small improvements—like clearing a few inches of buildup and managing runoff from your yard—can make a measurable difference during peak rainfall.

 

Start with a careful inspection

 

Before the first major storm, walk your property and look for storm drain intakes—such as curbside grates, yard inlets, or drain structures along driveways and walkways. Check for visible leaves, twigs, trash, standing water that drains slow ... Read more »

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