There is a foul sewer-gas smell that is originating in our basement crawl-space. The smell is strongest in the laundry room where the entrance to the crawl-space is located, and has permeated the entire house. We experienced this problem last year but it only lasted a day or two and was confined to the laundry room. Once it dissipated we forgot about it. I am wondering if it has anything to do with the rain we have been getting. The last time it happened we had a lot of rain and it has been raining steady for 4 days now. Our house is a split-level with just a crawl space under one section because the bedrock is very close to the surface here. We have standing water in our yard in different spots when we get heavy, long periods of rain. Could a sulfur gas be coming out of the ground? I'm concerned for the health of our small children. Any advice would be welcomed and appreciated!

Have you been down in the crawl space to see if there's water down there?
Have you checked to see if the floor drain has water in the trap?
Are you on city sewer or a septic tank?
Back to you, regards, Tom

Have you been down in the crawl space to see if there's water down there?
Have you checked to see if the floor drain has water in the trap?
Are you on city sewer or a septic tank?
Back to you, regards, Tom


We have been in the crawl space and there is no standing water but the foundation (cinder block) seemed a bit damp at the back of the house. We have a septic system and the tank is out back about 10-12 feet from the foundation. As I mentioned before, the bedrock is very close here, so the tank sits on top of it only about 4 feet down. Is it possible that with all the rain we've had that the grey water is unable to soak in to the ground fast enough and it's somehow backing up against the foundation and causing the odor? If so, what can we do to fix that or is it something we live with when it is extremely rainy?