metropoj
Dec 5, 2008, 07:01 AM
Hi. I am trying to gather some "What to do next" type advice..
Purchased an older Ranch home from the mid 60's with septic system and separate Holding tank / ejector pump in basement.
All plumbing connects together into a wall cavity near the septic tank. This is where we get our smell. It seems to be very strong after using anything that involves the ejector pump. There deosn't seem to be a tie in with how much laundry we do one load or even one shower in the basement bathroom, the smell will intensify.
Here is what we DO know at this point ...
If, for example, we use the clothes dryer, open windows or a vent fan in the bathrooms, it pulls the odour out of the wall cavity even worse. I assume because of the negative pressure it is pulling in the smell from the wall cavity
Plumbing to the ejector pump and pump looks like it was repalced about 5 years ago by original owner. The pump does about a 7.5 foot lift from the outlet into the ceiling and acroos the basement to the septic tank main drain via a 45 degree connection into the main piping. All this occurs in this wall cavity I mentioned.
Ejector pump appears to have a vent stack leaving the unit but we cannot determine where it connects to at this point...
I have determined from the rush of water back into the pump that there should be a check valve at the outlet.
We cannot see any leaks of water or sewage anywhere. Replaced all pipe seal connectors anyway with newer proper double clamp style.
We have no smell at toilets, sinks, laundry tub, top or bottom floors or near ejector pump or holding tank, just in the wall cavity.
The wall cavity also houses the 6 foot long pipe through the block wall and into the septic tank.
Septic tank system was inspected thoroughly by 2 separate septic professionals and both determined there no previous signs of overflow, blockages draining field problems, etc.
Piping in the house is a mismatch of copper, cast iron and PVC. We need to tear out the basement ceiling to get a really good look at what goes where.
We found an abandoned vent stack in the basement quite remote from where all the plumbing currently is located. We have not yet determined if the piping is even connected to the system but we are not getting smell in the attic where it terminates. We susect owners moved laundry room at one point since it was built.
The cleanout trap for the toilet has been sealed to make sure it wasn't the culprit.
The basement bathroom and laundry room have 'cheater vents installed, as does main floor sink. They are not smelling and working properly.
I think that's all we've looked at so far. We suspected that if the vent stacking was connected and sealed properly, we would get no smell in the hosue.
My theory was that the new pump is very powerful and may be filling the main discharge into the tank and "stirring things up" causing the smell to sort of stay. Also, because there is no chack valve, I was wondering if some effluent is getting stirred up and making its way back into holding tank and possibly causing an issue too.
What we are thinking of doing next.
The plumber suggested that we has seen where older homes have shifted and the pipe has hairlined cracked in the block wall and some sewage is leaking into the block wall and the smell is eminating. He suggested drilling a couple small holes in the block at the floor level under the exit pipe and see if effluent comes out.
Open up the ceiling and trace through all plumbing. See that holding tank has separate vent stack and check for leaks.
CHeck valve in holding tank discharge nozzle.
Figure out what the extra vent stack was for and pull it.
ANyone care to state what they would check first and what they think of the situation ? Thanks for any inslight you may have !
Purchased an older Ranch home from the mid 60's with septic system and separate Holding tank / ejector pump in basement.
All plumbing connects together into a wall cavity near the septic tank. This is where we get our smell. It seems to be very strong after using anything that involves the ejector pump. There deosn't seem to be a tie in with how much laundry we do one load or even one shower in the basement bathroom, the smell will intensify.
Here is what we DO know at this point ...
If, for example, we use the clothes dryer, open windows or a vent fan in the bathrooms, it pulls the odour out of the wall cavity even worse. I assume because of the negative pressure it is pulling in the smell from the wall cavity
Plumbing to the ejector pump and pump looks like it was repalced about 5 years ago by original owner. The pump does about a 7.5 foot lift from the outlet into the ceiling and acroos the basement to the septic tank main drain via a 45 degree connection into the main piping. All this occurs in this wall cavity I mentioned.
Ejector pump appears to have a vent stack leaving the unit but we cannot determine where it connects to at this point...
I have determined from the rush of water back into the pump that there should be a check valve at the outlet.
We cannot see any leaks of water or sewage anywhere. Replaced all pipe seal connectors anyway with newer proper double clamp style.
We have no smell at toilets, sinks, laundry tub, top or bottom floors or near ejector pump or holding tank, just in the wall cavity.
The wall cavity also houses the 6 foot long pipe through the block wall and into the septic tank.
Septic tank system was inspected thoroughly by 2 separate septic professionals and both determined there no previous signs of overflow, blockages draining field problems, etc.
Piping in the house is a mismatch of copper, cast iron and PVC. We need to tear out the basement ceiling to get a really good look at what goes where.
We found an abandoned vent stack in the basement quite remote from where all the plumbing currently is located. We have not yet determined if the piping is even connected to the system but we are not getting smell in the attic where it terminates. We susect owners moved laundry room at one point since it was built.
The cleanout trap for the toilet has been sealed to make sure it wasn't the culprit.
The basement bathroom and laundry room have 'cheater vents installed, as does main floor sink. They are not smelling and working properly.
I think that's all we've looked at so far. We suspected that if the vent stacking was connected and sealed properly, we would get no smell in the hosue.
My theory was that the new pump is very powerful and may be filling the main discharge into the tank and "stirring things up" causing the smell to sort of stay. Also, because there is no chack valve, I was wondering if some effluent is getting stirred up and making its way back into holding tank and possibly causing an issue too.
What we are thinking of doing next.
The plumber suggested that we has seen where older homes have shifted and the pipe has hairlined cracked in the block wall and some sewage is leaking into the block wall and the smell is eminating. He suggested drilling a couple small holes in the block at the floor level under the exit pipe and see if effluent comes out.
Open up the ceiling and trace through all plumbing. See that holding tank has separate vent stack and check for leaks.
CHeck valve in holding tank discharge nozzle.
Figure out what the extra vent stack was for and pull it.
ANyone care to state what they would check first and what they think of the situation ? Thanks for any inslight you may have !