How to Locate Sewer Gas Smell
After hooking a washing machine drain line into the septic system and installing a studor vent, we had a bad sewer gas smell in the basement, which even traveled upstairs into the house. We couldn't figure out where it was coming from until we learned a simple trick from a plumbing inspector. He took a cloth, poured peppermint extract on it, opened the cleanout in the drain, placed the rag inside, closed the cleanout, and followed his nose. If you have a leak the peppermint aroma will come out at the point of the leak. We had a drain line in our basement that we weren't aware of behind a storage area. The septic smell was leaking from it. We closed it off, problem solved--thanks to peppermint extract!!! P.S. Be sure to remove the rag from your drain line!! Such a simple solution that really works.
