Sump pit, no pump, horrible smell when it rains
#1
10-09-14, 03:51 PM
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Sump pit, no pump, horrible smell when it rains
First post here, nice to meet you all.
I just purchased a home in May, and currently is set up with well water and a septic system. There is a sump pit in the finished side of the basement, where I am told is gravity fed to a storm drain on the street. When it rains it smells a little mildewy and a little like sewage. Overall not pleasant. I have been told the basement of this house once flooded, but that happened once over the course of 30 or so years. My guess is that when the storm drain floods it backs up with an incredible amount of rain.
Attached is a picture of the sump pit, along with the basic layout of the home, in case anyone thinks it has something to do with my septic. I'm not sure if it would.
Any ideas what it is? Or what I can do to keep it from getting in? Completely seal up the pit?
Also, the white PVC going into the pit is NOT used. The previous owner had his laundry draining into the pit rather than the septic. The hose is my dehumidifier I need to run 24/7 to keep it dry and not as smelly (works when it doesn't rain a lot)
Previous owner also cut off one of my leech fields to add the garage, it's been working fine so far. That is the 'X' drawn on the layout below. The green blob drawn in the corner of the home is the location of the sump pit.
Thanks for all the help!
I just purchased a home in May, and currently is set up with well water and a septic system. There is a sump pit in the finished side of the basement, where I am told is gravity fed to a storm drain on the street. When it rains it smells a little mildewy and a little like sewage. Overall not pleasant. I have been told the basement of this house once flooded, but that happened once over the course of 30 or so years. My guess is that when the storm drain floods it backs up with an incredible amount of rain.
Attached is a picture of the sump pit, along with the basic layout of the home, in case anyone thinks it has something to do with my septic. I'm not sure if it would.
Any ideas what it is? Or what I can do to keep it from getting in? Completely seal up the pit?
Also, the white PVC going into the pit is NOT used. The previous owner had his laundry draining into the pit rather than the septic. The hose is my dehumidifier I need to run 24/7 to keep it dry and not as smelly (works when it doesn't rain a lot)
Previous owner also cut off one of my leech fields to add the garage, it's been working fine so far. That is the 'X' drawn on the layout below. The green blob drawn in the corner of the home is the location of the sump pit.
Thanks for all the help!
#2
10-09-14, 05:44 PM
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Is this an overflow line? I have yet to see this pit full of water. There should be a trap for that line attaching to the storm mains? Am I smelling gasses from the storm drain??
#3
10-09-14, 05:52 PM
I've been in some areas where, when it rains, the sanitary sewer surcharges the storm sewer, and without a backflow preventer, the whole neighborhood's sewage could inundate some folks' basements. Then, for weeks, the Towns Fire Department would be occupied going around and pumping out taxpayers' basements and sanitizing them. Your own sewage is a problem; the whole neighborhood's sewage is disgusting.
Even though you're not tied into any sanitary sewer system yourself, perhaps others in the area are . . . . or their septic systems somehow overflow into the street and the storm sewer that your sump pipe is linked to.
If all you're currently experiencing is odor, then maybe you are witnessing something along this line; but more limited. Check and see if you have a back flow preventer or foot valve on that sump pump pit.
What State are you in ?
That experience I spoke of was in Massachusetts.
Even though you're not tied into any sanitary sewer system yourself, perhaps others in the area are . . . . or their septic systems somehow overflow into the street and the storm sewer that your sump pipe is linked to.
If all you're currently experiencing is odor, then maybe you are witnessing something along this line; but more limited. Check and see if you have a back flow preventer or foot valve on that sump pump pit.
What State are you in ?
That experience I spoke of was in Massachusetts.
#4
10-09-14, 05:58 PM
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No valve that I can see. Just this straight pipe coming it. There's new development uphill from me (backyard) that is all city sewer. But my street is too far away and too downhill to tap in.
#5
10-09-14, 07:51 PM
Group Moderator
Have you confirmed that the smell is actually coming out of that pipe and not the whole pit in general ?
It's extremely rare to have any kind of drain line connected directly into a storm drain. Usually the line exits thru the curb line and then runs into the storm drain. If your line does indeed run directly into the storm drain then you run the risk of your basement flooding if the storm drain fills up and that line would need to have a trap at the pit.
It's extremely rare to have any kind of drain line connected directly into a storm drain. Usually the line exits thru the curb line and then runs into the storm drain. If your line does indeed run directly into the storm drain then you run the risk of your basement flooding if the storm drain fills up and that line would need to have a trap at the pit.
#6
10-13-14, 05:41 PM
I'm told it feeds directly into the storm system. There is no open drain at the curb.
I can't verify exactly if the smell is coming out of the pipe or out of the pit, the smell is completely gone now that it hasn't rained. It makes more sense to me that the smell is coming from the gasses being pushed out of the storm system due to all the moving of rain and runoff water through the system.
But, to verify, who can I contact to come check it out for me? A typical plumber I don't think will know exactly what's going on in my situation.
Also, I looked at my short term radon detector, and it was at levels upwards of 7.0, the highest I ever noticed. It's usually at 2.2 or around there, but never this high. It's almost like the rain and that smell was directly linked to the seepage of radon in my basement. This almost makes me believe it's the pit and not the pipe!? I'm so confused I just need hire someone to do this right... Any ideas??
I can't verify exactly if the smell is coming out of the pipe or out of the pit, the smell is completely gone now that it hasn't rained. It makes more sense to me that the smell is coming from the gasses being pushed out of the storm system due to all the moving of rain and runoff water through the system.
But, to verify, who can I contact to come check it out for me? A typical plumber I don't think will know exactly what's going on in my situation.
Also, I looked at my short term radon detector, and it was at levels upwards of 7.0, the highest I ever noticed. It's usually at 2.2 or around there, but never this high. It's almost like the rain and that smell was directly linked to the seepage of radon in my basement. This almost makes me believe it's the pit and not the pipe!? I'm so confused I just need hire someone to do this right... Any ideas??
#7
10-13-14, 06:34 PM
Group Moderator
I would agree the smell may have been the pit and not the pipe. That drain pipe should still have a trap in it to eliminate any smell problems from the storm drain.
I'm not sure who to call. Most likely a plumber. The town will either do nothing or be displeased about your connection.
I'm not sure who to call. Most likely a plumber. The town will either do nothing or be displeased about your connection.
#9
10-13-14, 08:13 PM
Group Moderator
I've seen many "connections" that were not sanctioned by the authorities. Homeowners/contractors took it upon themselves to make the connection.
#10
10-15-14, 11:54 AM
It's suppose to rain tomorrow. I will tape up a bag with some slack to the pipe to see if it fills up with some air, and see if that keeps it from smelling. I'll know if its coming from that drain.
I have yet to see that drain even come into effect even after days of rain, i still did not see any standing water in the pit. I'm tempted to cap that drain, and figure out another way to deal with the water table underneath.
I have yet to see that drain even come into effect even after days of rain, i still did not see any standing water in the pit. I'm tempted to cap that drain, and figure out another way to deal with the water table underneath.
#11
10-15-14, 02:41 PM
I'll just venture a guess that the new development behind you has paved streets and driveways, all of which makes for increased run-off into the storm sewer, which pressurizes the system and pushes air (luckily only air at this time) up your sump drain when it rains. Maybe you need a trap? I'm not sure a foot valve or simple back-flow preventer would be effective against smelly fumes.
Perhaps you should discuss this with your Department of Public Works and see if they've had other episodes or complaints like yours.
Perhaps you should discuss this with your Department of Public Works and see if they've had other episodes or complaints like yours.
#12
10-15-14, 04:08 PM
Yeah the runoff to the storm drain must be substantially higher due to the development. The storm sewer probably was never designed for the load. Why is it that homeowners like myself need to suffer for flaws in town design? I'm kind of at a stand still. Also there is two more pipes going into this pit inside the actual foundation of the basement. Looks like they route water from other sides of the house to this pit, and ultimately to the storm drain.
Does it make sense that the water table in 1967 at this location was higher than it gets now? The increase runoff and surface water that would ultimately absorb into the ground in 1967 now drains to the storm water system. Wouldn't this mean my water level is lower than it would be in 1967 without the increase runoff?
Does it make sense that the water table in 1967 at this location was higher than it gets now? The increase runoff and surface water that would ultimately absorb into the ground in 1967 now drains to the storm water system. Wouldn't this mean my water level is lower than it would be in 1967 without the increase runoff?
#14
10-16-14, 08:22 AM
I will be contacting the town to better guide me, but before I do....
Can I install an ejector pump that ejects ground water into the storm drain that only turns on when my pit fills up? It would act the same, just not allow water to get backed up from the storm system.
Or seal off the storm drain completely, and install a sump pump that pumps my potential high water table to where? My septic certainly wouldnt be able to handle more water considering if my basement is flooding, so is my leech fields.
Can I install an ejector pump that ejects ground water into the storm drain that only turns on when my pit fills up? It would act the same, just not allow water to get backed up from the storm system.
Or seal off the storm drain completely, and install a sump pump that pumps my potential high water table to where? My septic certainly wouldnt be able to handle more water considering if my basement is flooding, so is my leech fields.
