What Causes a Smelly Septic Tank and How to Avoid It

What Causes a Smelly Septic Tank and How to Avoid It

Outsmarting nature and your wastewater system is easy if you follow some simple rules of thumb. The rule to go by is: What goes in the sewer stays in the sewer. Flushing anything else other than tissue paper and water hampers the natural process that causes the remnants of your waste disposal to ferment and become harmless sludge. One example of an authentic sign of a smelly septic tank is the emergence of gas bubbles that pop out from the initially collected liquid surface. It is important to understand when you can do something yourself versus when you should contact a professional for septic tank pumping. If you see these signs, contact Metro Septic Pumping, and we will find a solution.

What Causes a Smelly Septic Tank?

The most common cause of a smelly septic tank is anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria thrive in low-oxygen environments, like the one found in your septic tank. These bacteria digest the organic matter that enters your tank and produce waste products like hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is what causes the rotten egg smell that is characteristic of a smelly septic system.

If you are flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste (if you have children in diapers), then it’s likely that your septic system is getting backed up with debris. This can cause a backup of raw sewage inside your home and worsen the smell. It also increases the risk of bacteria growth in your pipes and septic tank, which could lead to avoidable health risks for yourself and your family.

How To Avoid a Smelly Septic Tank

The septic tank is a part of the sewer that stores the wastewater from your home. Over time, the contents of your septic tank can become smelly and cause trouble for your plumbing system.

You can do several things to keep your septic tank from getting smelly, including having it pumped regularly by professional septic pumping companies like Metro Septic Pumping.

Have Your Septic Tank Inspected Regularly

If you notice a strong smell coming from your bathroom when you flush the toilet or shower, then it might be time for you to call Metro Septic Pumping! Suppose you need to have your septic tank inspected regularly. In that case, it could become damaged over time due to wear and tear on the inside of the tank or because of cracks or holes on its surface, which would allow air into the system which, causes bad odors to develop as well as causing other issues such as clogging up drains.

Consider Pumping the Septic Tank

If you don’t pump your septic tank regularly, you can run into many problems. One of the biggest problems that can arise from not pumping your septic tank often enough is that you will start smelling sewage coming from your toilet or drains. This happens because the contents in the septic tank can come out and mix with water more often than they should be able to. This makes it easy for bacteria and other substances to grow inside the tank, and these substances will then leak out into the surrounding environment when they have a chance to escape.

Check All Riser Covers

Check all riser covers for cracks. This can be done by simply removing the cover and looking inside. If there are any cracks or holes in the cover, they must be repaired before they can be used again. A cracked riser cover means that water will leak into your basement, cause problems, and increase the chances of a smelly septic system developing over time.

Don’t Flush Anything Other Than Toilet Paper

While it might seem like flushing a wad of paper towels or even a baby wipe is harmless, it can cause problems for your septic system. These items are not biodegradable, like toilet paper and tissue. Instead, they sit in the septic tank until they break down into tiny pieces that can clog pipes and pumps.

Replace the Septic System

If you want to stop smelling like a septic tank, there’s only one way to go: replace your current setup with a new one. While this may seem like an extreme solution, it’s quite effective at eliminating the odor-causing elements from your life.

Metro Septic Pumping

In summary, septic systems are responsible for removing waste from your home, but an overwhelming stench can be a problem. This unpleasant smell is typically caused by a "floating grease" layer created at the top of the tank and then gives off an odor as it decomposes. Homeowners can take various steps to remove this layer and thus lessen the chances of a smelly septic tank, including having their septic tank regularly inspected by a septic company and replacing the system if it becomes too old.