I bought my house a few years back, and it's on a few acres with a septic tank. I make sure to use Rid-X monthly and keep up with pumping the tank, so I don't think it's overflowing. However, we keep getting this horrible sewer smell wafting through our vents and drains, especially in our walk-out basement. I'm looking for ideas on what might be causing this awful smell and how to fix it.
3 Answers
You're right to be concerned! That smell isn't just unpleasant; it can be harmful. Here are a few things to check:
- Make sure your P-traps aren't dry; they need water to block gas.
- Look for any cracked or blocked vent pipes on your roof.
- Check that the wax ring seal around your toilet is intact.
- Ensure there are no leaks in drain pipes within your walls or floors.
- Sometimes, negative pressure from fans or HVAC systems can pull sewer gases in too.
A quick way to troubleshoot is to run water in all your drains to ensure they're all sealed. If you’re still having issues, you might want to call a plumber for a smoke test to locate any leaks more precisely. Just saying, I've worked as a general contractor, so I hope this helps!
I went through something similar and it took a while to figure out. In our case, the builder didn't complete the vent pipe through the roof, which caused a terrible smell. A local plumber really took the time to inspect every inch of our house until he found the issue. So, you might want to have a professional take a look at your vents too!
Have you checked all your drains? Sometimes garage floor drains or even unused laundry drains can have dry traps. They need water to block those sewer gases from coming up! If you've done that, there could be a hidden drain behind the wall. Try sealing up the rooms and leaving the house for a couple of days; when you return, see which room smells the worst. It might help locate the source!