Septic Tank Odor - Vent pipe (Why now?)

Users who are viewing this thread

Longjt

New Member
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Ohio
Not for sure if I have this posted in the right area or not - I'm new to the forums. If I need to relocate - let me know or a moderator can relocate it for me.....

Here's my issue-

I had lived alone (for about 6 years) in my 1100 sq ft ranch home up to June of last year when my fiancee and her 2 girls (9 and 7 yrs old) moved in. I had the septic tank emptied just after they moved in because I anticipated a quite a bit more water usage and I knew the 1500 gal tank was way over due. This was the first time it had been emptied since I bought the house in 1996 (I know it should be emptied every 3 - 5 yrs) . Ever since having it emptied, I can smell a sewage odor (H2S?) on the back side of my house (close to where the vent pipe is located on the roof) on a breezy day. I have climbed up the roof and verified that it's the same smell coming out of the roof vent. I have never smelled this odor before until after the tank was emptied. I thought it would eventually go away but it hasn't yet.

Any thoughts anyone????????

I have had no problems with the leech beds (knock on wood). I have a diversion/splitter box after the tank that allows me to alternate between the two leech beds (I do it every spring). I just added some Rid-X for the first time about 2 weeks ago thinking that maybe there's no biological matter in the tank to break things down. Could the waste be going septic? If so, how can I fix this problem????????


Please help....


Thanks!!!
 

Terry

The Plumbing Wizard
Staff member
Messages
29,946
Reaction score
3,460
Points
113
Location
Bothell, Washington
Website
terrylove.com
Rid-X is for killing roots.

You may be better off with Bio-Clean to add some bacteria to the septic.
They also make filters for vent pipes that help with the smell issue.
 

AL_2007

Geotechnical Engineer
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Texas
Sounds like a leach field problem to me. I had a similar problem and even emptying the tank didn't solve the problem as it was quickly refilled with waste water. The problem of odor and leaking water near the septic was solved after I built a new leach field.
 

JJLJr

New Member
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Rhode Island
Septic tank odor Outside

Last August, I bought a new house. The cesspool did not pass inspection and was replaced with a septic system in October. Prior to installing the septic system, my wife and I would notice an occasional odor and figured it was from the cesspool. However, we still get the smell with the new septic system. After checking various websites, I think the odor is from the stack pipe. The pipe appears to be only about 8" high and the roof only has a slight pitch. I suspect the when the wind comes over the roof it carries the smell. Other than that we have no problems in the house as all drains are very quick, no noises or gurgling.

My question is what is the best way to get rid of the odor? I have discovered several options through Google searches, such as placing a filter over the pipe, extending the pipe, flushing a cup of baking soda weekly down the toilet (from Arm & Hammer) and adding a T or U connector to the pipe. Will any of these work?

Thanks for the help.
 

patman2

New Member
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Mosier, OR
Outside odor from septic system

About two years ago we finished building our house on 25 acres and a recent problem has me stumped. For the past six months we’ve occasionally detected a sewer odor outside. I’ve walked our property and tried to locate the smell concentrating near the septic tank and leach field but the smell is not coming from either of these areas. I recently noticed that I can only smell it when the wind is blowing lightly from a certain direction. Suspecting that the odor was coming from the vents, I climbed up on the roof to check it out. There was a light updraft coming from the vent and strong sewage odor. Initially I couldn’t understand how there could be an updraft in a sealed DWV system. Air must be coming in from somewhere, but where? Then I remembered that we installed three inside AAVs, which are allowed by local code.

So here is my theory: It has taken several years for our DWV pipes to become tainted by sewage so that is why we haven’t detected any odor until now. So when the conditions are right, the roof vents warm in the sun and warm air in the DWV system tries to rise. But if the system were truly sealed there would be no replacement air coming in… except for the 3 inside AAVs. AAV valves, which are designed to admit air to the system, could also admit air into the system as warm air from the roof vents pulls air from the system. Is this a possibility or could something else be going on?

I’m stumpted.
 

Andrew McGibbon

New Member
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
West Milford, NJ 07480
Septic tanks have an odor that comes from their roof vent. If your home is up against an obstruction like a treeline or hill, that odor can be brought down to ground level by the movement of the air. We manufacture an activated carbon filter that can be used to help resolve this problem. They can be found at our website, http://IndustrialOdorControl.com.
 

Growler

New Member
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Kansas
If you occasionally or constantly smell sewer gas around your home on the outside, the odor is coming from your plumbing vents. Normally the wind will carry away the funk. If conditions are right, weather/wind/humidity, land slope, will carry that stink to the ground and spoil the party. Depending on the size of your house, you'll have 1 or more plumbing vents. VentGenie Filters builds an activated carbon filter that solves this problem immediately, guaranteed. Visit VentGenieFilters.com.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks