Most owners get that regular septic tank pumpings are important. Not only do they prolong the lifespan of your septic tank, but they also prevent backups from occurring and help to keep those long, gross, lingering odors to a minimum.
That being said, while septic tank pumping does all those things, there can sometimes – be a few unpleasant smells left behind anyway. This shouldn’t be an excuse to skip your next pumping, but we get it – it’s something you’d rather not deal with.
More important – you should be aware of certain issues that could arise as the result of a bad septic pumping. Odors that are, in fact unusual and may be cause for concern on your part. Today’s blog will address both – what to worry about and what not worry about once your septic pumping has occurred. Let’s jump right in!
What causes the bad smells
1. Normal air circulation
During the pumping process, most to all of the waste water inside a septic tank gets sucked out and this naturally stirs up all the smelly gasses inside the tank and yes – with a little help from the wind – it can backtrack into your home. That being said, it’s nothing to worry about outside of the immediate unpleasantness. It’ll be gone in a few hours.
2. Spilling during pumping
While we wish this was a nice, neat process, some spilling can and will occur. Ideally there’s none, but mistakes and haphazard jobs do happen. If this does occur, make sure this is addressed immediately – by the company you hired. This is waste product and is an immediate danger to that area.
3. Damaged toilet seals
Most toilets attached to a septic system are attached to the floor via a toilet seal. It’s basically an airtight wax seal or ring. This prevents sewage from leaking onto your bathroom floor. If there’s a leak – you don’t have to worry about sewage seeping onto your floor; but you do have to worry about the smell and the gasses from said sewage that can stink up your bathroom. In this case, invite a plumber over and have them come and replace the ring.
4. Broken plumbing vents
Plumbing vents remove bad smells from your plumbing system. They’re basically vertical pipes that are connected to your system’s main line. These pipes lead to a vent on your roof and the gasses go out that way. They also help regulate air pressure in your septic system. If this vent becomes blocked, the gas inside it gets stuck in the system. This is definitely a job for a pro plumber as the stench from the gasses after a septic pump will be incredibly strong and worse yet, they’ll linger.
If you’re concerned about foul odors that won’t go away after you’ve had your septic tank pumped, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!