Bad smell in my house

[mchl236]

Hi, my name is Michele. I am a mother, grandmother, widow, and a hard worker. Now that I'm on my own, I find all this home upkeep really challenging. Can't really call myself a DIY er, though I would like to be!I don't have much experience with home projects, not much confidence, and can't afford to hire someone else to do it. But I'm willing to try, so I'm finding places like this one to help me figure things out. So wish me luck! I have a terrible smell in my house. It is intermittent, smells like sewage, or standing mucky water. I have crawled around under the house, all was dry. There are two pipes attached to the back of the house, one big, one smaller. I’m thinking these are some kind of vent pipes?? One has come apart, and looks plugged off by dirt dobber nest. Could this be my problem? I am attaching a picture. Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Deleted member 120897]

That smaller pipe could be a vent pipe, but unlikely (although not impossible) to be the source. Is the smell more noticeable in all the house or one specific location?

 

[mchl236]

One end of the house. Smell spreads to living room. Master bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, all directly in line with those two pipes, if that matters. Another bathroom on the other end of the house, no smell in there. This evening I’m experimenting with plugging the drains in the master bathroom. Son will be here Friday to try and figure this out.

 

[king of pipes]

Firstly I would get the pipe put back in its original position and see if it cure's the problem? , Your next step would be looking for a blockage of some kind .

 

[jh2254]

Firstly I would get the pipe put back in its original position and see if it cure's the problem? , Your next step would be looking for a blockage of some kind .

Agree put it back. Also remove the 'dirt dobber nest' whatever that is? I assume some kind of nest plugging the end of the pipe.
Then trace the pipe back to its source and send us another picture. If you lived close I would come round and do it for you !

 

[mchl236]

Agree put it back. Also remove the 'dirt dobber nest' whatever that is? I assume some kind of nest plugging the end of the pipe.
Then trace the pipe back to its source and send us another picture. If you lived close I would come round and do it for you !

So very nice of you! Lol, a dirt dobber is a wasp that uses mud to make a rock solid "nest" that they lay their eggs in. They have been a big problem this year ( SE Oklahoma).

Firstly I would get the pipe put back in its original position and see if it cure's the problem? , Your next step would be looking for a blockage of some kind .

Firstly I would get the pipe put back in its original position and see if it cure's the problem? , Your next step would be looking for a blockage of some kind .

Thanks for your response. Where/how would I be looking for a blockage? Sorry for the ignorance, but SO not my wheelhouse. I'm definitely crawling back under there on my next day off (no matter how many creepy crawlers there might be!) and examine all pipes. Will trace that broken outside pipe. Will also take pics. Son will be fixing that pipe Friday!

 

[king of pipes]

Your house waste must go to a man hole then onto either the main sewer or to a septic tank ? I'd start at any man hole or inspection chambers you might have ? , Again unblock any vent pipes replace that pipe externally you may find that cure's it