I have a 3 level home and smell sewage on the bottom level only. This has been going on and off for a couple of years and I have not been able to solve it. THis is a vacation rental home in another state , so I cannot be there all the time.
Last year, I had the toilet ring replaced and when that did not work, I had the septic tank pumped. The septic tank company said that it looked good and no buildup. Since this I have had several more occasions that this has happened.
A month ago, I was in the home and the smell was horrible. By closing doors and airing out rooms, I finally isolated the smell (I think). It was coming from the lower level bathroom tub (jaccuzi jetted tub). The toilet area smelled fine, the sink smelled fine.
I ran some water in the tub to fill up the P-trap and the problem seemed to go away.
Today, my rental guests complained about the smell. They had been in the home for a day , but when they took showers today the smell started. A plumber was dispatched. He checked connections and traps and found no loose pipes. He ran lots of water and after running the water, the smell came back very strong.
He thinks that there is something wrong with the septic tank. He thinks maybe the pipe from the septic tank to the fill lines is broken or disconnected. He thinks the smell is coming from outside and is being pulled back in the air vents in the homes foundation and coming back up through the floor or openings in the floor. I just don't buy it, but I am no expert. There is a second bath on the same lower level with a shower but no smell in that bathroom. The bathroom that does smell is the closest one to the septic tank. Previous guests say they have smelled the odor after washing clothes in the washer. Any suggestions?
