My company recently completed a new home with a septic system designed to handle
the effluent. During the hours of heavy usage and especially on days when the air is heavy,
there is a very prominent sewage odor which settles around the exterior of the house.
The roof vent has been installed correctly,however it is the source of the odor. Would
installation of a house trap in the basement before exiting the building, eliminate or reduce
the agitated state within the septic tank from entering the vent system and alleviate
this problem.
Thanks,
DuPrat M
Edited 11/3/2002 10:44:42 AM ET by DUPRATM
Replies
You mention the system is new. Not sure how new "new" is. Maybe it just needs time to start cooking?
Mongo, maybe it's like sourdough? He needs some starter? Joe H
The idea of starter is a good one.
Our house had the same problem for a couple years. I've seen it (OK - smelled it) on two other older homes with new systems. Sometimes a system that lies unused for ninemonths of the year will have it in the spring too. Soil engineers don't officially recognize it and tend to delay doing anything about it because it often is a self correcting problem. Many theories abound as to how and why but I think it has to do with establishing a bed of bacterial action, not just in the tank, but in the field. It can help to add some of that septic additive for a couple of years.
Not much of this helps when you have a complaining customer. Adding about three feet to the stack vent can help get those gases up into the atmosphere for dispersion though. At mine, it was more noticeable on low pressure days when standing on the back porch right below the stack. The inversion of air sent the venting gas straight down to the ground.
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