We live in a 3 level leased townhome. For the past five days it has smelled like methane gas (sulfide) sewer-gas. It's pretty strong- so much that we have to keep the windows open or we get headaches and my eyes get read and tear up.

The sump pump (and washer dryer) is located in the basement. The basement does NOT smell.
The kitchen and living room are located on the main level and it REAKS something awful in the living room. It's the strongest there. The 1/2 bath on the main level does not smell bad whatsoever.
The 2nd floor does not smell whatsoever.

OK. So a plumber (pro and reliable) came over and checked EVERYTHING.
(traps, attic, roof, sump pump, washer/dryer, every pipe, every neighbor, outside, outside sewer system, seals on toilets,etc)... Also the maintenance man came over and checked the very same things.

What they have come up with is that it could be:
A) the disposal
b) the sump pump

But my question is this: If the sump pump doesn't smell AT the sump pump- how could it waft upstairs to the main level?

And if the disposal doesn't smell like sewer gas (it does smell like old food and eggshells though) then how is it the disposal?

Our landlord is compliant but I don't want to stay somewhere that smells like this. I would like to find a solution. Any thoughts on where this smell could be coming from?

** We have successfully killed 2 mice in our basement ceiling. We seem to have a nice little family that comes into our house. Could it be a dead rat? We use decon traps with peanut butter where they get trapped- we don't use poison bait. I did find a trap recently that where the lid was off the top and the base of the trap had mouse poo. Maybe it was injured when it got trapped and wandered off to die??

Hey Kat,

You've had two men check it out and found nothing they could put their finger on. Yes! Toilets, traps, disposals are all suppect and that's what we focus on. However, those have been checked and no odor was found. . Dead critters smell like, well, dead critters.
Sewer gas does not smell like rotting flesh. It has a kind of metallic smell, prehaps due to the methane conten. Once you've smelled either you can certainly tell the difference.
Time to start thinking outside the box. Has anyone ran a peppermint or smoke test on the vents to see if the odor could come from a faulty vent?
Has a wall been opened up to determine if the smell's stronger inside the walls? What's been overlooked? Something certainly has since you still have the smell.
Smells and weird noises are the hardest we have to deal with since we can't be on site to check for ourselves. All we can do is point out places to check.
I may have more suggections after Ihear more from you. If you have any more details now's the time to spit them out in daddys hand. Regards, Tom

Thank you for your kind words.

We just found a leak under the kitchen sink- about three cups of water- clean, non smelling water. Could the leak in the kitchen create that dry trap or suck some sewer smell in?

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Katherine

Hi Katherine,

'Could the leak in the kitchen create that dry trap?"
It could if the leak came from the sinks trap. However it's doubtful that it's the cause. Regards, Tom.

Where in the US are you located?

How old is the Townhouse?

Has there been a kitchen or bathroom remodel in the last five or six years?

It's possible you live in an area where 'mechanical vents' are permitted for use by the local authority.

Or that someone used one illegally during a remodel in the last five or six years.

Mechanical vents are great when they are working, but are prone to failure after a few years.

Look under the kitchen sink to see if you have one of these connected above the kitchen sink drain -- And also look in the back of the sink cabinet above the drain for a grill or screen, as the mechanical vent may be inside the wall.