THE PROBLEM

We have a very embarrassing problem in our basement and I hope you can help. About a year ago we decided to remodel our basement complete with a toilet, bathroom sink, and a bar sink. Since we were lower than the house drains, a sewer ejector pump was needed for the job. Against my wishes, my husband had the bright idea to work with a relative who is not a plumber but claimed to "know as much" as a plumber. Apparently he did not, and now every time the ejector pump runs we get a stinky sewer smell in the bar sink area. How can we fix this?

EXPERT ADVICE

Ed Del Grande, master contractor/plumber: Before you sentence your husband to a smelly cell for not using a real plumber, let me tell you that you're not alone! I get many letters just like yours when it comes to sewer ejector pumps and installations that do not meet local codes. A sewer ejector pit is a closed drum or storage tank that sits below grade. Inside the tank is a heavy duty grinding pump that discharges the sewer water from the plumbing fixtures up to the house sewer lines. The tank itself is sealed tight to contain odors, and the tank usually requires a separate vent pipe called a local vent. A local vent should vent uninterrupted up through the roof of a home to the outside air.

Local codes vary and a sewer ejector needs to be vented according to your local codes and permits may be required in your area. Your odor problem could be caused by many factors, but a likely scenario could be a venting issue with the ejector and or/fixtures.

If, when the pump kicks on and the tank and/or fixtures aren't vented properly, a suction may be created in your drain lines when water is discharged from the tank. If the suction is strong enough to pull the water out from your bar sink trap, well now you have an open drain line directly to the sewer ejector. Hence the smell!

You need to have a licensed plumber check out the system, pull permits if needed, and install the proper vent lines. The plumber also should check valves, and controls needed to bring the job up to code.

— Scripps Howard><p>