I have a sewer smell coming from the vents in my house when my heat and air conditioner is on. My house is a ranch style and I was wondering if you could help me fiqure this out.

Hi Jlynn...

When I hear this complaint the first thing I check is the condensate pump next to the furnace.

If the condensate pump isn't working properly water can collect/pool and become stagnant and give off a sewer-like odor throughout one room or the entire house.

Check the pump and the hose coming out of the pump.

Good luck...

Mark

Hey Mark,Are condensate pumps common in your area. Most of the units we've done have gravity drains installed at rough in.
When I converted from a wall banger to central air they put a condensate pump in but mine is the only one I've run across. But then I'm not a AC guy so I don't see too many unless the air handler and water heater are in the same enclosure. Regards, Tom

Hey Tom,

YUP! In my area all forced air furnaces, combo. Heat/AC units and even the newer condensate boilers all get condensate pumps.

Here, codes enforcement won't let us poke a hole in the floor and stub the condensate drain into it... has to be a pump and it has to drip into a properly vented/trapped drain (usually goes into the washing machine standpipe).

Mark