[lynndancy]

When I bought my home 2 years ago, the home inspector told me that when they did the new roof, they didn't know how to put the plumbing vent stack back on, so they just covered it with a mushroom cap. Recently I've been smelling sewer like odors in my basement. I have 2 sump pumps. One eliminates the water from the laundry room, and the other seems to eliminate the water from the basement bathroom and maybe the rest of the house. I had someone come and check the pump in the laundry room, and everything seemed to be working. (And I've never flooded when there were heavy rains). Do you think the odor could be because of the lack of a vent stack? And who do I contact to put one back in? And if not the vent stack what could be causing the odor. (I don't smell it all the time either). Also, why 2 sump pumps anyway?

[ballengerb1]

Is the mushroom cap above the roof line or in the attic?

[ma0641]

Is the cap inside the roof or outside? They are common on mobile homes and trailers and also used to keep debris from going down the vent pipes. Make the roofing company repair it to it's original condition.You probably have 2 ejector pumps because of the distances or capacity needed. The lid on the sump must be tightly sealed and the vent gasket tight or you will get odors. When they checked the pump did they remove the cover?

[lynndancy]

The cap is on the outside of the roof. The 2nd pump is sealed but the pump in the laundry room has a half open lid on it. No possibility of finding out who was the roofer. Any idea how much a roofer would charge?
Thanks,
Lynn

The mushroom cap is on the outside of the roof. The house doesn't have an attic.

[ma0641]

The sealed pump is most likely for bathroom waste. There should be 2 large pipes in the lid, the ejector pump side and a vent pipe. As far as the 1/2 open one, does it smell in the hole? Washing machine waste can have all kinds of bacteria etc. Where does this one pump to and is there a vent pipe? Wouldn't think so if 1/2 is open but you never know. As far as the roof cap. You can probably find a neighbor or local handyman to remove the cap, add a solvent cemented connector to what is probably ABS(black) or PVC(white) and then a 2ft. Piece of similar pipe. $75 would be a good price for time and material unless we are talking complications and a high steep roof.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Lynn...

The laundry pump is for the laundry and was probably installed because it was too much work or difficult to run a sewer pipe over to the other sewage ejector.

The other sewage ejector is for the bathroom in the basement and as you suggested could be for the rest of the house although that is pretty rare... ;)

In these cases, my first thought is for you to check the seal around the sewage ejector cover...these are famous for complaints like you are presenting.

If all seems fine I would still recommend that you take some clear, permanently flexible silicone caulking and caulk the entire edge around the lid of the sewage ejector. You'll also want to put silicone around the pipe penetrations in the lid. To be complete, silicone the cord penetration, too. Let all this dry and then let us know if the odor has disappeared or if still present.

If still present then you could look at the vent as an issue, but my bet is on the ejector lid at this time... :)

And Brian (ma0641), I almost always appreciate your work around here, but I really don't think it is a good idea to post cost or even guesses for this kind of stuff, you know? I mean, to think a contractor/handyman is going to go out to the job and look at it, run to home depot and pick up the material and run back and install it all, carry any kind of insurance and pay gas... and oh yeah, taxes and do it all for $75.00 just doesn't seem realistic nowadays... ;) Never mind that he/she has to warranty the work, too... right? My opinion, anyway!

Questions? Let us know...

Mark

[ma0641]

Mark. In the future no $$ suggestions. Thanks, Brian