Hey everyone,

I'm having a heck of a time finding the source of a sewer gas smell in the
upstairs bath. I'm on a private septic system (tank & field)

Smell is only in the upstairs bath, and only near the toilet area. Can't
pinpoint any exact sources. Can't detect smell from sink or shower drain.

I assumed it was the toilet wax ring, so I replaced that. No change. Next
thing I did was to remove toilet altogether and seal up the drain hole with
seran wrap & rubber bands. No help. All drains seem to work fine. I wondered
if it was the vent pipe plugged so ran a hose down the pipe from the roof-
it runs trhough just fine, I can hear the water running out the main pipe to
the septic tank main pipe.

Could it be bad wax ring let some stink onto the plywood floor where the
toilet sat? Wife is scrubbing that now.

Can't seem to find the source!

Septic tank could use pumping, we moved in less than a year ago, but I'd
expect that to effect other drains too, especially the downstairs bathroom.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Johny B

"John" wrote in message
news
Hey everyone,

I'm having a heck of a time finding the source of a sewer gas smell in the
upstairs bath. I'm on a private septic system (tank & field)

Smell is only in the upstairs bath, and only near the toilet area. Can't
pinpoint any exact sources. Can't detect smell from sink or shower drain.

I assumed it was the toilet wax ring, so I replaced that. No change. Next
thing I did was to remove toilet altogether and seal up the drain hole
with
seran wrap & rubber bands. No help. All drains seem to work fine. I
wondered
if it was the vent pipe plugged so ran a hose down the pipe from the roof-
it runs trhough just fine, I can hear the water running out the main pipe
to
the septic tank main pipe.

Could it be bad wax ring let some stink onto the plywood floor where the
toilet sat? Wife is scrubbing that now.

Can't seem to find the source!

Septic tank could use pumping, we moved in less than a year ago, but I'd
expect that to effect other drains too, especially the downstairs
bathroom.

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Johny B



Just wondering if you say it's only in the one spot.
And you seem to have checked all the normal sources
(traps all filled)

do you have a vent fan there ?
In my last house a bird got trapped in one and died.
We just about went nuts trying to locate where the smell was getting in
As it only happened when the fireplace was burning and negative house
pressure pulled in the smell in through the vent fan

AMUN

"Amun" wrote in message
. ..


Just wondering if you say it's only in the one spot.
And you seem to have checked all the normal sources
(traps all filled)

do you have a vent fan there ?
In my last house a bird got trapped in one and died.
We just about went nuts trying to locate where the smell was getting in
As it only happened when the fireplace was burning and negative house
pressure pulled in the smell in through the vent fan

AMUN



Yes, it seems to be in that spot only. I've removed the toilet altogether so
that trap can't be a problem. Shower or sink trap? Unless the trap is
siphoning out..we run that water alot. Plus, sticking my nose right up to
the other drains does not provide the smell.

No vent, except for a window.

JB

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 14:29:36 -0400, "John" wrote:



Are you sure you don't have a failed auto vent in the wall?
If they stick open they can stink up the place bad.
These nasty things were often put in if a toilet or sink was not close to
the
stack.


I can't say that we don't, but the main vent does run up through a wall just
a few feet away. The vent seems ok. I ran a garden hose of water down it and
could hear the water runing strong in the main septic pipe in the basement.
I can't imagine the pipe breaking in the wall, there's nothing tp cause it.
And, no water showed up on a wall or ceiling.

To rule out the septic tank, we're having it pumped this wednesday.

I'm about to lock the door and just get used to the downstairs bathroom.

-JB

Are you sure you don't have a failed auto vent in the wall?
If they stick open they can stink up the place bad.
These nasty things were often put in if a toilet or sink was not close
to
the
stack.


I can't say that we don't, but the main vent does run up through a wall
just
a few feet away. The vent seems ok. I ran a garden hose of water down it

Autovents can be used if the drain is slow. They don't go to the roof.
They are
usually installed in the wall right behind the toilet or sink. If they
decide to
stick open they stink. They are used illegally quite often to save the
expense
of properly venting to the roof.
http://www.plumbingproducts.com/autovent.html

Wow, what a crazy thing. That would explain things. Funny, we've been
noticing that the wall actually stinks right near the toilet, not the
toilet, not even the drain hole but the wall. We washed the wall down with
bleach to see if that would help,..no luck.

I think I'm going to keep a window open until we get the tank pumped this
wendesday before I do anything. I really don't expect pumping the tank to
fix this, but my knowledge is limited here and it needed to be done. I'm not
really interested in tearing out the wall to see what's in there just yet.

Thanks for the info, but I hope this is not it!

JB

if you have a bathroom steam vent on the roof near the septic vent , the
gases may be coming out the septic vent and cooling and going down the
steam vent back into the bathroom.i really dont think pumping your
septic tank is going to make it smell better . lucas

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

it could be your septic vent gasses on the roof are coming in the
window.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm