These gases are a natural byproduct of the bacteria that break down the waste in either your septic system or sewer line. Because of this naturally occurring cycle, the septic and sewer gases have a foul odor. Normally, the gases are carried up and away from the system’s stink pipe.

Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Pour a 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain.
2. Pour a 1/2 cup lemon juice down the drain as well.
3. Plug the drain and let the solution work for one hour.
4. Finish by running the hot tap water down the drain.

To get started, purchase a two liter bottle of Coke and allow it to acclimate to room temperature. After pouring it down the drain, let it fizz and work its corrosive power for an hour or two before running hot water. Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down buildup that can clog your drains!

Your plumbing gas will vent through a pipe that goes to the outside of your house, usually on a roof. This means not only would the smell of a rotting animal start going back through your plumbing, but sewage gas that would normally be escaping through the vent is now blocked by the stuck animal.

If you smell sewer gas (rotten eggs), check for dry traps, add water to fill the traps. If that doesn’t work, it could be a broken line, a vent that is plugged or not vented to the outdoors, a dead animal somewhere, or even worse some other source of hydrogen sulfide than a sewer system.

One common reason your drain smells bad is a dried p trap. A dried p trap will result in a sewer odor emitting from a sink that maybe hasn’t been used in a while. A p trap is designed to use water to block the sewer gases from leaking up the drain. If a sink’s p trap dies out this can result in a drain that smells bad.

Once that water seal is back at the bottom of the trap, you will notice your bathroom will smell less like something has died in there. If the floor waste does have a water seal, it can sometimes emit an odour due to sediment and bacteria that sit at the bottom of the trap.

The trusty non-toxic combo of baking soda and vinegar can clean drains naturally. Add one cup of baking soda to the clogged toilet or slow drain, then wait a few minutes. Follow with two cups of vinegar.

If the smell persists, try pouring a quart of water into every drain in your home, including the sink and the toilet. If the odor remains after running water through all drains, you are probably dealing with an old or leaky P-trap. For the best results, contact a professional plumber to examine and replace your P-trap.

Try using these natural remedies to get rid of the bad odor if there’s no way for you to reach the decomposing rodents.

1. Use Odor Removing Bags.
2. Use an Air Purifier.
3. Mask the Smell with Candles.
4. Turn on an Ozone Machine.
5. Mask the Smell with Coffee Ground.

Unfortunately it may take three weeks or more to completely decompose. A professional may be contacted to break through and rebuild affected walls. This can be costly and not a viable option. Even after elimination of the source of dead rodent smell, the unsettling scent may linger for up to two weeks.

Normally, it would take up to three weeks to fully decompose, or less if it is hot. Unfortunately, the horrid smell can last up to two more weeks after the body has decomposed.

In some cases, the best solution is to leave the carcass where it is, apply odor-neutralizing chemicals or deodorants and hope the process of drying out happens as quickly as possible. This method still requires ventilating the area by drilling into walls or floors, so repair costs would still be involved.

Dead rats present a high risk of dangerous diseases and bacteria that affect the air you breathe and could cause health complications.