My Septic System Experiment

[the old grind]

If a house is too airtight gas fired WH or furnace may be back-drafting through drain vents/stacks when chimney draft creates negative pressure.

I have unused bathroom fixtures downstairs and when I get the odor I go around and refill traps that have dried up. (sinks, stools, & a shower stall)

btw, Pettrix, nice work as always. Love the results.

 

[Hilbilly]

We have electric hot water and a wood stove for heat. I've sometimes seen where the chimney will downdraft if there are enough appliances, like bathroom fans and the cloths drier, running at the same time. I've also tried going around and making sure all the traps are full but it doesn't solve the problem.

If the aerobic system Pettrix has described works as well for me as it does for him, then my problem should go away. I'm anxious to give this a try but will have to wait until the snow melts away in the spring.

 

[riptides]

I just stumbled onto this thread and thanks for posting this Pettrix.

I've had occasional sewage smell in our house since it was first built. I've had the plumbing contractor, who installed the system, out several times to try and find the problem and fix it. 12 years later and the problem still persists, mainly in the colder months. I am going to see if I can find the materials you listed at a local supplier and install this system. You may have made huge improvement to my home without even knowing it.

Previous house had drain plug issues for the HVAC system, they would dry out and the smell would come through the house. Ended up making sure all drains had water in them throughout the cold months. Maybe try that? HVAC?

 

[pmsmechanic]

We used to every once in a while when the wind was right get a sewage smell in the house. Finally found an unused trap and capped it. Problem solved.

 

[Hilbilly]

No HVAC system here, unless you count the AC unit I put in the window in the summer, lol. Real simple living in the country. Well water, septic system and wood heat. I've chased this problem many times and can't figure it out. The smell usually comes from one of our sink drains or the bathtub and it's most notable on the second floor. I'm really hoping the aerobic system Pettrix described will eliminate the smell issues. I've already done some digging and found lots of septic air pumps on Amazon.ca and also discovered that I can't install the pump outside. It gets too cold here in the winter and pretty hot in the summer too. Not a big deal but a lot more work to install in the house and I'm concerned about the noise the pump will make. It's really quiet in our house at night but I'm sure we could adjust to a new noise if it wasn't too loud or obnoxious.

 

[ponytug]

Could you put a small insulated hutch outside with the pump in it; the pump would keep itself warm?

All the best,

Peter

 

[Firemanbuck]

Thurston County.

I don't mind the septic permit and periodic inspection fees, if it means keeping shellfish harvesting safe and healthy. I do mind that the County doesn't even begin to consider installing cutting edge systems like peatmoss drain beds to increase denitrification.

My house has a sand filter that pumps to a mound. I have the mound disconnected and the sand filter pumps to my yard and my trees...don't tell the county. When we sell, I'll hook it up right and the new owners will have years left on their mound.

 

[Hilbilly]

Could you put a small insulated hutch outside with the pump in it; the pump would keep itself warm?

All the best,

Peter

Not sure if it would keep warm enough in -40C temps during the winter. Although those temps are rare, we still normally get -25C to -35C in the winter (except this year, so far). We also get +35C to +45C in the summer, so I would have to remember to remove the pump from the hut in the summer. With my memory being what it is, I doubt the pump would survive one year in an insulated hut, lol. Best to install it in a more stable environment.

I'm looking forward to doing this in the spring, if I remember.

 

[aczlan]

Put it underground. 3x3x3 box 6" underground with 4" of foam on the sides, 6" of foam on the roof, a 10" diameter 4' long piece of plastic drain pipe going down into the ground out of the bottom of the box (filled with washed stone) and a small (100w?) heater on a "freeze proof" thermostat inside will likely never freeze. Use a piece of 2" conduit to bring power in and make that the air inlet as well (pulling air from the house so that it's warmish).

Aaron Z

 

[Hilbilly]

Put it underground. 3x3x3 box 6" underground with 4" of foam on the sides, 6" of foam on the roof, a 10" diameter 4' long piece of plastic drain pipe going down into the ground out of the bottom of the box (filled with washed stone) and a small (100w?) heater on a "freeze proof" thermostat inside will likely never freeze. Use a piece of 2" conduit to bring power in and make that the air inlet as well (pulling air from the house so that it's warmish).

Aaron Z

The underground idea is great but I think that will involve almost as much effort as just running it from the house. Thanks for the great idea but I think I will just end up running it from the house. I've got lots of time to figure out what will be the best overall solution.

Took me awhile to reply, as our power went out about 45 minutes ago and I had to get the little Honda generator running and run some extension cords into the house for essential services, like the TV for the wife and the internet for me. :laughing: I also had to hook up a couple of lights so we could see where we are going.