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ryankondo · Aug 8, 2007, 10:48 PM

Hi. I am desperate.
I have come home the past few days and there is a nasty smell that sticks around for a few hours.. It's so nasty..
It has happened before and I thought it might be a rodent dying but now it's starting to smell like someone went to the bathroom on the living room floor.. I have no clue where to start. I have tried but just simply cannot pinpoint the problem..
I don't even know who to call for help.. So if you have any wisdom on this subject let me know..
Thanks so much!
Peace,
Ryan k
:eek:

Ken 297 · Aug 9, 2007, 03:21 AM

The first thing I always check is the main sewer cleanout in the basement.
Depending on when and where your house was built sometime if the sewer has a blockage the sewage will back up into the weeping tiles around your house and will cause some nasty odours.
The cleanout should looksimilar to a floor drain except it will have a sealed cover on it.
Take the cap off and if you can see water laying in it this is a good indication you have a blockage.
Other things to try- Flush out the floor drain with several pails of water then leave a mixture of bleach and water in the drain.
Make sure all your drains have water in the traps.

ryankondo · Sep 1, 2007, 10:27 PM

Yeah... I have just had a recent discover after checking your response. It seems that when I look into the main basement drain there is always some water in it.. But whenever the smell comes the drain has no water..
It looks like the ac drops water into it and then that's it... whenever the ac water stops the smell kicks in because the drain is open..
Any advice? Does my situation have a name? Is it still the weeping tiles (what is that anyway?) Let me know if you get a chance. Thanks!
Ryan

speedball1 · Sep 2, 2007, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by ryankondo

Hi. I am desperate.
I have come home the past few days and there is a nasty smell that sticks around for a few hours.. It's so nasty..
It has happened before and I thought it might be a rodent dying but now it's starting to smell like someone went to the bathroom on the living room floor.. I have no clue where to start. I have tried but just simply cannot pinpoint the problem..
I don't even know who to call for help.. So if you have any wisdom on this subject let me know..
Thanks so much!
peace,
Ryan k
:eek:

Smell and noises are the hardest to track down if you're not there to do it in person. There's no doubt that you have sewer gas in your home. This could be caused by a faulty wax seal on one of your toilets or a crack in a vent line. Could you supply us with more details. Septic rank or city sewer? House is how old? Ect. By "main basement drain" do you mean a floor drain or do you refer to a open drain line? And please explain "weeping tiles" Regards, Tom

ryankondo · Sep 2, 2007, 07:07 AM

This house is built in 1972. We are on city water.. no septic tank.. I have looked for the main drain and have only found a drain below the ac unit. It looks like it has water in it most of the time from a slow drip from the ac. But when it has no water is when I begin to smell the rank smell.. Is this like a back up in my sewage? Would I call a plumber for this or is it something I can fix myself? Thanks for your help!! I really appreciate it!

speedball1 · Sep 2, 2007, 07:14 AM

Again, is this "main drain" a floor drain or a pipe that the AC drains into? If it's a floor drain the trap could be cracked and losing its seal. That would set up the problem as you have described it. Smells when dry and no smell when loaded with water. Regards, Tom