Why does septic smell

How to fix the problem: Fortunately, cleaning the overflow is an easy project. All you need is water, bleach and a small bottle brush. If the odors do not go away after a thorough cleaning, contact a professional plumbing service to examine your sink. When you notice your house smells like sewage, the first place you look is probably the bathroom.

However, if you cannot locate the source of the smell, examine your washing machine — the cause of the problem might be hiding in your laundry room. The most common causes of a washing machine that smells like sewage are improperly installed P-traps, drain clogs or vent pipe clogs.

P-traps are not just for your bathroom — they are essential for washing machines, too. However, unlike many bathroom pipes, modern washing machines come with a flexible drain hose. The wastewater from a washing machine flows through this flexible hose into the drain box pipe, which connects to the P-trap.

Because the hose is flexible, it can easily be improperly installed. The hose may have been inserted too far into the drainage box, which prevents the P-trap from functioning. As a result, odors can seep into your home. How to fix the problem: To solve this problem, try pulling the washing machine drain hose out of the drain box. Stop when the hose is roughly eight inches deep in the piping — this will let the P-trap work properly, keeping sewer gases from leaking into the room.

A clog in the drain line will create a buildup of organic matter like hair and soap. Bacteria will form on the clog, creating a nasty odor that resembles the smell of sewage.

If left untreated, a clog will build on itself, growing larger and larger and producing more noticeable odors. How to fix the problem: Fortunately, a clogged drain has an easy fix. Using a drain snake, clear out any clogs in the drain line. If the clog refuses to budge, contact a professional plumber to take a look at your drain and washing machine.

As with your bathroom plumbing, washing machines need vent pipes. All drain systems in your house must be properly vented to prevent sewage gases from seeping into your home. If a vent pipe becomes clogged, sewer air will not have a vent through your house. This situation often results in leaking odors, and they typically come from the walls around the vent pipe.

How to fix the problem: To check for clogs in your vent pipes, you have to access your roof. Bring a flashlight and shine a beam into the vent pipes. Search for any obstructions , such as bird nests or other debris. Using a snake or another long tool, try to dislodge or remove them. For the best results, work with a plumber to address the issue — professional plumbers have the knowledge and tools to safely and quickly remove clogs from vent pipes. If you notice a sulfur-like smell when you turn on the tap, the problem may go deeper than a clogged drain.

Before assuming your water is the problem, try a few troubleshooting measures. Use a de-clogging solution to eliminate any buildup in the pipes. After you've given the cleaning material time to work, pour a glass of water down the drain and walk away from the sink. Smell the water — if it still has an odor, you might have bacteria in your water heater, or your water might contain hydrogen sulfide.

If the smell is only noticeable when you use hot water, the problem is most likely with your water heater. Occasionally, bacteria colonies can establish themselves in a water heater if the temperature of your heater is too low or if you leave it turned off for long periods.

Fortunately, the bacteria should not be harmful to humans, so your health is not in danger. However, the bacteria produce a strong rotten egg smell in the house, which reduces your ability to enjoy your water. How to fix the problem: If bacteria are thriving in your water heater, you can try increasing the temperature of your heater for up to 24 hours. Run the hot water taps to flush out the pipes of any remaining bacteria.

Remember to proceed carefully if you decide to turn up the temperature of your water heater — it is easy to forget your water is hotter than average, which can lead to burns. If your water smells bad regardless if it is hot or cold, the problem might lie in your water source. Highly concentrated amounts of hydrogen sulfide produce a strong sulfur smell in the house. Although hydrogen sulfide can be toxic in large amounts, it is usually easy to detect before it reaches harmful levels.

Humans can detect the presence of hydrogen sulfide as low as. How to fix the problem: If you suspect your water source may contain hydrogen sulfide, contact your local water testing lab to have your water examined for contaminants. Many sources of sewage smells are easy to fix at home.

However, if you ever feel uncomfortable repairing a plumbing issue, do not hesitate to contact a plumbing service — professionals can quickly and efficiently solve your plumbing problems. Some problems are beyond the expertise of the average homeowner. One issue in particular typically requires the knowledge of a plumber: a sewer backup. The most obvious sign of a sewage backup is overflowing drains. If your shower and toilet drains suddenly begin to gurgle with rancid water, you are most likely dealing with a major sewage problem.

Sewage backup often results from large-scale events such as floods, tree roots or pipe damage. Here are a few of the most common issues behind a backed-up sewer. In situations like this, your first action is to call an emergency plumber. They will be able to assess the situation and determine whether the issue is coming from tree roots or the city sewage system.

Whether you are dealing with a failing water heater or a smelly laundry room, the professional team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Syracuse is here to help. Odors near the soil treatment area — If there are strong odors in the soil treatment area it can indicate a problem with that part of the system.

All inspection pipes should be checked to make sure the pipes are not broken and that they are covered with a secure cap. A visual inspection of the entire area should be performed to determine if there are any wet or spongy soil areas indicating that sewage is coming to the surface.

If any of these conditions are found, humans and animals can encounter sewage. This is considered a public health threat and must be corrected immediately. About the author Sara Heger, Ph. She presents at many local and national training events regarding the design, installation and management of septic systems and related research.

Ask Heger questions about septic system design, installation, maintenance and operation by sending an email to kim. By Sara Heger, Ph. March 25, Sign Me Up! Join your colleagues who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! Popular Stories.

For instance, the drying out of a trap in your basement floor drain might result in the gases from the septic tank venting back into the house. A cover that is not sealed properly on the ejector sump pump basket in the basement could also result in septic odors in the home. The plumbing vent on the roof of your house helps to equalize pressure in your drainpipes as the wastewater flows through.

Without this vent, the sinks, toilets, and tubs would gurgle, the traps would dry and the odors would come into the house. A failed plumbing vent will, therefore, result in septic odors in the home. Plumbing vents can get frozen in prolonged cold weather or they could also get blocked by leaves and other debris.

Some of the factors that might contribute to septic tank odors near the tank are ineffective digestion in the tank, a septic tank that is full and due for pumping, or loose septic tank covers that are causing the leaking of septic odor.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria are also associated with septic odors, specifically hydrogen sulfide. Sulfate-reducing bacteria are naturally present in most septic tanks. These bacteria obtain energy through the oxidation of organic compounds and they do this as they reduce sulfate to hydrogen sulfide hence their name, sulfate-reducing bacteria. Septic odors are normal for any well-functioning septic tank.

As the anaerobic bacteria break down the organic waste, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and methane gases are released. Hydrogen sulfide has a foul smell that would easily be detected by the human nose. However, we rarely smell it because these gases remain tightly shut within the septic tank. If the septic cover gets dislodged or damaged, the odors will escape and the odors will be smelt near the septic tank. If the drainfield gets clogged, the septic system will fail and that might lead to the emission of septic odors.

Although full tanks often have septic odor problems, there are many septic system owners who still battle with these odors even after pumping their tanks. The surest way of dealing with this is using biological additives which include a buffer that can help in organic waste digestion.

The presence of septic tank smells in the yard usually means that your plumbing vent is not doing a good job of diffusing the odors. Homes situated in forested areas and valleys are especially susceptible to this problem. As the wind blows over the home, air currents which should ordinarily carry these odors away from the house might instead carry them down into the yard. A failed septic system might also overflow and this could result in odors in the yard.

A strong odor from the drainfield area is an indication of a failing or already failed septic tank or drainfield area.

There are many reasons why a septic tank might fail but the commonest is the use of harmful products. Most of the household products that are used in the sinks drains and toilets contain toxic substances which drastically reduce the bacteria population in the septic tank. This means that the organic waste will be forced into the drainfield before it is properly broken down in the septic tank and this is what leads to the failure of most drain fields.

This partially broken down organic waste can result in odors in the drainfield. All septic tanks smell. Plumbing vents are usually installed to help eliminate these odors. The vent also helps in preventing the buildup of gases like methane because such a buildup could lead to explosions. Ideally, the smell from the septic tank should only be noticed in passing from the roof but it should fade away with the wind or with the changing weather conditions.

Sometimes, the septic systems might not have enough bacteria. Luckily, this can easily be corrected by using biological additives. The following are some of the reasons why a new septic system might smell.