possible venting issue
I think we have a venting issue in our basement, wondering if it is dangerous or can we put it on the later priority list. Basically, it seems when we run the dishwasher in our parlor floor kitchen, the laundry room (garden extension underneath the kitchen) smells like sewer a bit. The dishwasher/laundry machine and laundry sink all seem to be on the same plumbing line which we were told by a contractor has a “farmhouse vent” – which I gather is an illegal venting system or something. We have windows in the laundry room, we usually open them during the day and it airs out fairly quickly. The stench is not overwhelming and dissipates within an hour of running the dishwasher. We plan to fix it but can’t really fit it onto the budget right now. Can the sewer gas be dangerous though? It’s not really living space, it is a semi-finished basement mostly used for laundry and storage.
