Sewer gas smell in basement

Hi,

We have a problem with intermittent smell of sewer gas in the basement when using the bathroom down there. We are on city water but have septic for waste.

We have a second full bath in the basement that is not used often (maybe once or twice a week). We have a combination steam shower/jacuzzi tub, toilet and sink.

When using the tub or toilet, sometimes there is a horrible smell of sewer gas. It has been so bad at times that you would wonder if the house could blow up. The smell will begin after filling the tub - probably during the initial warming of the water - or after flushing the toilet.

A little background: Last year we changed the check valve. It is a rubber and abs combination type thing (rubber at both ends and the abs in the middle) and is attached with hose clamps. This is what was on the stack before so we purchased the same kind. We just bought a different kind - white pvc (I think) with a much better flap inside but have not installed it yet.

We had a smell problem last year before we changed the valve and the vent stack had ice in it. We poured boiling water down the pipe on the roof and that cleared it up. We also have changed the sump pump but when we were trying to trace the problem, most of the bolts that hold the lid on broke and is being held by only 4 instead of 7 or 8.

Anyway, this current problem happens at any time of the year - winter or summer. Sometimes it stinks, sometimes not and it does not matter if we use the bathroom every day or once a week meaning there is no pattern.

One more addition, the drain in the bath is very slow, gurgles and bubbles and then kind of "rushes out" near the end. The toilet and the bath share the drain and the vent.

If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks

PS
The tank was pumped in September of 2003 and we are planning to have it pumped this September. The pumper guy checked out the tank (stuck his head in and looked around) and he said it was good.

Sounds like you have a venting problem that is causing a trap to be siphoned out whenever there is water draining through the basement DWV system.
You also may have a floor drain in the basement, and the water in that trap may be evaporating, allowing sewer gas back in.
You can check a floor drain with a flashlight for water standing in the trap. If you can't see water and/or can smell sewer gas, pour in a bucket of water on a regular basis.
Go up on the roof (carefully) and check the vent pipes for a birdnest, leaves, debris, etc. If there is any, clean out what you can by hand, break up and snake the rest down with a plumber's snake, and flush down the DWV system with a water hose sprayer.
Good Luck!
Mike

phanophun said:

... most of the bolts that hold the lid on broke and is being held by only 4 instead of 7 or 8.

Click to expand...

Even though the odor was there before you changed the pump, the lack of a good seal between lid and sump could be at least part of the problem. Think of that sump as a "mini septic tank" inside the house and be sure it is completely air-tight and properly/clearly vented to the outside.

Look around for a floor drain and pour 2 gallons of water in it and eliminate it as an odor source.

"Sump Pump"?

Is this a sump pump?(a pump that pumps ground water out from under your basement floor)

Or,

Is this a sewage ejector pump? (a pump that pumps water from sinks, toilets, etc.)

Thanks for the advice.

We'll try these things and keep you posted on the outcome.

Please provide answers to the post directly above your last post!

Don't know what happened here. Tried to edit the post but it didn't work. Probably forgot to save.

Anyway here goes again...

Redwood: Actually we have both a sump pump for weeping tile etc and the sewage ejector pump. The ejector pump was the one we changed last year.

Mike & Cass: We don't have an actual floor drain, just a hole that the washer (used frequently) drains into. Then again, the basement was already finished when we moved in and there were many mysterious and wonderful things going on (electrical, drywall, finished carpentry work etc) so there could be a drain hidden under the carpet.

Checking the roof vent right now and will keep you posted on the outcome. Also will seal the lid.

As well, while researching I did read the ejector pump should have a dedicated vent. I see that our downstairs bathroom vents both are connected to the vent which goes through the floor to neverland. The upstairs toilet vent is about 8" away from there and I only see one vent stack out the roof.

I can post pics if you'd like.

Thank you!

I would post lots of pics. It seems like you have a lot of things it could be.

That lid could have a lot to do with the odors.

3 year old Ejector Pump not kicking in

I have a problem with my basement ejector pump it seems. I started smelling a sewer odor last night in the cabinets where the pump is installed. The bathroom/shower and sink run water and flush without any problem. But i don't hear the pump kicking in like it normally does. There is no water seapage around tank cover, and nothing is backup up in bathroom. I can't tell the name brand of the pump but it has a plastic cover. This was installed about 3 years ago when the basement was finished by the previous owner of my house. I have called my plumber to come and check it out. Any suggestions on what it might be. The smell is nasty.

tiseo - you should start your own thread!! you question will get lost at the bottom of this one. thus missing out on valuable resources. check the electrical connection, and breaker...plug may have worked lose from the vibration.

tiseo27@ said:

I have a problem with my basement ejector pump it seems. I started smelling a sewer odor last night in the cabinets where the pump is installed. The bathroom/shower and sink run water and flush without any problem. But i don't hear the pump kicking in like it normally does. There is no water seapage around tank cover, and nothing is backup up in bathroom. I can't tell the name brand of the pump but it has a plastic cover. This was installed about 3 years ago when the basement was finished by the previous owner of my house. I have called my plumber to come and check it out. Any suggestions on what it might be. The smell is nasty.

Click to expand...

Do you have a piggy back plugs for the pump. That is a plug then a second plug that plugs into the back of the first. If you have this set up I would try to plug the second plug in to see if the pump kicks on. You will not be able to see the name of the pump till you pull it from the pit. That is if you can read it