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    firsthouse's Avatar
    firsthouse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Feb 29, 2008, 06:19 AM
    Oil smells like turpentine leaking into sump pump
    Hi -
    We just moved into a house and it REEKS of turpentine or paint thinner. To figure out what the heck it was, we opened the door to the basement and the smell practically knocked us down. Further investigation reveals that there is a pinkish oily substance dripping from the walls of the sump pump well into the sump pump. What the heck is it? Wife is 7 months pregnant and afraid to sleep in the house due to the overwhelming odor. We bought the house two days ago and haven't slept in it yet!
    What the heck is in our house?!
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Feb 29, 2008, 09:13 AM
    How did you miss this before you bought the house? It is hard to say what someone may have dumped around the foundation but whatever it is it doesn't belong there. I have seen people dump paint thinner and even motor oil againist the concrete foundation thinking it would soak in and do no harm. At this point your best bet may be to seal the pit. You can buy a lid and use plumbers putty to make the seal. A radon remediation company could seal it even better but at a price.
    firsthouse's Avatar
    firsthouse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Feb 29, 2008, 09:41 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by firsthouse
    Hi -
    We just moved into a house and it REEKS of turpentine or paint thinner. To figure out what the heck it was, we opened the door to the basement and the smell practically knocked us down. Further investigation reveals that there is a pinkish oily substance dripping from the walls of the sump pump well into the sump pump. What the heck is it? Wife is 7 months pregnant and afraid to sleep in the house due to the overwhelming odor. We bought the house two days ago and haven't slept in it yet!
    What the heck is in our house?!?
    Thanks Ballengerb1.
    The problem did not exist when we walked through the house nor did it exist for our inspection. Our purchase agreement called for the old oil tank to be replaced and the furnace to be serviced, and they did that. Now, suddenly there's this stuff oozing everywhere. The EPA is coming to investigate today.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #4

    Feb 29, 2008, 09:56 AM
    If the old oil tank was outisde the guy who replaced it may have taken a little short cut in draining the tank. If it was inside is there a floor drain nearby?
    firsthouse's Avatar
    firsthouse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Feb 29, 2008, 10:12 AM
    The old oil tank was in the basement (the new one is in the basement now). There is no drain - just the sump.
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