I thought my abandoned sewer line was causing my sump pit to smell awful but since the smell is continuously getting worse and my front yard smells like a wasteland I'm thinking I have a compromised connection in my new sewer line. There's a 5 foot piece of ductile metal exiting the front basement wall around waist height (buried a few feet underground). Then it connects to a section of PVC that includes a clean out. The PVC takes a 45 degree angle to the left to line up with the original clay? pipe (from 1953). The PVC travels down another 2 feet as the original clay pipe is buried deeper than the ductile metal section. PVC section is about 6 to 8 feet long. It's possible both connections are bad but it's seems the ductile metal to PVC would leach more into my drain tile based on closer proximity. I will try and post pics of the excavation they did last July.

I could do a dye test but don't want nasty green stuff pouring out my sump discharge onto my front walkway. I have a clean out right before it exits the basement wall so I could shine a flashlight and try and see the first connection area. I will definitely have the company come and try and fix with no/minimal charges but I'd like to have some proof of my problem so they are willing to come over pro bono. Any suggestions? Thanks

What is making your front yard 'smell like a wasteland' ? And how?



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Smell is very strong in my sump pit and the discharge exits to my front yard. I covered my pit quickly before leaving town but now that I'm back I need to seal it. Bought a standard cover from HD that didn't fit right, but it's keeping the smell to a minimum inside the house.

I'm presuming the abandoned sewer line is still connected to the main and that is the source of the odor?

No the new sewer line is completely separate from the abondoned damaged section. There used to be a catch basin in my front yard but it was removed and now it's just pipe going to the street.

Unless YOU know what the problem is or they can determine it, they are NOT going to do anything Pro Bono.

I didn't mean Pro Bono as in free I meant Pro Bono as in I hope the plumber is a U2 fan.

that's funny.

doesn't sound like the sump is properly sealed. I would suggest you upload some pics of any visible plumbing for free advice right here.

is the sump vented?