Have you ever experienced unpleasant odors from your house while showering, after rain, and using a bath? That can be an alarming sign for you. You may probably wonder what kind of smell it is.
This is a septic system smell in the house that is irritating and hazardous for you and the nearby community if not cured on time. It’s not just an awful experience, but it signifies that something is not right with your septic tank.
It is important 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 will highlight common septic odor reasons and will provide prevention methods for homeowners who are worried about how to get rid of septic tank odor in the house.
What Is A Septic System?
Septic tanks are structures situated underground where wastewater is treated, and they are commonly found in areas without centralized sewer systems, especially rural homes. It is a major component of a septic house, which helps to treat household waste safely.
The septic tank separates liquid from solid waste and this allows the organic part of the sewage to decompose naturally while the filtrate is free of any septic tank smell in the house and it is environmentally friendly.
Can Septic Tank Cause Odor In The House?
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 contained properly 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 there are plumbing leaks or faulty seals septic odors can seep into the house.
Regular maintenance, like septic tank pumping, and checking for any plumbing issues can help reduce septic tank odor.
How Does Smell Originate From A Septic Tank?
When gasses accumulate and escape from a septic system, they may produce an odor called a septic tank gas. This may be because the tank is full, vents 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 in order 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 smell in-house.
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 goes by, solid matter fills up septic tanks, a condition that 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. As septic tank odor removal is essential.
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 hence allowing septic gasses into residential spaces. In some cases, this occurs mostly 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: The reason for this is that 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 to prevent the development of septic system odor if detected early and repairs are done.
5- Overloaded Septic System
Cause: Excessive use of water or wrong waste disposal may result in overloading 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 tissue papers.
6- Vent Pipe Issues
Cause: When the vent pipe gets damaged or is not installed properly, gasses cannot escape causing a bad septic vent pipe smell at home.
Prevention: Ensure you have pipes installed well without any damage on them. It is good to frequently inspect them so that issues can be identified before they get worse.
7- Biological Decomposition Imbalance
Cause: In your septic tank, the ecosystem depends on the balance of bacteria which helps in breaking down waste. This imbalance is caused by various agents, usually chemicals, hence making it difficult to efficiently break down waste resulting in septic smells.
Prevention: Don’t use any harmful chemical products on your septic tank as they will kill all bacteria inside. In addition, don't pour harsh chemical substances into the drainage.
8- Groundwater Contamination
Cause: Contamination of groundwater may occur when the sewage system leaks or overflows. Thereby causing a septic smell in the bathroom of your house and other places.
Prevention: Conduct regular inspections on 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: When there is a leak around your toilet’s seal, it could cause gasses to enter your home; this is particularly observed as a septic system smells after rain.
Prevention: Inspect toilets for seal tightness routinely. 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 that during heavy rainfall, water does not accumulate near or linger around your system 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 it’s essential to hire septic system handlers 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? Then contact Barnes Sewer and Septic at (765) 584-7295. For further clearance and assurity, check our reviews from other clients or homeowners.