Sewers - Sewer gas - We've had two plumbers out and they can't figure out the problem.?

Sewer gas - We've had two plumbers out and they can't figure out the problem.?

The first time they came they found an open pipe against the wall that was never capped under the crawl space that had been open for 2 years since we remodeled. Then we rerouted the sewage drain so it wouldn't run into our creek by the farm and after they did this that's when this smell started and it hasn't stopped since Thanksgiving. We've had 2 plumbers come and they can't figure out how it's getting in - I'm thinking - if we lived with an open sewer pipe for 2 years (but never smelled anything) and when they rerouted the pipes underground is when the smell started - it has something to do with that but why can't two plumbers figure it out - in the meantime it smells like rotten eggs in our house and I'm wondering what this will do to our health?

Public Comments

have the plumbers check the stand pipes for some obstruction. I agree that the problem started when the plumbing was redone. If there is no obstructions then have them add another stand pipe at the sewer entrance to your house. That should help with the additional vent Good Luck
it sounds like your drain doesn't have a trap in it.
that smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2s) it is very dangerous, you should have your sewer smoked, if you can get to it outside you simply shoot smoke up your line and it tell you in the house where it is leaking. good luck
a rotten egg smell is sulfur, sounds like you have opened up a water aqua duct,
Have you run a new washer drain and abandoned the original one? I have seen that many times where someone would run a new washer drain to the woods to get it off the septic system and never cap the old one and the trap dry out and get bad smells. If that is the case, pour water into the washer drain and see if the smell goes away. If it does, there is your problem. Is there a floor drain in the laundry room where the trap may have dried out? A bathroom or shower that never gets used and the trap dried out? Jack has a good point, smoke test the drains. it is simple to do and it will reveal the place of the smells. With a little effort you can do it yourself or hire a plumber to do it. I have smoke tested many homes and found wax rings under commodes leaking, remodeled plumbing where a line was not capped, abandoned washer drain, and lots of other stuff. It should cost between $100-$200 if you call a plumber. If you do find a trap where the water has evaporated, instead of putting water back in it, fill it with mineral oil. Water will evaporate pretty quickly and the problem is back. The mineral oil will last as long time, best of luck.
I'm probably (hopefully) wrong about this, but, when you remodeled did you have any problem with anyone on the plumbing crew? I have worked in the new construction business for many, many years as an HVAC contractor. I have seen a disgruntled plumber drill small holes in the stink pipes before the drywall was installed purposely so the house would stink because they had an altercation with the homeowner. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about your contractor, most are honorable people, but this is a possibility.
how is your drain flow . plug all of your sinks and fill them up full and add in some ammonia , toilet as well . and i hope you have a bath tub as well . now dump all of the drains at one time and if they go down well your lines are clear and have good ventilation now go out to the field and see how well the water flows from the tank out and pay attention to the smell . If it has the same smell and runs poorly then your drain there is above the plum witch is not a major problem but will cause your water in the tank to have to go above the out drain and above the in drain causing the smell to wash back into your home now to fix this all you need to do is dig up the sewage tank ther is one large top and one small top if not then you need to make one and just run a vent pipe from it . you might want to add a 90 to the top of it or you will have a noise coming from it wen the wind blows
all Iknow is that the sewer drain is supposed to have a vent pipe (vent stack) that goes between the walls & up to the roof of the house to release the toxic gasses. In winter time around here it is common for snow to block the stack --you can always tell when that happens (peeuuwwie). have you gone to the roof (or did the plumbers) to see if there is something blocking the vent stack?