Septic System Smells (10 Causes And Their Preventions)

Have you ever experienced sewer odors inside your home?

Septic system smells are irritating and hazardous for you and the nearby community if not cured on time. It’s not just an awful experience but signifies something is wrong with your septic tank. 

It is essential for homeowners, particularly those with a home on septic, to understand why this happens and how to keep the living area healthy and free from any odors.

This blog post highlights common reasons for septic odor and prevention methods that you can take.

What Is A Septic System?

Septic tanks are underground structures where wastewater is treated, and they are commonly found in areas without centralized sewer systems, especially rural homes.

It is a significant component of a septic house, which helps to treat household waste safely. 

The septic tank separates liquid from solid waste, allowing the organic part of the sewage to decompose naturally.

At the same time, the filtrate is free of any septic tank smell in the house, and it is environmentally friendly.

Can Septic Tanks Cause Odor Inside Your Home?

Yes, a septic tank can cause an odor in the house typically due to issues such as a full tank clogged vents or leaks in the system.

When the septic tank is full, gasses can't be adequately contained and may escape into the home. Blocked or damaged vent pipes also prevent gasses from releasing outside, causing them to enter indoor spaces.

Additionally, if plumbing leaks or faulty seals, septic odors can seep into the house. 

Regular maintenance, like septic tank pumping and checking for plumbing issues, can help reduce septic tank odor.

How Does Smell Originate From A Septic Tank?

Gasses accumulating and escaping from a septic system may produce a septic tank gas odor. This may be because the tank is full, vents are blocked, or there’s an imbalance within the system. 

This can be unbearable, but it may also indicate that you have septic tank smells outside your home that you must maintain and repair to avoid risks from this source of gaseous emissions.

10 Common Causes Of Septic Tanks And Their Solutions

Here are some common septic tank issues and their solutions to fix septic system smells.

1. Blocked Drain Vents

Cause: If vents in your plumbing system become clogged, it could result in the buildup of septic gasses. This can lead to the septic gas smell in the house.

Prevention: Regularly inspect these vents for any obstruction from such materials as bird nests, leaves, or other types of debris. Clearing them can help prevent the accumulation of poisonous gasses.

2. Full Septic Tank

Cause: As time passes, solid matter fills up septic tanks, which reduces their efficiency and sometimes causes blockages, leading to a septic tank smell in the house. This is usually when your tank needs to be pumped.

Prevention: Arrange for regular septic tank pumping and maintenance. Although most homes will need this service every 3-5 years, that will depend on how much they are being used and the size of the container.

3. Dry Drain Traps

Cause: Occasionally, a sewage smell in the house comes and goes, which may emerge due to lack of use, which causes drain traps to dry out, allowing septic gasses into residential spaces. In some cases, this occurs mainly in guest bathrooms or other drains that are not regularly used.

Prevention: Make sure the septic smell in the house after the shower has running water from time to time so that the traps are not empty. Doing this can stop gas from moving above through the pipes.

4. Damaged Drain Pipes

Cause: Cracks or ruptures in your drain pipes can allow septic gasses to leave, resulting in a foul smell from your septic system. This rupture may be caused by age, corrosion, or external pressure.

Prevention: Inspect your pipes regularly for any signs of damage. This will help prevent septic system odor development if detected early and repairs are done.

5. Overloaded Septic System

Cause: Excessive water use or wrong waste disposal may overload the septic system, leading to backup and septic smells.

Prevention: Be conscious of your water usage and do not dispose of non-biodegradable materials in the drains, such as cooking oil, sanitary objects, and some types of toilet paper.

6. Vent Pipe Issues

Cause: When the vent pipe gets damaged or is not installed correctly, gasses cannot escape, causing a bad septic vent pipe smell at home.

Prevention: Ensure you have pipes installed well without any damage to them. Inspecting them to identify issues before they get worse frequently is good.

7. Biological Decomposition Imbalance

Cause: In your septic tank, the ecosystem depends on the balance of bacteria, which helps break down waste. Various agents, usually chemicals, cause this imbalance, making it difficult to break down waste, resulting in septic smells efficiently.

Prevention: Don’t use harmful chemical products in your septic tank, as they will kill all bacteria inside. Also, don't pour harsh chemical substances into the drainage.

8. Groundwater Contamination

Cause: Groundwater contamination may occur when the sewage system leaks or overflows. Thereby causing a septic smell in the bathroom of your house and other places.

Prevention: Regularly inspect your septic system to detect any faults early enough. It should be regularly serviced and must meet the stipulated industry standards.

9. Poorly Sealed Or Damaged Toilets

Cause: A leak around your toilet’s seal could cause gasses to enter your home; this is mainly observed as a septic system smells after rain.

Prevention: Inspect toilets routinely for seal tightness. Replace old seals that are worn out, preventing gas outflow.

10. External Environment Factors

Cause: Whenever the ground around your septic system is saturated due to heavy rain, a severe smell could be experienced within your house.

Prevention: Ensure water does not accumulate near or linger around your system during heavy rainfall by properly landscaping and draining areas surrounding it.

Conclusion

Handling septic system smell in the house DIY is challenging as understanding its root cause is complex for average homeowners.

That’s why hiring septic system handlers is essential to remove unpleasant odors from your house.

If you are facing continuous septic tank problems, the smell of the house will assist you properly and will also provide tips for maintaining its life for years. 

Want to know more about professional septic system provider services? Contact Barnes Sewer and Septic at (765) 584-7295.