Why Do I Have a Sewage Odor in My House?

It’s never good to smell sewage when inside your house, and if you have a septic system, catching whiffs of sewage inside or outside is a bad sign. Nasty septic odors wafting into your house point to a malfunction somewhere within your septic system. Septic tanks are designed to not only hold household wastewater and solid waste, but to keep foul odors out of your home as well. Nearly all septic smells point to a problem, and they all need to be addressed by a professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage or issues.

Though septic tank odors should never be ignored, not everyone is aware that it’s a situation that calls for a plumbing expert. Here are some possible reasons for having a septic tank odor in your Strafford County, NH home:

• Septic tank is full: Topping the list of common causes of septic tank smells in residential homes is a full septic tank. If your septic tank is full, you will smell sewage and likely notice gurgling sounds coming from sink drains, slow flushing toilets and the washing machine operating slower than usual. Ultimately, a full septic tank can cause the waste inside it to overflow.
• Drains are dry: Each of your drains has a U-shaped bend in the pipe, called the trap. The trap is designed to hold water and stop gasses from rising up into your living spaces. When drains are dry, sewage odors will start to travel up the pipe until they reach the inside of your home. You can avoid dry drains by running water through them on occasion (especially drains that don’t get a lot of use).
• Vent stack is clogged: There is a pipe in your system called the vent stack which releases all the gases that build up inside the tank. When working properly, the vent stack sends the gases out around your roof, far enough away that you cannot smell them. If you can smell sewage odors, leaves or other fallen debris may be the cause. Debris can get jammed inside and trap the odors around your house.
• Broken or loose seals: Defective gaskets and seals around any plumbing pipes can cause sewer smells to linger where you don’t want them. One of the most common areas where you’ll find a broken seal is near the base of the toilet, which may need a new wax seal. From time to time, check all seals and gaskets around toilets and other plumbing fixtures for wear and damage.
• Cold weather: If you live in a particularly cold area of the country, then the cold weather could be the cause of your sewage odor problem. Ice can build up around vents and trap odors inside, similar to how leaves and other debris can clog a vent pipe.

If you need to schedule system maintenance or septic cleaning in Strafford County, NH, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at B.H. Cameron Septic Services LLC. Call us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.

Categorised in: Septic Tank Cleaning

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