Who do ya call when your neighbor's waste pipe won't get it out?

[MikePA]

I was under the impression, apparently wrong, that the stack on the roof was simply there to allow air to enter the waste pipe system as water exits. I never heard it was there to allow septic gases to escape from the tank.

Come to think of it, how would gases from the septic tank exit back through the DWV system and out the stack on the roof? I thought the whole point of having P traps on every drain was to prevent this?

 

[Highbeam]

There's no P-trap on the main line all the way to and through that stack. When you think about the septic tank there is no fluctution in the water level, the septic tank is always full to the level of the outlet so there is no replacement air needed. The need for air to be sucked in through the little plumbing vents is caused by the slugs of water dumped into the smaller laterals by such things as a toilet flush. That air below the slug is pushed into the main line and back up out of the stack since the septic tank doesn't really allow air through it.

In a city system, the house stacks also vent the main sewage line in the street. The stench can get pretty nasty on a low flow main.

 

[AlanB]

So really, you could vent the main stack out through the roof, and all the little one's venting something with a P trap could go in the attic?

I am about to do this myself so I am watching / learning intently.

 

[N80]

So really, you could vent the main stack out through the roof, and all the little one's venting something with a P trap could go in the attic?

I think the answer is yes, but if you are sending a vent up through the roof, there is no need for Studor vents in the attic anyway. A kitchen island might benefit from a Studor vent since it can't be vented through the roof easily.

My problem centered around me not wanting to put anything through my metal roof. I'm doing all this work myself and did not trust my skills to properly flash and seal the roof vent, which would result in a leaky roof.

I'm wondering about putting a vent between the septic tank and the house that would stick up above the ground to vent septic tank gas.

I really don't want to cut a hole in my roof or pay someone else to do it.

 

[DUMBDOG]

I think the answer is yes, but if you are sending a vent up through the roof, there is no need for Studor vents in the attic anyway. A kitchen island might benefit from a Studor vent since it can't be vented through the roof easily.

My problem centered around me not wanting to put anything through my metal roof. I'm doing all this work myself and did not trust my skills to properly flash and seal the roof vent, which would result in a leaky roof.

I'm wondering about putting a vent between the septic tank and the house that would stick up above the ground to vent septic tank gas.

I really don't want to cut a hole in my roof or pay someone else to do it.

Run the vent out the side and then up the required distance.

 

[AlanB]

I am adding a washing machine drain, and tying that into an additional sink drain in the basement, and do not like the idea of adding another hole in my roof for anything. I have 16 year old shingles that should probably be replaced, the way I have it figured, the less I mess about up there, the better off I am.

Got me too thinking though, I could probably do a horizontal run back over too the main vent stack (25' or so) and just tie into it, above all the other drains? I think there is room, will have to look this evening.

 

[Rara Avis]

If I could get up there, I would like to use some of that expanding foam in a can, it sticks like iron when wet
Shh

So what was the resolution?
Well did the foam work?
Or did your neighbor change his diet?
Or are you still dealing with the odor?

 

[4720 OWNER]

And we are the sorry ^&%$#@@ that have to put up with the odor which is RANK,GROSS and SMELLS like POOP and IS POOP
Is there such a thing as toilet cops or something like that. ?

Offer to help him with an electrical wiring problem.

 

[MrJimi]

Offer to help him with an electrical wiring problem.

Update is same old sh%$#
and If I did that, as dumb as he is, he would know that something is up

 

[AndyM]

Update is same old sh%$#
and If I did that, as dumb as he is, he would know that something is up

Have you tried politely talking to your neighbor about the problem, and offering to help fix it?

 

[MrJimi]

Have you tried politely talking to your neighbor about the problem, and offering to help fix it?

This is not that type of person, he would say there is nothing wrong and tell me to mind my business. He is a ^%$##&*(8
His day will come

 

[AndyM]

This is not that type of person, he would say there is nothing wrong and tell me to mind my business. He is a ^%$##&*(8
His day will come

Well, after nine months, complaining about him and name calling hasn't seemed to fixed the problem.

Why not try the kindness angle and see what happens? Be the helpful, friendly type and things may begin to look and smell better!

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

Well, after nine months, complaining about him and name calling hasn't seemed to fixed the problem.

Why not try the kindness angle and see what happens? Be the helpful, friendly type and things may begin to look and smell better!

Well Ive tried to read all the quotes, I must have missed something. I am a licensed septic system installer, so I know that if jn my area, if you report to the Health dept, of possible smells, they have to come out and inspect. One of the best way to see if a drain field is going bad, the grass will be greener, where the lines are. But I dont think I read there were drain lines. In my area if you are on county/city sewer, they will come out and fix the problem. I really dont know how he lives in that house and not smell it. If the problem, is not a leaky tank or plumbing, its like someone said, all vents need to be on the roof.

 

[4720 OWNER]

How about nice a donate a bag of lime, or a whole bunch of those little stinky evergreen trees they hang in cars to make them smell good(?).

So what do the neighbors on the other 2 sides say? Or are you on the prevailing wind side (kind of like on the wrong side of the tracks (the prevailing wind blew all the coal dust on that side)).

 

[LBrown59]

His drain could be partially pluged, or stopped up. This would cause the solids to remain in the line for longer than they should, and then finally slip by. It also could be a cracked PVC drain pipe that is allowing a small amount of super stinky liquid to seep out, and remain on the ground under his house trailer, before it evaporates/disipates to the atmosphere. This may take several hours, even in the warmer Flordia climate. Can you ask your neighbor if he can have the drain inspected for these two possible problems....?????

Or worse yet a 3 '' drain joint pulled completely apart.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Super fast growing weed seeds and then complain the grass is too long.

Report as a possible rotting corpse to the local PD.

Rob Lowe for Dirty Jobs.

Bad smelling meth lab.

Immigration violation, no showers.

Stinky citronella candles when the wind is appropriate.