Plumbing Question

[MDSPHOTO]

For a while now we have had some foul odors coming out of the dishwasher this occurs whether we have dishes in there or not. After doing a load of dishes the smell subsides for a day or two, but then always comes back. When I mentioned this to a contractor friend of my mine he suggested checking the P-trap, but when I got under the sink I discovered that there is no P-trap. So my question is should there be? And could this configuration shown below be the culprit for the stink?

Thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

Unless there's a trap hidden underneath the floor, you need one. Where does the dishwasher drain? Does it go into that vertical white drain pipe on the right side?

It's common to hook a dishwasher into the side of a disposal (I can see the stub where it would connect sticking out the left side of your discposal), and then you can get garbage from the disposal backing up in the dishwasher drain line, causing smells.

 

[yeldogt]

You don't have a trap -- unless it is somehow under what you are showing.

Around me it has to be visible under the sink -- and we don't allow "s" traps like they had years ago going into the floor ... have to be regular code "p" traps. and then to the floor if not into the wall. No plumber did that == better check other stuff

>>. and the dishwasher -- where is the drain going?

 

[Beemer533]

Assuming there is no trap under the floor, then that should be the culprit for the odors... I assume the dishwasher is draining into the knock out on the side of the disposer?

 

[AnEv942]

Thats different...
No visible/accessible p trap. Dishwasher dumping into a vertical standpipe. There must be something under the floor or you would have odors in the sink. I cant imaging sewer gases traveling back thru the dw hose thru pump back into dw.

I would lean toward the dishwasher itself-

 

[Beemer533]

Thats different...
No visible/accessible p trap. Dishwasher dumping into a vertical standpipe. There must be something under the floor or you would have odors in the sink. I cant imaging sewer gases traveling back thru the dw hose thru pump back into dw.

I would lean toward the dishwasher itself-

Now that I take a second look, you are right... I didn't even see the vertical PVC for the dishwasher drain before..

If there is no odor from the sink, just pull the disposer, open up the dishwasher knock out and connect the dishwasher drain to that. Then cap the unused vertical PVC off and you should have no more odor.

 

[Falcon67]

The clear corrugated line from the dishwasher loops up to the disposal. Not sure what that other stand pipe thing is, unless there is one of those undersink vents on top of it.

If you don't have a basement, then you have some plumbing issues there. There should be a P trap under the sink and another P trap off the disposal. The "T" under the sink where the disposal line meets the sink drain should be the proper type for a disposal setup, usually with a deflector inside. I know that picture is all wrong and I ain't no plumber.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The clear corrugated line from the dishwasher loops up to the disposal.

It appears to go behind the disposal. You can see the ****** on the left side of the disposal where a drain line is typically connected, and there's nothing connected to it.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

Thats different...
No visible/accessible p trap. Dishwasher dumping into a vertical standpipe. There must be something under the floor or you would have odors in the sink. I cant imaging sewer gases traveling back thru the dw hose thru pump back into dw.

I would lean toward the dishwasher itself-

We do get odors in the sink as well, but not to the extent of the dishwasher. I guess there could be a P-trap under the floor, but I have no way of knowing since it is covered.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

Thanks guys for the insight, looks like I am calling the plumber out on Monday.

 

[AnEv942]

opps

 

[AnEv942]

Just out of curiosity- to much to snap a pic behind the disposal and connection of d/w?

I asked the boss-cause its not a tool I use. How does she control odors from dw-had never thought about but most don't drain completely, food etc-seems itd be natural for them to smell-

Anyway she said she always leaves the door open after using letting it dry, then leaving the door just cracked when not in use. I was getting abit nervous as the dissertation started sounding like "how to instructions" so with a "hmm-just curious"' changed the subject.
Ensuring you have something blocking sewer gases or some other issue, good idea.

 

[55bigblockcid]

There is a lot wrong with the way this is plumbed.I`m sure you will be enlightened when the real plumber comes.No way would that pass code here.
No trap?
No air gap or high loop on dishwasher drain.
And if that is a vent behind the garbage disposal it should go out the roof or a quick vent should be above the flood rim of the sink.
Most people don`t want to drill a hole in the counter top for an air gap ,so usually a high drain is used.

 

[Kimarieck]

Did you have a home inspection done when you bought the house? If so, the inspector should have picked up this obvious code violation and you may be able to assert a claim for the cost of fixing it.

 

[yeldogt]

You could be getting gas coming back into the dishwasher through that vertical pipe if whoever installed that sealed the dishwasher drain pipe to PVC entry point.


When you flush a toilet it does create some disturbance in the pipe and you could be getting gas pushed into the closed dishwasher -- it does not take much

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

My dishwasher sometimes puts out foul odors after she's eaten burritos.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Dishwashers should have the loop of the drain going as high as the countertop to keep the water from the sink/disposal from going backwards into the dishwasher. No dishwasher I have ever seen has any kind of backflow valve on them from the factory. As others have said you have a lot of issues with the way that plumbing is done. Nothing is hooked up right on the drains.