Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects InspectAPedia® -
How to diagnose sewer odors in wet or cold weather
Causes and cures for sewer gas odors related to wet or cold weather
How to find and cure bad smells in buildings
Questions & answers about how to get rid of or fix sewer gas or septic odors at buildings
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This article discusses the diagnosis and correction of sewer gas or septic odors (and other building smells and odors with focus on diagnosing odor sources and causes in cold weather. Some of the diagnostic steps pertain to all seasons. Also see ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE for procedures to diagnose and cure all kinds of odors in and around buildings.
Also see our broad-scope article on diagnosis and cure of sewer gas and septic odors: Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted.
Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved
to the author. Technical reviewers are welcome and are listed at "References."
This is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.
Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects
Backdrafting in building causing sewer gas odors: bath or other building exhaust fans may draw sewer gases up from drain piping, especially if there are dry plumbing traps. See Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors and Trap Siphonage and Sewer Gases. Make sure that bath and other vent fans are properly installed and located, that the building has adequate fresh air intake, and that there are no dry traps or siphoning traps. Add plumbing venting or vacuum breaker vents (where permitted) to stop trap siphonage if necessarty.
Cold weather correlates with sewer odors or slow, noisy drains: If your sewer or septic odors appear to occur only in cold or freezing weather, see Cold Weather Plumbing Vent Blockage. You will want to install a larger diameter plumbing vent stack from the roof surface up, or from the attic floor out through the roof (if your attic is un-heated). Also see SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER for more sewage odor diagnostic articles.
Plumbing traps indoors, smelly: Special plumbing traps which include a built-in seal against gas backups are available for use in problem locations. We just pour mineral oil into unused traps to prevent evaporation of the trap seal.
Plumbing vent: Inadequate plumbing vent diameter or height: If it's a plumbing vent diameter problem the solution would be to install a larger diameter vent pipe, eg 2" up through the roof and outside. See PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS for an explanation of plumbing vent requirements, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.
Plumbing venting Inadequate: plumbing drain line venting: if building vent piping is missing or inadequate or improperly installed get advice from a plumber on both stop-gap ("V-200" vacuum breaker vents from Oakville Stamping & Bending)* or proper (vent piping) repair alternatives. See PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS for an explanation of plumbing vents, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.
Plumbing vent clogged - due to animals, insect nests, or damaged vent material such as transite piping. Repair or replace the clogged or damaged plumbing vent piping.
Plumbing Vent location, Bad: if a building vent is too close to a window or otherwise is delivering gases to occupants, it may be possible to extend or relocate it. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.
Plumbing vent discharging into the building attic or roof space - plumbing vents should terminate outside, above the roof level. This defect should be corrected as soon as possible as there are both health and methane gas explosion hazards when sewer gases are vented indoors. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.
Odors and Plumbing Drain Line Leaks or Blockage Repairs
Diagnosing leaks and/or sewer gas odors due to damaged drain or sewer line piping
If a building drain is damaged and leaking the point of damage needs to be found and repaired. If it's an indoor drain the leak can usually be found by evidence of leaks into the building; if it's an outdoor drain leak, use of a plumbing snake, judicious careful probing, or excavation will be needed.
Sometimes simply lifting a section of sidewalk over a drain or lifting a large stone will disclose a previously unrecognized wet area where a drain line has been broken or damaged.
Our photo (left) shows a source of both sewage odors and a blocked main drain line between a house and its septic tank.
The sewer line was broken when a heavy commercial lawn mower drove over the concrete sidewalk below which the sewer line had been installed.
We replaced the entire drain line between the house and the septic tank and our contractor made sure that the new plastic sewer line was properly protected from damage by bedding it in sand.
Blocked Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewage Odors
If building drains are blocked or appear blocked hire a plumber to snake the drains. If all drains are blocked, the plumber might start by snaking out the main drain. During this process an experienced plumbing power snake handler can tell if the drain line is broken or damaged or clogged by tree roots. If this is the case an excavator and drain line repairs are needed.
Slow Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewer Gas Odors
If building drains are not blocked but drainage is slow, sluggish, smelly, or backing up into the building, an inspection of the septic tank can indicate (by abnormally high level) that the tank inlet baffle or outlet baffle are blocked (or missing entirely), or that the tank outlet to drainfield is backing up, or blocked, or the drainfield not working. Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
Pumping out or cleaning the septic tank to address an "odor problem" probably won't help: while periodic pumpout of a septic tank is important maintenance to protect the drainfield, will never "fix" one of these problems. The cause of blockage or failure needs to be identified and repaired.
We can think of a case, however, where pumping and inspecting the septic tank baffles might help diagnose a sewer gas odor outdoors or in the building. If the septic tank inlet or outlet baffle is partially blocked by the floating scum layer (the tank is past due for cleaning) sewer gases may back up into the building. See SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE and for a guide to inspecting septic tank baffles, see SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES.
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about how to get rid of or fix sewer gas or septic odors at buildings
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Herb Reed County Extension Director, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, Calvert County Maryland - private email to DF 9/5/2006 adding comments about odors and partial blockages.
Oakville Stamping & Bending, 2200 Speers Rd.,
Oakville, Ontario
Canada L6L 2X8
(905) 827-0320 or
(905) 827-6375 FAX - Email: osb@osb.ca produces and supplies the V-200 automatic plumbing vent. The Sealing Disc of the V-200 automatic plumbing vent anti siphon valve must be located at least 6" above the top of the trap arm. NOTE: An Angle Mounting of no more than 15 degrees from the Vertical is acceptable. Location of the V-200 is no way related to the flood level of the fixture that it's venting. The V-200 functions equally well above or below the flood level of any fixture in the home. - V-200 ABS Auto Trap Vent product description, V-200 anti siphon valve automatic plumbing vent installation instructions from manufacturer Oakville Stamping & Bending.
Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [ copy on file as /septic/Septic_Operation_USDA.pdf ] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf.
Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and
Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by
Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
...
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389
(2006), Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies.
Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going
for homeowners but is a text we recommend for professionals--DF.
AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP;
Quoting from Amazon's description: For the homebuilder, one mistake in estimating or installing wells and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars. This comprehensive guide filled with case studies can prevent that. Master plumber R. Dodge Woodson packs this reader-friendly guide with guidance and information, including details on new techniques and materials that can economize and expedite jobs and advice on how to avoid mistakes in both estimating and construction. Chapters cover virtually every aspect of wells and septic systems, including on-site evaluations; site limitations; bidding; soil studies, septic designs, and code-related issues; drilled and dug wells, gravel and pipe, chamber-type, and gravity septic systems; pump stations; common problems with well installation; and remedies for poor septic situations. Woodson also discusses ways to increase profits by avoiding cost overruns.
Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP;
Quoting an Amazon reviewer's comment, with which we agree--DF:This book is informative as far as it goes and might be most useful for someone with an older system. But it was written in the early 1980s. A lot has changed since then. In particular, the book doesn't cover any of the newer systems that are used more and more nowadays in some parts of the country -- sand mounds, aeration systems, lagoons, etc.
Design Manuals for Septic Systems
US EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual [online copy, free] Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems,
Richard J Otis, published by the US EPA. Although it's more than 20 years old, this book remains a useful reference for septic system designers.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program Operations; Office of Research and Development, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory; (1980)
"International Private Sewage Disposal Code," 1995, BOCA-708-799-2300, ICBO-310-699-0541, SBCCI 205-591-1853, available from those code associations.
"Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental
Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN.
Manual of Septic Tank Practice, US Public Health Service's 1959.
Onsite Wastewater Disposal Books
Onsite Wastewater Disposal, R. J. Perkins;
Quoting from Amazon: This practical book, co-published with the National Environmental Health Association,
describes the step-by-step procedures needed to avoid common pitfalls in septic system technology.
Valuable in matching the septic system to the site-specific conditions, this useful book will help you install a reliable system in
both suitable and difficult environments. Septic tank installers, planners, state and local regulators, civil and sanitary engineers,
consulting engineers, architects, homeowners, academics, and land developers will find this publication valuable.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewater treatment systems a very useful reference for both property owners and septic system designers.
Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [ copy on file as /septic/Septic_Operation_USDA.pdf ] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf
Planting Over Septic System Component", Daniel Friedman (author/editor, InspectAPedia.com), The Innovator, Winter/Spring 2008, BCOSSA, British Columbia OnSite Sewage Association, 201-3542 Blansard St., Victoria BC V8X 1W3 Canada
Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. Both new and used (low priced copies are available, and we think the authors are working on an updated edition--DF.
Quoting from one of several Amazon reviews: The basics of septic systems, from underground systems and failures to what the owner can do to promote and maintain a healthy system, is revealed in an excellent guide essential for any who reside on a septic system. Rural residents receive a primer on not only the basics; but how to conduct period inspections and what to do when things go wrong. History also figures into the fine coverage.
Test Pit Preparation for Onsite Sewage Evaluations, State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland OR, 800 452-4011. PDF document. We recommend this excellent document that offers detail about soil perc tests, deep hole tests, safety, and septic design. Readers should also see Soil Percolation Tests and for testing an existing septic system, also see Dye Tests
Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, Bombeck, Erma: $ 5.99; FAWCETT; MM;
This septic system classic whose title helps avoid intimidating readers new to septic systems, is available new or used at very low prices.
It's more entertainment than a serious "how to" book on septic systems design, maintenance, or repair. Not recommended -- DF.
US EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm
Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook, R. Dodge Woodson. This book is in the upper price range, but is worth the cost for serious septic installers and designers.
Quoting Amazon: Each year, thousands upon thousands of Americans install water wells and septic systems on their properties. But with a maze of codes governing their use along with a host of design requirements that ensure their functionality where can someone turn for comprehensive, one-stop guidance? Enter the Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook from McGraw-Hill. Written in language any property owner can understand yet detailed enough for professionals and technical students this easy-to-use volume delivers the latest techniques and code requirements for designing, building, rehabilitating, and maintaining private water wells and septic systems. Bolstered by a wealth of informative charts, tables, and illustrations, this book delivers: * Current construction, maintenance, and repair methods
* New International Private Sewage Disposal Code
* Up-to-date standards from the American Water Works Association
Wells and Septic Systems, Alth, Max and Charlet, Rev. by S. Blackwell Duncan, $ 18.95; Tab Books 1992. We have found this text very useful for conventional well and septic systems design and maintenance --DF.
Quoting an Amazon description:Here's all the information you need to build a well or septic system yourself - and save a lot of time, money, and frustration. S. Blackwell Duncan has thoroughly revised and updated this second edition of Wells and Septic Systems to conform to current codes and requirements. He also has expanded this national bestseller to include new material on well and septic installation, water storage and distribution, water treatment, ecological considerations, and septic systems for problem building sites.
The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules available from their website or by telephone 800-624-8301
Submissions welcome. send us a suggested document link or request an exchange of website links
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