Septic Smells

[shock]

When we had our cabin built, they placed a 300 gallon septic tank about 15' from the front door.

That was in 2017. Over the years, maybe even the beginning, we smelled sewer off and on. We could never figure out if it was the vent pipe on top of the roof, the outlet pipe which is open air dumped about 100' away, the cleanout, or the lid not being airtight. The smell has gotten worse over time and I'm at a loss.

I ordered some plumbing smoke bombs that I plan to force smoke from the roof vent down and see if I can tell where the leak is. The lid doesn't seem tight all the way around the tank, or riser, I'm not sure what's there as I haven't opened the lid up yet.

Thoughts? I heard baking soda will nuetralize some of the odor if I can get the ph in the tank corrent.

I have a plumber on standby but wanted to see if I can locate the source of the leak first. What else should I check?

 

[grsthegreat]

They should never smell. The lid should fit tight. Mine has a rubber seal all around the lid.

 

[shock]

I called Snyder Industries today, they said there is no gasket for the lid I have....but I can see a wave in the lid and the tank....

 

[oosik]

The discharge pipe from your septic tank is open air discharging.....

I don't know where you live but surface discharge of septic effluent is not allowed in most states. This could, very well, be what you are smelling.

 

[the old grind]

I have a bathroom and a half downstairs and don't use them at all. When I smell sewer/septic inside I add water to the unused drains & stools to fill the traps.

Outside, what oosik said about smelly discharge.

 

[ponytug]

@shock Baking soda won't help you.

A couple of thoughts, preceded by a question; where is the cottage roughly? Does the cottage water have much sulfate in it by chance?

First find a way to seal your tank lid, or get someone to do it for you. If the outlet is open, it could be possible for wind shifts to burp air through your tank. If you can manage it, either do it yourself, or have someone either put in a drain field, or at least a closed infiltration pit. As @oosik points out, there are real health hazards, in addition to the smell. With those two items sorted, wait and see if the smell recurs. If it does, check that the drains in the house are plumbed properly and that every one of the drains has a vent. You need those vents to disperse any gasses coming from the septic system.

All the best,

Peter

 

[shock]

I have a bathroom and a half downstairs and don't use them at all. When I smell sewer/septic inside I add water to the unused drains & stools to fill the traps.

Outside, what oosik said about smelly discharge.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We only smell the odor when outside. But off the front door is a porch, and it makes sitting out there unpleasant at times.

The Snyder Industries tech said I could caulk the lid. I would just use a latex caulk for assessibility later.

Anyone think a smoke test will work to find the leak? Plan to use a barrel vaccum to push the air through the vent on the roof.

 

[5030]

Sounds to me like it needs pumped.

 

[shock]

The cabin is only used about 50 days a year, 2 people. Drains aren't slow, no gurgling of sinks....?

 

[grsthegreat]

The discharge pipe from your septic tank is open air discharging.....

I don't know where you live but surface discharge of septic effluent is not allowed in most states. This could, very well, be what you are smelling.

Some septic systems have a vent pipe at the tank discharge, but not always. Ive seen these on some high tech systems.

On places nit used often, traps dry out and can vent gas all over.

 

[the old grind]

Converting a septic system to aerobic is a cheap DIY and even easier with risers or lids on the tank. It'll reduce smells and biomat (stinky black slime) there and in discharge or field. Switching it on when the cabin is occupied should be enough to do much overall.

As for sealing a lid with silicone I wouldn't. IMO you'd play heqq ever removing it again. I might smear the threads with beeswax, say carved out of a bowl ring. Are we sure smell isn't driftinging from the discharge area as well as the tank/lid?

btw, we get our pond aeration pumps from the septic industry for similar goals. Improved oxygenation cleans up 'muck' by supporting aerobic vs anaerobic bacteria.

 

[mikester]

Get your tank pumped and inspected. You may have problems with your weeping bed and or tank.

 

[dodge man]

The old grind was thinking the same thing I was. If it’s anaerobic (meaning no air) it’s going to smell some. If it’s aerobic it shouldn’t smell. An aerobic system will have a bubbler or motor to stir it.

 

[BackRoad]

I used a front tractor tire inner tube to act as a seal between my concrete septic tank and concrete lid.

Tractor supply and less than the cost of a pizza.

Worked perfectly.

 

[tradosaurus]

Get your tank pumped and inspected. You may have problems with your weeping bed and or tank.

I agree. Start with a clean tank and then dig down to the to of the tank to inspect. Anything else is just guess work.

 

[ruffdog]

The cabin is only used about 50 days a year, 2 people. Drains aren't slow, no gurgling of sinks....?

When was the last time it was pumped? Don't wait for a problem to exist before maintaining it.

 

[gstrom99]

When we had our cabin built, they placed a 300 gallon septic tank about 15' from the front door.

That was in 2017. Over the years, maybe even the beginning, we smelled sewer off and on. We could never figure out if it was the vent pipe on top of the roof, the outlet pipe which is open air dumped about 100' away, the cleanout, or the lid not being airtight. The smell has gotten worse over time and I'm at a loss.

I ordered some plumbing smoke bombs that I plan to force smoke from the roof vent down and see if I can tell where the leak is. The lid doesn't seem tight all the way around the tank, or riser, I'm not sure what's there as I haven't opened the lid up yet.

Thoughts? I heard baking soda will nuetralize some of the odor if I can get the ph in the tank corrent.

I have a plumber on standby but wanted to see if I can locate the source of the leak first. What else should I check?

Where is this cabin? This has ONE tank, then goes to the "Open air dump"? It is not a good (legal?) design pretty much anywhere... It should have a buried drain field. Pump the tank (300 gallons seems small, even for a cabin) and maybe add a secondary tank - like most current systems.

 

[MMC]

I'll admit, I'm a little confused. Septic systems (mine included) on farms are common. A properly designed system lasts many years, with only some small maintenance. I have never heard of a septic tank, allowed by code, of 300 gallons - perhaps I'm wrong? And, why is your tank above ground, which seems to be implied. As for a pipe discharge, I don't see how that could be legal or safe.

Most systems where I live are put in with distribution boxes and a bleeder field which slowly leaches out effluent without coming to the surface of the ground. Unless the bleeder field has failed - then you certainly can get smells coming from the ground itself.

Before you try some of these things, I might suggest hiring a plumber (proficient in septic systems) to do a quick survey of the system. That would help point to a solution whether you choose to hire it out or do it yourself. As previously stated, your tank may need pumping as well - the plumber can quickly tell you if it does.

But, if you smell something, you definitely need to take care of it as soon as you can.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My vent stack is smelly after pumping until the grease scum builds up on top of the septage. You might pour a gallon of cooking oil down the drain to see if it helps.

 

[Quaffer]

On places nit used often, traps dry out and can vent gas all over.

Seems like easy thing to try, just make sure taps all have water ..