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View Full Version : Sewage Vent Issue


hitman3479
Dec 2, 2008, 05:04 PM
I am in desperate need of advice for a sewer gas issue that has gotten rancid in my home. Approximately a month ago I had my septic tank pumped out. A week after that I started getting a sewer smell in my house. I started by examining all the usual suspects. All of my traps seem to be working and there are no smells coming from my drains. It got so rank last night that it woke me out of a dead sleep. After reading many forums I decided to take a look in my attic and see if I had a disconnected or broken sewer vent line. The minute that I opened the trap door to the attic the smell almost sent me falling backwards off the ladder. Immediately I thought one of my vents must be plugged or broken. To my dismay I snaked both of them on the roof and there was no clogs or blockage. I also performed the hot water test with my brother pouring hot water down the pipe while I listened in my basement at the main hub which goes to my septic tank and I could hear the water running down. We both went back in the attic and were able to trace which pipe is having the issues. Nothing from what we can see on the pipe is broken, but there is water and frost all over around the pipe and the pipe itself had frost on it. My assumption at this point is that the roofing metal chimey and flange that goes around the black PVC pipe must be leaking water and thus making it damp around the area of the sewage vent. What I cannot for life of me figure out is how in the world there is a sewage gas leak that goes along with this issue when the pipe that is supposed to be venting it seems to not have any issue. Before I hire a crew to tear my house in half I am praying that someone has some advice.
Sincerely "Losing My Marbles"

speedball1
Dec 3, 2008, 09:20 AM
there is water and frost all over around the pipe and the pipe itself had frost on it. Did you smell the frost? Could it be frozen sewer gas? Does the water smell? Was there water around the pipe before you poured hot water down the roof vent? Did you check under the insulation for a open pipe? Let's have more details if you have them. Regards, Tom