Controlling Septic Tank Odors

Controlling septic tank odors can be as easy as treating your system with a bacteria monthly septic tank maintenance treatment. If you live in a rural area of the country, there is a pretty good chance you may have a septic system. Septic tank systems typically use a drain field, cesspit or cesspool as its leaching source. Some areas of the country use what is called a sewer or septic lagoon to dispose of sewer waste water.

In any event, if you are fortunate enough to have a septic system, you may be troubled with septic tank smells and septic tank odors from time to time. There are several reasons why a septic system will produce septic tank odors and smells. The question becomes how to control them. We have listed a few below:

1) Septic tank requires pumping out will create septic tank odors and smells. Solids will build up and creating back pressure. Strong septic tank odors will push their way into the house through sinks, drains and toilets.

2) Dry drains or more commonly referred to curly pipe and a “P-traps” among professionals. The purpose of a “p-trap” or curly pipe is to block toxic gasses from entering the house. The drain pipe from regular use will fill up with water creating a vapor lock in the line preventing toxic gases from passing through the drain line.

3) Vent pipes on the roof can become clogged with leafs and debris from trees. Toxic gasses will become trapped pushing back into the home causing septic tank odors and foul smells.

4) Seals around and the base of the toilet can become rotted allowing septic tank odors to escape. This is a fairly easy repair and should not require more than 2 hours to repair the system.

5) Physical damage to the drain lines and septic tanks can occur from heavy equipment or vehicles driving over the system. Crushed septic tanks and drain fields can result in odors escaping into the environment filling your yard and home with toxic septic gasses and odors.

6) Leaking plumbing pipes can drip septic sewer effluent into crawl spaces and floors around the house causing sewer odors.

7) Septic tank odors can result from a bio-mat clogged drain field. System pressure can force liquid effluent up through the soil into the yard causing septic tank odors and smells.

Controlling septic tank odors can be as easy as performing scheduled routine inspections on your septic tanks and drain field quarterly. Bacteria maintenance treatments will reduce unpleasant septic tank odors. Get on a monthly maintenance schedule treating your system with beneficial bacteria can increase the life of your septic system giving you the home owner years of problem free service.

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