The 3 inch pipe in our basement has a sewer smell ONLY when we run the dishwasher or run water down the drain from the kitchen sink one floor above. The smell is not in the kitchen, only in the basement. I does not linger in the basement, but can be overpowering when it happens.

We have snaked, poured bleach, Simple Green and other plumber recommended concoctions down the drain. We have also replaced the bottom portion of the drain where it curves under the basement. We have made sure all the traps have fresh water in them The only devices attached to this pipe are our dishwasher, disposal and double sink. We've put commercial cleaners in our garbage disposal and dishwasher. Nothing makes the smell go away.

Two plumbers have come out to work on the problem. The last one jackhammered the concrete floor and replaced the pipe. People have recommended a smoke test. (? ) We have already spent a decent amount of money on this and I don't want to spend more on guesses.

There are no moisture leaks. We are in Colorado, where musty basements are rare. Our house is about 38 years old -- basic trilevel with a basement. All the other plumbing is on the other side of the house.

Thanks! Michele

Do you have floor drains in the basement, how about a washer stand pipe? Is there a bath in the basement.
If you air conditioner is in the basement is there a floor drain for it's condensation line.

If the odor is truly coming from the basement, there must be some type of opening in the drain system in the basement. How long after draining the kitchen sink do you smell the odor?

Michelle:
I was plagued with this very same problem for several years. :( Since my office was located in the smelly basement, I tried almost every tactic that you did to solve it.:confused: After much frustration, a plumber gave me the following advice at no charge. :cool: Here's what works: Baking Soda. :D


[/LIST]:eek: When the smell is present, [our a cup of baking soda down the drain with the water running until you hear the sump pump engage as the tank is filled and begins to empty. The smell will quickly dissipate.

Afterwards, if you anticipate low usage, flush another cup of baking soda down the drain with running water as a preventative measure.

In my case, I have a powder room (half bathroom) in my basement where a sump pump is located. If you do not have any plumbing facilities in your basement, you may need to treat your problem from an alternate location.
Sump pumps do not empty until they reach a minimum capacity. If you use the facilities infrequently, waste accumulates and begins to give off unpleasant gases until the sump pump unit empties.

May you be free from fumes very soon too!:)

The smell occurs almost immediately when something goes down the drain. The smell definitely comes from the specific pipe that comes from the kitchen. The washer drain is on the other side of the room. There is no bathroom or air conditioner in the basement. We do have an automatic sprinkler system with pipes that run through the basement, but they are also on the other side of the basement.




Do you have floor drains in the basement, how about a washer stand pipe? Is there a bath in the basement.
If you air conditioner is in the basement is there a floor drain for it's condensation line.

If the odor is truly coming from the basement, there must be some type of opening in the drain system in the basement. How long after draining the kitchen sink do you smell the odor?

We don't have a sump pump in the basement, so that is not the problem. I will try the baking soda. Thanks! Michele


Michelle:
I was plagued with this very same problem for several years. :( Since my office was located in the smelly basement, I tried almost every tactic that you did to solve it.:confused: After much frustration, a plumber gave me the following advice at no charge. :cool: Here's what works: Baking Soda. :D


[/LIST]:eek: When the smell is present, [our a a cup of baking soda down the drain with the water running until you hear the sump pump engage as the tank is filled and begins to empty. The smell will quickly dissipate.

Afterwards, if you anticipate low usage, flush another cup of baking soda down the drain with running water as a preventative measure.

In my case, I have a powder room (half bathroom) in my basement where a sump pump is located. If you do not have any plumbing facilities in your basement, you may need to treat your problem from an alternate location.
Sump pumps do not empty until they reach a minimum capacity. If you use the facilities infrequently, waste accumulates and begins to give off unpleasant gases until the sump pump unit empties.

May you be free from fumes very soon too!:)

What kind of pipe PVC, ABS,galvanized, copper, cast iron?

It is black plastic. I forgot to mention we also have an outside drain (for a hose) on this side of the house.


What kind of pipe PVC, ABS,galvanized, copper, cast iron?

Its ABS.

Please explain:

have an outside drain (for a hose) on this side of the house.

Do you mean an outside faucet?
You did not specifically say if you have a floor drain in that area.

There is a faucet on the outside of the house to use with a hose. That, and the sink, disposal, and dishwasher are the only water features on that side of the house. The air conditioner is also located there, outside of the house.

OK, right now we are only concerned with the drainage piping. Sounds like you have spent enough money trying to get rid of the odor. Lets try to find out where it is coming from.
If there is no floor drains and no other draining devices the pipe must be defective. There must be some kind of opening in the pipe. Inspect the pipe buy looking and feeling. I suspect that it is close to a wall so feel the back side for breaks or cracks. Grab a roll of duct tape, tape all of the joints well. Caulk around the pipe where it goes into the basement floor. If that does not stop the odor, tape the entire pipe, there may be a crack on the back side you can't see or feel.

The plumber who jackhammered the basement floor to replace the L checked and double checked the pipe, and even came back and recaulked the joints. If there was a crack in the pipe, wouldn't there be moisture?

We are in very dry Colorado, and any moisture would be noticed. There isn't any evidence of moisture behind the drywall or in the drop ceiling. Do you think we should tear out the drywall under the sink to double check?

Michele

Does the odor seem stronger at the basement ceiling? How long has this been going on? Normally you would expect to find moisture but maybe you have a crack in the top side of a horizontal pipe that is allowing sewer gas to escape but not water. Make a small hole in the ceiling and sniff. Ever had the vent pipe check from the roof?
You said 3" pipe, would have expected it to be 2".

we have had the problem for about a year or so, but since it was a random happening, we didn't figure out that it was drain pipe related until recently. We (and the plumbers) could not tell by sniffing which part of the pipe smelled the worst. We have been quoted $400 for a smoke test. Is that reasonable (and warranted?) We have never done anything with the vent pipe except to look down it (and saw nothing). We have had a raccoon problem on that part of the roof for about the same amount of time that we have had the smell. Any remote chance of those being related? (The raccoons are now gone, replaced with mice in the back of the refrigerator... )

I used to scrapbook a lot in the basement, but now that I've gone digital, I don't spend much time in the basement, other than up and down for laundry. That is why it took so long to tie together that cause and effect of the smell. It may be a 2 inch pipe, I didn't measure. I have been thinking about the vent being blocked, but I don't know who to call to check it. And How? And then what?

I really appreciate all the time you are spending on helping me solve this.

Michele

Could be 'coon related, maybe young one got in the vent . Maybe you have a partially block vent that is allowing in enough air to not syphon traps dry but does not allow sewer gasses to escape. I'd snake the vent. If you don't have a snake try filling the vent with a hose. Have someone watch sink to prevent flooding if there is a blockage. If that doesn't tell you anything rent a snake. Doesn't explain why odor is in basement but something to do and doesn't do cost much.

OK, we will try that in the morning and I will let you know what happens =)

Thank you very much

Michele

Is there a place on the net where I could see a simple plumbing diagram of what is behind my walls? The book I have been referencing doesn't make it very clear.


Michele

I'll try to scetch out something.