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-   -   Below Grade sewage smell (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=156072)

  • Nov 26, 2007, 06:37 AM
    wein0422
    Below Grade sewage smell
    We have a below grade basement bathroom with a pump installation to remove waste.

    The waste flows into a many many gallon container where the pump resides. The pump has a float ball. When the waste reaches a certain level, the waste is pumped away. The pump is tied into the sewage line and also the venting line. It has been looked at by a second plumber for proper installation.

    The odor can be bad and we have taken the precaution to have no solid wastes -- only showers, hand washing and liquid toilet waste.

    Despite the precautions, and frequently clearing out the container by overiding the float ball, we still get significant sewage smells. Also the ejector line has one of those vacuum seals so the wastes an/or anything else does not come back into the tank while not in operation.

    By the way the tie into the main sewage line is about 8 feet from the entire installation.

    The venting has been tied into to the other bathroom vents for that side of the house.

    What can we do to remove the odor at the basement level. We do not experience this problem anywhere else in the house.

    I was looking to vent the room differently, or put a vent fan on top of the sewage roof vent to draw the odor out. But a) did not know if that would work and b) couldn't find one.

    Thanks in advance.

    JW
  • Nov 27, 2007, 10:06 PM
    doug238
    Look for a lack of a p trap on the fixtures
  • Nov 28, 2007, 06:20 PM
    wein0422
    All fixtures have P traps. The sump pump and vent are in a separate storage room. That is where the smell is...
  • Nov 28, 2007, 06:22 PM
    doug238
    Then maybe the lid is not sealed and on windy days the wind forces the odor out.
  • Nov 28, 2007, 07:33 PM
    wein0422
    Lid is definitely sealed.

    Do you know if a fan on the roof vent will draw the smell out or do something else of more significant harm
  • Nov 29, 2007, 04:24 AM
    doug238
    Are the traps retaining the water? Are there any open pipes in the area? Is there a toilet in the area? Is there a fan in the area of proximity to a sewer vent on the roof? If you were to put a strong but different odorant in a toilet and flush it, will you smell it in that area?
  • Nov 29, 2007, 08:53 AM
    ballengerb1
    You mentioned the vent several times so we know you have one. Please tell us exactly where the vent is connected, to what part of the plumbing? Drawings and pics accepted.

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