3 Smelly Reasons Why Your Septic Tank Stinks

Septic tanks are a necessary part of many homes. Homeowners tend to forget about their septic tanks until their tank fails on them, which can happen at any point in time, even with regular maintenance. When this happens, it can result in very foul odors that can leave you running for the hills.

These odors don't only invade your home, they can also be noticed from outside of your home. This means that your neighbors can smell them as well. Therefore, you want to investigate the smell and determine what the cause of the odor is so that you can fix and prevent it in the future. Here are a few different culprits of septic tank odors and what you can do about them.

As a general rule, septic tanks require regular pumping every three to five years. Of course, this could be more frequent depending on your household size, use of water-based appliances and other factors. Your exact frequency requirements can be determined by a septic service professional.

If you do not keep up with your specific pumping schedule, you will end up with an overfilled septic tank and foul odors because there will be nowhere for the wastewater to go. Therefore, wastewater simply sits in the tank and overflows into the soil and drain field.

If your tank is overflowing, you can call an expert and have your tank pumped. The pungent odors should disperse soon thereafter.

The vents can become blocked in a number of ways. If you have recently had anyone working on your landscaping or your home, something could have accidentally been placed in front of the vent by one of the workers. During the winter, frost and ice can often buildup over the vent and block it.

Regardless of how the vent becomes blocked, it can be very dangerous. It causes the sewer gases from the tank to be unable to escape. As a result, the gases travel back into your home. These gases are toxic and potentially flammable.

If you are uncertain of the location of your vents, contact a septic service professional to come out to your home and locate them to determine if they are blocked or not. They can also examine them to ensure that the vents are in good working condition.

Clogged drains are very common in households. When this occurs, it keeps anything from traveling through the pipe and to the septic tank, especially when the clog becomes severe enough. This eventually leads to a bone-dry drain.

As a general rule, the water that is floating through the pipes will assist in soaking up the foul-smelling gasses. However, if the drain is dry, the odors will become that much more extreme. Due to the clog, the gases become trapped and will slowly seep into the home.

Thankfully, this issue can be remedied with a drain cleaning. You can attempt this on your own with a drain cleaning solution. However, severe clogs will generally need the assistance of a professional. Once the clog has been successfully cleared, the odor should go away.

The best way to prevent issues with your septic system in the future is to schedule regular preventative maintenance. Routine inspections and regular pumping of the septic tank are both excellent ways to get started on your maintenance tasks.

To ensure your septic system is ready to stand the test of time or if you have other septic system issues, contact JT Sanitation to schedule an appointment with a service professional.