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My 8 yr. old house is on the side of a hill on 2.5 acres, surrounded mostly by woods, with the closest neighbors about 350-400 ft away (one up the hill behind me and two down the hill in front), and a subdivision of 15-20 newer homes down in the valley about a half mile away. Every so often the pungent aroma of raw sewage fills the air (outside only, not inside the house). Weather conditions/time of day don’t seem to matter although I can say I didn’t notice the smell until the temps. started dropping. My septic was pumped in August, just before I bought the house, and the pumping company tells me everything looked fine at that time. So, how can I tell if it’s my tank that stinks, and if it is, should I be worried, and what can I do about it? And what about these products that claim to help maintain the condition of your sewer line/septic tank and eliminate odors (Pequa Super Cess-Flo, et al.). Are they any good? Thanks in advance for any guidance.
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Have had 4 similar experiences where neighbors in the "then new" development aacross the street complained of septic smell in the last 20 years 9, me on 4 acres, them 1/4 ac lots:
1 thru 3 are not septic related:
1. Coyotes had killed a deer in the woods behind the house, didn't finish their snack for a few days. Against the law in this state to bury "wild" game.
2. Neighbors walking their dogs consistently used my front roadfront for doggie latrine, neighbors smelled that, mostly when warmer though.
3. Dogs got into another older rural neighbor's duck pen and left a few dead ducks for a few days that the owner hadn't found.
4. Possibly your problem if on a slope, the end of one of the drain lines has opened to the surface, and the septic fluid is leaking onto the surface rather than leaching into the ground. Could be the neighbor's septic line, but possibly yours since it could have taken from August until it got cooler to fill a septic tank after pumping and leak out the end of a line.
*follow your nose to the source...or call the pros...they are pretty good at finding these things.not near your stream,aj
*Photog:Sometimes, when a septic field is laid on a hill, particularly in clay or other soil that is not real absorbent, the effluent leaks out the side of the hill. In other words, the drain field is laid level, or perpendicular to the slope. As the fluid drains out the sides of the corrugated drain tile, rather than soaking down into the ground as is desired, it runs out level from the drain tile, and toward the down slope, and therefore runs out the side of the hill. To check for this, carefully walk the drain field during a dry period and look for wet spots.I wonder if the smell tends to "show up" just after heavy water usage - such as everyone in the house just took a shower, or maybe right after someone just did 4 loads of laundry?
*Photog, you don't say what kind of system you have.A pump system can smell for little bit while it's pumping.Who sez s**t don't do uphill?
*Just curious, did you have the tank pumped, or did the vendors have it pumped before they put the house on the market. Me smells more than septic tank here. Me smells something rotten.
*Photog:I've got a similar situation. new house, new septic field on a hill, no subdivision below though. I determined that the smell was coming from the vent. The odor would accumulate on the leeward side of the house. Mostly noticable after a lot of water is pushed thru the system. I thought a properly operating tank should not smell real bad. I've always thought a crust formed on top of the fluid in the tank and that helped keep the gasses down. I've read either here or in jlc's forum that installing an ell so the discharge would be below the surface may correct the problem. I've also heard someone putting a charcoal filter on top of the vent. All these seem to be attempts to correct the symptoms though, not correct the cause of the problem.I've wondered also about having a new system (1200 gal)without enough bacteria to get the biodegrading action started - Only 2 people + a lot of laundry and paper. I've tried the septic system treatment available at Home Depot, however the jury's still out.
*>Just curious, did you have the tank pumped, or did the vendors have it pumped before they put the house on the market. Me smells more than septic tank here. Me smells something rottenMartagon, The sellers had the septic pumped just before the house went on the market (was only on the market for 2 days when my offer was accepted). However, I called the pumping company myself to confirm it had been done, and ask about the general condition. Everything checked out. Are you suggesting that some sort of unscrupulous activity on the part of the seller in an effort to hide a problem with the septic may be causing the odor? If so, what should I be looking for?
*Here in Az., a septic inspection, ie. pumping the tank out, is a mandated part of the closing on a sale. To a careful eye this might make a general comment on overall system function, but it is by no means a thorough inspection.A good approach might be to begin learning of what your system consists. Percolation test results and system plan documents and inspection notes should be on file at the county seat. Who built the system should also be noted. I'd call them and pick their brain... this person might be a good acquaintance to make.Also, find and open the cleanout. In my experience, a system that is handling its design-load well does not smell horrendous. Until you figure out if you've got a problem or not consider not using the sink disposal if you have one, as, if used heavily, these can be a huge contributor of undigested organics. Also consider not flushing paper. Our system is 25 yrs. old and is odor free. We have no insinkerator and put paper in the trash. An ordinary septic system, in its component parts, is a simple thing. The way the system was designed and built and is used are where the variables enter. Also, when soliciting help from a professional septic guy make sure he has an education-oriented approach, as there are many new products and approaches "coming down the pipe.""Flushing in a home with a sound septic, is like any fulfilled essence in life... a joy."Antoine De Papel De Etoilette
*Freelance:I have to ask - You put paper in the trash? Could you be more specific?
*i All these seem to be attempts to correct the symptoms though, not correct the cause of the problem.Let's think for a moment about this: we have a tank into which we put excrement, food waste--and some other goodies, no doubt--underground, subject to anaerobic action, and you expect not to have odor?Call around to some septic pumpers and ask them if the tanks they pump smell lovely. Dollars to donuts that unless they are trying to sell you a gimmick septic wonder product, they'll give you the straight poop.
*tscott - I don't know about freelance's situation, but I have used chemical toilets that were not to have paper used in them. There was just a regular waste basket (lined with the disposable plastic bag, of course) along side the toilet. When you finished with the toilet tissue, you simply dropped it into the waste basket rather than into the toilet. The aroma of the chemical toilet was sufficient that the smell from the waste basket wasn't noticed... (I think this was in the Arctic, but I don't remember for sure, it probably was in Barrow. Actually, in Barrow when I was up there in the early '70s, most toilets were a small barrel lined with a plastic bag. When full, the bag was left outside to freeze and then was picked up along with the regular garbage. During the short period when temperatures were above freezing, some of the bags would get ruptured and tended to make a bit of a mess, however.)
*tscott-In America we tend to have polarized reactions to scatological considerations. Some people's humor is so fully inflected with "toilet humor" that when they go to crack a joke in mixed company, the knowing-shy wince at what's coming. Why the shy wince and the scatological report is better left to "Freudian Homebuilding."Anyway, my wife and I have both spent substantial time on the water in kayaks. As you may know, in popular canyons one begins the trip with a box full of food and ends with a box full of poop. On sea kayak trips protocols vary. Personally, I mostly wade out a little if tide's up or plop it in the intertidal if it's down. Afterward, I wash my - exit- with my hand and a bit of Dr. Bronner's. Then I wash my hands and bounce back into camp with an enlightened smile on my face. I am usually travelling with a small group of friends who are close. A large or commercial tour would have more specific protocols to help avoid health and other problems. Upshot is we have notions based on the reality, more than psychology. What is on the paper after one wipes depends on what one's eaten, one's health, and which wipe it is- first or last? Usually the paper is not a very big deal, you use it, fold it and toss it in the basket. Every other day you empty the basket. In our experience, the tissue dries quickly and there is no odor, and we are not in olfactory denial. This may have been more than you wanted to know, but after all, the middle-way implies both poles.
*Photog:Just my suspicious nature here, If I were selling a house that had septic problems, I would have it pumped ahead to let the ground dry out. Is the ground over your weeping bed wet?? I'm pretty sure that means a definite problem! Unfortunately, I don't know the fine details of septic systems, but have lived with them most of my life. Ours doesn't smell at all outside. Never. Ours is a tank underground, with weeping tile. There are other types, (aerators, I know even less about them) We had it pumped two times when we first moved in, as it backed up twice. Two problems created that: the gas company sliced through the main weeping tile when they installed the gas line, and the system was installed for two people, not four. Before anyone tells me about building codes, this was 40 yrs ago, and the work was done by the homeowner. However, we took the washer/ dishwasher/ kitchen sink off the system, and they drain to a separate hole in the ground. My DH dug up the tile and replaced the main one, plus added an extra line. And are you using it properly. Excluding toilet paper, if it ain't food or drink processed by your body, it don't go down. No grease down the sink, no kleenex, no paper towels. OK, maybe toenail clippings.
*Dear Freelance and Martagon,please remind me never to visit your houses.You have lost your minds as far as the septic system goes.Any properly installed system will handle toilet paper.Perhaps you should refer to the "Right/Wrong" poster for toilet use in another thread.
*Joel Greer:Before you go accusing people of losing their minds, use yours. Read my message again!! I said,, "excluding toilet paper, if it didn't......" In words that are easier for you to understand, toilet paper, shit, and urine do go down into the septic septic. Our septic system handles toilet paper JUST FINE!! No OTHER items are pitched into the toilet. People tend to think that they can pitch anything into the toilet. You can't. But I DID say that toilet paper was acceptable. Septic tank users should also be aware that you can't use chemicals (Javex, CLR, etc) with impunity. Sorry, Joel, that's means to be judicious in their use. Sorry, use them sparingly. OK, use them as little as possible.
*Earlier this year I rebuilt my best customer's septic system. This included installing a filtered pump vault, new larger pump, access risers etc. I posted the whole story like last July. Anyway, researching approaches to that solution put me into the world of Septic Stuff for awhile. Since I have a Residential Engineering license that subsumes septics I was considering for a few minutes forming a division of my business dedicated to such things. I saw the sign right away: A.S.S Alternative Septic Solutions. Logo would have been one of two things: a big, hairy plumber with a 8" reveal high-slice, viewed from behind, or someone like the Coppertone girl only grown up and quite a bit more winsome, also seen from behind, wearing nothing but her Occidental leather, a bit of side-curve above urging would-be customers on.
*You're right Martagon, I misread your message, assuming you were in agreement with Freelance on the TP issue.Of course, you have my sincere and total apologies.You are a septic genius, and I bow before your obvious mastery of turds.
*Joel-I am slighted! I thought that after my above disclosures if someone were to be declared Master Of Turds, it'd certainly be me. But alas life is hardly ever fair now is it? But with the coming New Year one's tarnished hope readies to reach from under old March snow like a crocus stirring its bud up through deer, mouse and badger turds toward April's warming sun. With Humus- 'Lance
*For all of you who want to do a little extra credit reading, you might look at the following:http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5240/machmeier/Machmeier_Care_n_Feed.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5240/Septic_Tanks.htmlhttp://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htmThere is a lot of stuff out on the Internet if you do a search.
*For all of you that want to do a little extra credit reading, you might look at the following:http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5240/machmeier/Machmeier_Care_n_Feed.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/5240/Septic_Tanks.htmlhttp://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htmThere is a lot of stuff out on the Internet if you do a search.
*Gee, Joel, I'm not quite sure whether you're actually apologizing to me, or just saying I know sh*t.
*Thanks, Casey. From Post 29 on the second site, i learned of a second company making charcoal vent filters. : )
*Photog, I had a similarproblem as yours. In looking into it I found out a lot more about septic systems then I wanted to. This info is based on my experiences only. No doubt there are other views/aadvice... I'm not a professional septic person.First there are two major componentss: a septic tank, and some sort of way todeposee of the effluent (liquidfided waste). The "tank" is a good place to start. The solids go into the tank and are dissolved via a baterical action. Some tanks have a pump to circulate water within or may use a small aircompressor... thisis issupposedd to produce a healthy environment to produce thebacteria.... Thehe bacteria "eat" the solids and other wastes. My tank had three compartments: one for the solids solution where water was circulated; a spillover from there where the liquid went; and another section where as the level increased a pump would turn on and pump the effuent out into the leach field. This is just one "type" of tank. It was fiberglass and made by Chromaglass and was known as a "batch" process. Other tanks are cement and flow based on an "x" amount of water goes into the tank and a "x" amount of water goes out. Most systems seem to have no compressor or pump. So first figure out what kind of tank you have....The problem I had with my system is that the previous owner tried to convert the "batch" system to the other type....Semi-solids were beign pumped into the leach field. The leach field was how my system disposed of the effluent. It was simpy a series of perforated pipe buried underground throughout the yard. Once repaired, the grass was always very green over the leach field {grin}. Other types of systems use sprinklers instead of a leach field.In my area septic tank "pumper people" knew very little about the actual "system". They simply know how to pump out the tank. Also, once you pump out the tank, the "good" bacteria are gone. Perc tests tell how good the soil is at absorbing effluent. Past tests (on file) will not reflect today's conditions.If you can find out who engineered your system (check the permit on file) work it through that engineering firm. Other wise get another engineer to check it out. Once I figured out the problem (with help) the new leach field and an aertion pump cost me $4,300 installed. You will have people trying to sell you new systems (including a tank) so don't get hooked by some idiot. I wouldn't go with a sprinker system for handling your effluent. Hope this helps..........
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My 8 yr. old house is on the side of a hill on 2.5 acres, surrounded mostly by woods, with the closest neighbors about 350-400 ft away (one up the hill behind me and two down the hill in front), and a subdivision of 15-20 newer homes down in the valley about a half mile away. Every so often the pungent aroma of raw sewage fills the air (outside only, not inside the house). Weather conditions/time of day don't seem to matter although I can say I didn't notice the smell until the temps. started dropping. My septic was pumped in August, just before I bought the house, and the pumping company tells me everything looked fine at that time. So, how can I tell if it's my tank that stinks, and if it is, should I be worried, and what can I do about it? And what about these products that claim to help maintain the condition of your sewer line/septic tank and eliminate odors (Pequa Super Cess-Flo, et al.). Are they any good? Thanks in advance for any guidance.