We just had heavy rains, where our spetic tank is there is a slight smell it seems in the soil is this normal? It is due to be pumped this spring should we call now?

It's not the septic tank that causes backups, it's a overloaded drain field, (filter bed) that give s you the problems. A way to check i9f the septic system id loaded up is to remove the clean out cover and cycle the washer. If the pipe fills up then you have a problem and the system needs to be checked. Good luck, tom