Can anyone help me? I have a sewage smell in the entire house!?

Question

We moved in 6 months ago, and the house does have a septic tank. I have no idea where to even start looking to find the cause!! The septic tank was emptied before we moved in. It almost smells like it's coming through the vents with the A/C, but maybe it's just circulating it. Any ideas?

Answer 1

my suggestion sounds kinda stupid, but it worked in my house -- make sure there's water in all the traps of your drains.  My bathroom faucet would run at just the right angle to flush the water from the bathroom sink trap.  It was especially nasty.  One of the kids removed the pop-out - once that was put back in, the force of the water stopped pushing the water out of the trap.  Also, check any floor drains you have.  Like I said, kinda stupid in its simplicity, but with home repairs, I dare to dream.

Answer 2

Here's two other possibilities. One: check the wax ring at the bottom of your toilet. An old or leaking ring will let the gas escape before the trap in the bottom of the seat section. Close the bathroom door for a while and use your nose. Maybe the air return vent is near this room. Two: check the height of the main plumbing vent on your roof. There is a plumbers formula for this height according to roof pitch. If it is steep and the pipe short a simple fix is to slip a piece of PVC pipe over it to extend its height. Don't glue unless this confirms the problem. Also pour about a gallon of water down all traps to ensure a water blockage of the drains. You might want to eyeball all the traps to make sure the fittings are tight and not corroded.

Answer 3

maybe you could call the a/c guys and have them come in and look to see if it is coming through the a/c.

If not then maybe look in the drains?

Answer 4

I had a situation in an old house (built in 1946) where I smelled sewer every time I used the AC. I eventually had the house remodeled (like completely gutted) and the plumber found an old iron sewer vent pipe in a wall near the AC that was completely corroded through. So, when the AC took a suction on that part of the house, it was drawing the sewer gas into the house through the wall.

Answer 5

Sounds like your drains in your basement or somewhere in your house are not sealed or vented properly, That sewage smell is actually dangerous for you because it carries a gas called methane gas. If your pipes are not sealed or vented properly, you will get that smell in your house coming through your drains and unseald pipes. I would call a plumber ASAP to get him to professionally help you and in the meen time I would keep your windows open so you do not have high concentration of that stuff.