Basement drain problem

Hi everyone. The drain in the center of the basement floor has started smelling very badly the last few days but everything appears normal - water level is about 3 or 4 inches below the cover as usual and when I pour water into it the level doesn't change. It is not backing up, showers/toilets all draining normally, it just smells terrible. We have line coverage for the external sewer/water/gas but they said the wouldn't even come out if it isn't backed up (so what the hell is the point of insurance if you'll pardon my French!). Called a plumber who thinks it might be a broken pipe and suggested it could cost $15,000 to dig up the floor and replace it, although we told him not to use a camera until we checked with our insurance first so that's not 100%. Out of desperation I was hoping for any advice as to what it might be, and any suggestions about what I could do in the hopes of avoiding an enormous repair payment.

Thanks in advance!

check something else. any other drains? ac drains into ?

open clean out cover ?

davidbrianfisher said:

We have line coverage for the external sewer/water/gas but they said the wouldn't even come out if it isn't backed up (so what the hell is the point of insurance if you'll pardon my French!).

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The reason(s) for insurance is for the insurance companies to make money. It is all one big gamble.

My favorite is buying extended warranty insurance on a new car. The thing has at the least a three year bumper-to-bumper from the get go.

What I can't figure is how health insurance companies make a profit with the current cost of medical care, other than being supplemented by FED and local governments.