When a weird smell started drifting through a small professional office near Downtown Palm Harbor, the people working inside did what most people would do:
They looked at each other… and started pointing fingers.
“Was it you?”
“No, it wasn’t me.”
“Are you sure?”
Someone even lit a candle and moved it room to room like it was a ghost-hunting mission.
But the culprit wasn’t human.
It was hiding inside the walls.
That’s when the team at I Find Leaks got the call.
We’ve seen this type of thing before all over Pinellas County—from Palm Harbor and to Dunedin, Oldsmar, and the East Lake area. Strange, lingering odors are often the result of sewer gas leaks, not people passing gas (even if it really smells like it). And yes… we’re allowed to say “fart smell” if it helps people understand what they’re dealing with. Just respectfully.
We set up our Hurco smoke machine right outside the building, not far from US Highway 19. The blue hose went into the cleanout, and the EPA-safe smoke solution started flowing into the plumbing system.
Almost immediately, we saw a little puff of smoke rising from the plumbing stack on the roof.
Moments later, the smoke poured out of all three stacks like a signal flare. That meant the system was pressurized—and somewhere inside, the smoke (and the odor) was leaking into the building.
Inside the building, Tyler traced the source. Near a sink on one side of the building, wisps of smoke were coming right out of the wall. This was the kind of commercial office setup we often see along Alt 19 or Nebraska Avenue.
This wasn’t just a hunch—we were watching the sewer gas leak into the room. Now we had to find out exactly where the break was.
Instead of tearing the wall open, Tyler used an inspection camera to look inside without cutting. We believe in one hole, one answer.
Once we found the spot, Tyler cut a single hole. Right there, behind the wall, someone had installed a vanity—and one of the screws hit a sewer pipe dead-on. It was a direct shot, and it created the perfect little leak for that unmistakable smell to escape.
This was the source of what everyone in the office thought was someone else… cutting the cheese.
As soon as we turned the smoke machine back on, the truth came billowing out—literally. The smoke poured from the punctured pipe, right where the screw had struck. This wasn’t a guess anymore. It was hard evidence.
But the job wasn’t over yet.
On the complete opposite side of the building, in a bathroom, smoke started rising from underneath a toilet. Turns out, the wax ring had failed, and sewer gas was leaking in from that side too.
Now the mystery smell made even more sense:
Two different spots.
Same awful odor.
Zero damage to find it.
Thanks to our non-invasive smoke testing system, we confirmed the problems without ripping out walls or floors. And while this job had a funny story behind it, the issue itself is no joke. Sewer gas can carry bacteria, cause respiratory issues, and even attract pests into your home or business.
If you smell something that seems… suspicious… call or text us at 727-409-2815. We service homes and businesses throughout Palm Harbor, Ozona, East Lake Woodlands, Safety Harbor and the greater Pinellas County region.
We’ve also covered similar jobs in our Clearwater case study and our guide on sewer gas odor detection. We also offer sewer pipe inspection and high-pressure sewer jetting if needed.
If you’re experiencing persistent sewer odors in your home or office, it’s essential to address the issue promptly. Pinellas County Utilities offers resources and programs aimed at maintaining and improving the county’s sewer infrastructure. Their initiatives include monitoring private sewer systems to ensure they are in good working condition, which helps reduce unpleasant odors and health risks associated with sewer leaks.
Don’t play the blame game.
Call the team that finds it—I Find Leaks.
