iHateFlies365
Member
Hi all,
I hope this is the right place to post this. I have had a phorid fly and sewer smell problem for a bit over two months now, and I’ve lived in this apartment for 3 months. I live on the top floor (third floor) and it is a corner unit, with no neighbor on the other side, just the staircase for the building. I live in Austin Texas and moved right after the winter storms happened (in case that context helps, not sure). As for the smell, sometimes it’s stronger than other times, but it’s definitely there. I would describe it as mildly annoying on average, to hard to focus on my work/activities at it’s worst. It’s not so bad that I’m nauseous in here, but definitely not pleasant.
For more context, I was fine for about a month with no flies or smell — and then it started happening. I’ve had pest control and maintenance check EVERYTHING for the flies (from the common spots like drains, all the way to the fridge and vents — they found nothing, and I am super clean/take out trash every few days. They are as stumped as I am). I spoke with my downstairs neighbor and they didn’t have any fly problem, so it seems isolated to my apartment only.
I mention both the flies and smell as I believe they’re linked. I tested plenty of times closing the vents for a couple days (and enduring the heat) and the flies would pretty much stop, as well as the smell would reduce (this wasn’t always the case though — sometimes I’d still smell it even with the vents closed). I put tight metal mesh in the vent openings but I’m still seeing them show up, and of course the smell is still here.
I want to mention that I use all my sinks/drains, as I know a dry P trap could be a cause. Doesn’t seem to be that though. And the smell is weirdly weakest in the bathroom, so although I’m not ruling it out I don’t think it’s a loose toilet wax ring or something like that.
As for the AC, it definitely smells stronger when I run it. I have had the coils and condensate pipe checked for mold to see if it was maybe that, but they were clear.
I read online that this could be a backed up sewer line, or a cracked vent pipe near the AC — does that sound right for my situation? Would I be the only one to smell the smell since I’m on the top floor, closest to the roof? Or if it was a vent pipe issue would my neighbors under me also smell it?
Finally, if it is a plumbing problem, could the flies be getting in this way? Somehow entering my apartment only?
Any help is super appreciated. I am at my wits’ end with the flies and this smell!
I hope this is the right place to post this. I have had a phorid fly and sewer smell problem for a bit over two months now, and I’ve lived in this apartment for 3 months. I live on the top floor (third floor) and it is a corner unit, with no neighbor on the other side, just the staircase for the building. I live in Austin Texas and moved right after the winter storms happened (in case that context helps, not sure). As for the smell, sometimes it’s stronger than other times, but it’s definitely there. I would describe it as mildly annoying on average, to hard to focus on my work/activities at it’s worst. It’s not so bad that I’m nauseous in here, but definitely not pleasant.
For more context, I was fine for about a month with no flies or smell — and then it started happening. I’ve had pest control and maintenance check EVERYTHING for the flies (from the common spots like drains, all the way to the fridge and vents — they found nothing, and I am super clean/take out trash every few days. They are as stumped as I am). I spoke with my downstairs neighbor and they didn’t have any fly problem, so it seems isolated to my apartment only.
I mention both the flies and smell as I believe they’re linked. I tested plenty of times closing the vents for a couple days (and enduring the heat) and the flies would pretty much stop, as well as the smell would reduce (this wasn’t always the case though — sometimes I’d still smell it even with the vents closed). I put tight metal mesh in the vent openings but I’m still seeing them show up, and of course the smell is still here.
I want to mention that I use all my sinks/drains, as I know a dry P trap could be a cause. Doesn’t seem to be that though. And the smell is weirdly weakest in the bathroom, so although I’m not ruling it out I don’t think it’s a loose toilet wax ring or something like that.
As for the AC, it definitely smells stronger when I run it. I have had the coils and condensate pipe checked for mold to see if it was maybe that, but they were clear.
I read online that this could be a backed up sewer line, or a cracked vent pipe near the AC — does that sound right for my situation? Would I be the only one to smell the smell since I’m on the top floor, closest to the roof? Or if it was a vent pipe issue would my neighbors under me also smell it?
Finally, if it is a plumbing problem, could the flies be getting in this way? Somehow entering my apartment only?
Any help is super appreciated. I am at my wits’ end with the flies and this smell!