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    quatphysh's Avatar
    quatphysh Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 1, 2013, 03:50 PM
    Sewer smell in laundry room
    Hi,

    Just bought a house with a septic tank and if the laundry room door is shut there is a septic smell in there. Tank was pumped in Feb. 2012. We have not moved in yet, not using washer. Got brave and stuck my nose in the washer drain hole, no smell, just smells wet with a bit of mildew. Snaked the roof vent for the washer, produced nothing. Poured water into the washer drain hole, not any better. Not sure if there is a P-trap in that drain pipe. No septic smell in any other room, toilets flush, sinks & tubs drain.

    Called the company that pumped the tank and he had no idea since we already did everything he would do to try to fix it... except to check for a clog in the system, $125 to do one end, $1250 to do the other. Trying to avoid spending $$$ if it's not going to help.

    Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

    Miss Carol in Tomball, TX
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #2

    Jun 2, 2013, 08:00 AM
    If you have a floor drain in the laundry room and it's unused pour a quart of cooking oil down the drain. Good luck, nTom
    quatphysh's Avatar
    quatphysh Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jun 3, 2013, 02:37 AM
    Nope, no floor drain... it seems like it is coming from the ceiling? But that might be because the gas rises. Checked the vent pipe in the attic, but we can't get too close to it to see. But from what we can tell the part that passes through the attic is intact.
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    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #4

    Jun 3, 2013, 07:24 AM
    To remove a smell you must first localize it, Have you considered a smoke or peppermint test on your vents? Back to you, Tom
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    quatphysh Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Jun 3, 2013, 06:34 PM
    I would say no since I'm not sure how to do that... I get the concept, can you give some hints on how?
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    quatphysh Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Jun 3, 2013, 07:06 PM
    Okay, we figured out where to inject the smoke, and what other vents to cover. We have a Halloween fogger and a gallon of fog juice. We will hopefully get to it this coming weekend, wish us luck! And thanks so much for you responses, I feel we're in good hands! C. :)
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #7

    Jun 4, 2013, 06:03 AM
    Load your vents up with smoke and check the joints and up in the attic, Good luck, Tom
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    quatphysh Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Jun 5, 2013, 02:50 AM
    I have one more thing that might be of interest: We have noticed that when it rains really good the smell is not as bad. Even after having that door shut for 24+ hours it has dissipated by over half. Does that mean anything significant?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #9

    Jun 5, 2013, 08:43 AM
    Sewer gas raises and falls with the temperature. When it rains the temperaturee drops and so does the level of sewer gas. The smell might still be there just closer to the floor,
    . It seems like it is coming from the ceiling
    Are we talking about a first or second floor ceiling? What's above the ceiling? Back to you, Tom
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