I am hoping there will be someone out there who has gone through this, or maybe has a recommendation for another site to check out, so here goes...

We purchased our home about four months ago. The home was built in 1987. We are on public water and have a septic tank. The HOA requires that the tank be pumped every five years, and ours was pumped about 2 1/2 years ago (receipt provided at closing) and the tank was inspected prior to purchase.

Now, here is the problem. Whenever we get a large amount of rain (and the east coast has been getting quite a bit lately!), we start to notice an odor in our home and outside on the lot. We do not have any standing water outside, other than a bit during the actual rain - depending on how fast it comes down - and no evidence of backup in the home.

I have spoken with the health department, and she did not seem worried. Said that when we get the low cloud cover, the odors are not able to dissapate through the atmosphere quite as quickly. She also asked if there was any backup in the home, which there is not, however last night, one of the toilets did "gurgle" a bit.

Has anyone experienced anything like this, or can recommend a different website/message board for me to check out? Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

septic odors're usually caused by an overload'd distribution sys IF your tank was pump'd as noted,,, the 'gurgle' may be liquid backing up,,, call another tank specialist.

not surprising the local govt 'worker' wasn't alarmed,,, it wasn't HER house,,, while her explanation is sensible physically, its still not acceptable as the solution.