Every time we do laundry, we have to run downstairs twice during one washing to flush the basement toilet. If you don't, a sewer smell will come up. When the washer drains, it sucks water from the toilet and causes an odor to come up into the house. If you flush it right after it happens, it won't smell. Does that mean we don't have a studer vent? Several people have given their opinions including plumbers. We are remodling this bathroom in the basement and want to fix this problem while we are doing so. The idiot that had this house before us, did this bathroom with the help of his genius friends and it is a total mess. We are going to take out the vanity and the toilet and replace them with new ones. Does it sound like we don't have a studer vent and is it hard to put one in?

While there's no doubt in my mind that you have a vent problem what makes you think there's a Studor Vent installed? Because the system isn't vented every time you discharge the washer it sets up a vacuum and in attempting to vent through the toilet it sucks the water out of the trap seal and allows sewer gas to enter your home. Get a sharp plumber in there to check and advise you as to the defects in your syswtem. You may wish to do the repairs yourself but you need someone to tell you where to start. Good luck, Tom

We have had several plumbers tell us that evidently, there wasn't a studor vent installed. That's all they can come up with.

I think Tom gave you your answer. It is a venting problem. Whether you have a studor vent or not is a moot point if you are remodelling - just take the walls down and see what is there. Make sure things are vented properly when you put them back together and you will not have an issue.