Is Your Septic System Causing Odors? 3 Reasons Why
When you walk into your home, the last thing you want to be greeted with is a foul odor. However, if you have a septic system that you aren't maintaining properly, this is exactly the type of scenario you should eventually expect to encounter. Whether this situation has already surfaced in your home or you just want to know how to avoid it, familiarizing yourself with the issues that typically lead to odor problems is the place to start.
Malfunctioning Vent Stack
All septic systems create odors, but these systems are designed with vent stacks that help keep these odors out of your home. Vent stacks are long pipes that generally run from the base of your home to your roof, where there is an opening that allows these gases to escape, keeping them out of your home.
However, if an animal has decided to build a nest or there are leaves covering the opening, the gases will get sent back down into your home. To avoid this, it's best to install a spiked, mesh screen over the opening to keep animals away and ensure the vent stack is raised higher than your roof to prevent leaf accumulation.
Drain Drying
Within each drain, there is generally a U-shaped pipe known as the trap that is intended to block gases from your system from traveling through the pipe, out the drain and into your home. To achieve this, a small amount of water must remain at the base of the U to block the gases.
When this water dries up, there is nothing to create this barrier, which will send the gases, and their odors, straight into your home. Since this generally occurs when the drain hasn't been used for an extended period, simply running water down the drain periodically should eliminate and help prevent this problem in the future.
Failing Gasket
If you cannot visibly see any issues with your system, but you're noticing a smell, it could be something more intricate like a failed gasket. This is especially the case if you are only smelling the odor in a particular area, such as the guest bathroom toilet.
All the pipes that contain your waste are connected with gaskets that create an air and water-tight seal. However, when the gasket starts to fail, air and foul odors, can escape. The only solution to this problem is having the gasket replaced by a professional.
Don't let a septic system turn your home into a smelly fortress. Make sure you are taking steps to properly maintain your septic system and in the event of a problem, call on a professional for assistance.
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