A few days ago I noticed a wet spot in my yard. It smells bad like laundry soap & diapers. Had a plumber come out & was told it is not my sewer line, and I do not have a septic tank. The hole stays wet even if it is warm outside. Any ideas on what it could be? I have several plumbers in the area stumped. I am having no issues with my toilets, sinks, or shower. I did notice when I did laundry yesterday, them smell came into the house for 5 minutes & then was gone. Any ideas on what this could be?? My home is 40 years old.

Might not be your sewer line but there may be an easement for a neighbors line. We had an insurance claim when one of my clients had a drain issue, the plumber found 2 drain pipes in the middle of the yard, thought one was inactive, fixed my clients, and then proceeded to cap off the other pipe. Sewerage backed up into the neighbors basement, ran for a couple of days before being found. Plumbers insurance Co. paid many thousands of $$$ to repair the damage. Check with your neighbors and the sewer utility to see if they show an easement. I would not plug the pipe at this time.

I'll check into that- but there is no sewage leaking into my house at all. The hole smells really foul, but you can't smell it until you are right on top of it. It's not stinking up my yard. Oh I forgot my sump pump is no where near this hole. Also there was a giant tree over the top on where this has occurred. I have the tree & stump removed last year. It's in my back yard- so I don't think it's the neighbor's pipe since their sewage also runs into the front yard. But thanks for the info! Every little bit helps!

Wouldn't be that unusual to have a laundry drain to a dry well or a French drain. If doing laundry cause an odor or additional moisture that is most likely what you have. Stump removal probably cut the line.

Is it expensive to fix it & have it drain to the sewer?

Is it expensive to fix it & have it drain to the sewer?

Hard to say, all depends on where the washer is relative to the other plumbing. If my assessment is correct, probably cheaper to dig up pipe where wet spot is and repair pipe. If it has worked for 40 years why change it now.