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Sewer odors outside and sometimes inside home.
My home is situated with its long axis in an East/West direction. Roof line is 8:12 on a 36 foot truss system. Home is located near the top of a wooded hill on the north slope of the
Septic tank system is used with usual 4 inch drain piping to septic tank.
There are 2 vents on the south side of the roof located about 2/3d’s of the way down the 8:12 slope.
Issue is that during the early sprind and in wintertime there is usually a north wind blowing over the house. When walking on the south side of the house I can smell sewer gas odors in the southside – lee side.
Any experiences with “vacuum” on vents caused by strong winds causing loss of “p” trap seals or in “sucking” sewer gas from septic tank? Any recommendations on vent height?
I have assured that comodes are sealed well and do not leak.
Other thoughts .
Thanks, Enjoy FH.
Paul
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There is an open-air path from your septic tank to the top of your vent stack. Gas from the septic tank can and will escape via your vent stack, spoiling your fresh country air. You can prevent this by digging up and opening the inlet lid on the septic tank and installing an "ell" (elbow) on the inlet pipe from your house, turned down, and possibly with a short extension pipe on it, so that raw sewage from the house enters the tank below the surface of the liquid in the tank. This prevents the gases in the tank from escaping up and out your vent stack.
This problem is not unusual in rural areas where septic systems are common.
The surface of the liquid in the tank must be at least 2 inches below the inlet, and may be 3 or 4 inches below the inlet. Make sure the elbow and extension pipe extends to at least 4 inches below the bottom of the inlet pipe. Having the sewage enter the tank below the surface doesn't cause any problems with clogging the drain (ask your local physicist).
A trap in your building drain (between your house and the septic tank) would do the same job, but it is my understanding that such traps are often prohibited by building codes.
I am a licensed driver...not a licensed plumber or licensed contractor or licensed anything else.....but I do have a septic tank with an elbow on the inlet. :)
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Sewer odors outside and sometimes inside home.
My home is situated with its long axis in an East/West direction. Roof line is 8:12 on a 36 foot truss system. Home is located near the top of a wooded hill on the north slope of the
Septic tank system is used with usual 4 inch drain piping to septic tank.
There are 2 vents on the south side of the roof located about 2/3d's of the way down the 8:12 slope.
Issue is that during the early sprind and in wintertime there is usually a north wind blowing over the house. When walking on the south side of the house I can smell sewer gas odors in the southside - lee side.
Any experiences with "vacuum" on vents caused by strong winds causing loss of "p" trap seals or in "sucking" sewer gas from septic tank? Any recommendations on vent height?
I have assured that comodes are sealed well and do not leak.
Other thoughts .
Thanks, Enjoy FH.
Paul