Septic And Sewage Tips

Sometimes septic systems can produce offensive odors that escape inside the house. This sometimes happens when the water evaporates in the trap of a seldom-used drain such as in a basement floor.

You can stop this evaporation by adding a cup of vegetable oil to the trap. It will eventually be flushed away when the drain is used; check the drain every few months and add more oil if needed.

Another possible cause of odor is improper venting. Water flushed down a second floor drain can suck water out of an improperly vented trap. Even high winds blowing over an improperly connected through-the-roof vent can suck water out of a trap. If this is the case, it's a problem best left to a plumber to resolve.

Vents can also be plugged by airborne debris such as leaves or birds' nests. If you hear a gurgling sound or if the water level in a first floor toilet changes when an upstairs toilet is flushed, this may be the cause.

Septic tanks should be pumped out every 7 to 10 years, five if you have a garbage disposal, and possible fewer if you have a large family.

If the system is neglected, thick sludge will pass from the tank to the leech fields, clogging the lines and preventing absorption into the ground. Eventually the sewage will then back up into the house.

Additives should not be required on an ongoing basis unless tree roots continually clog the system; in this case, add one lb. of copper sulfate to the system every four to six months to discourage root growth.

If you have a problem with spilled sewage in crawl spaces or under porches, try to remove as much of the infected soil as possible and spray the entire area with liquid bleach.

A garden pump sprayer is good for this task. You can then cover the area with replacement topsoil.

If the crawl space is insulated, the insulation may have picked up some of the odor and may have to be replaced.

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