[Frankie56]

I have been noticing a terrible septic odor the last day or so. I believe my septic system is in good condition. I also have been told the odor generally collects in the smallest bathroom, which it seems too. My question is how to I get rid of the odor - is this a venting issue or due to something else?

[ballengerb1]

Likely a venting issue but we must do some homework to find out. Do you have any drains like a shower , sink or tub that have not been used in a very long time? They could have allowed their trap to dry out. Next check, smell right at the base of each toilet to see if the wax ring may have failed. How often do you smell the odor and is it alays strongest in one spot, The roof stack vent out the roof and sewer odors can sometimes fall down the roof line and may come in through a window or door.

[Frankie56]

Thanks for answering ballengerb1.

The odor comes and goes and is always in the one smaller (half) bathroom. I called a local Septic Tank Pumper and had the tank pumped out this afternoon. When I arrived home prior to the Septic Pumper Co. I noticed the odor was less than the day before.

I checked all the sinks and shower stalls, etc. and ran water in each early this morning. I will wait until tomorrow to see if the odor leaves after having the tank pumped.

One thing I have noticed, my neighbor to the south of my property has not been taking care of his septic tank and have noticed some seepage on the ground in the past. The neighbor's property is on higher ground than my property. The septic pumper co. commented that the neighbor's septic my be saturating my ground and causing me problems.

[speedball1]

If the odor's worse near the base of the toilet I would check the wax seal to see if it has ruptured. Good luck, Tom

[ballengerb1]

Could be the neighbor. There really isn't much to taking care of a septic. Watch what you flush like stuff that won't degrade. No cigarette butts or bacon grease, put a link trap ofn your washing machine and get it pumped every 5-10 years.

[Frankie56]

Thanks for your comments - ballengerb1 & speedball1.

The order has come back after the tank cleaning so I have contacted my plumber to come out and replace the wax seal.

On the neighbor issue, I have talked with my neighbor on several occasions about the odor coming from his yard. Several years ago he had a line ran from close to his septic tank out to the back of his yard close to my property line. I believe it is within the legal distance. At first I thougth it was a outer water drain off, but the last several years from late Winter to late Spring, huge amounts of Septic fluids and scum have flowed to the top of the ground near where the pipe was stopped. The end of the pipe was stopped approximately 30 ft from my property line at the creast of a hill. So all of the Septic fluid and scum end up on the lower back corner of my property. This past I could not mow a large section of this area due to it being extremely wet and the smell was terrible.

My neighbor has told me for the last several years he will fix the problem, but has yet to due anything. I have looked up different sites on the internet about what to do to get him to fix his problem and it seems to come down to filing a complaint with the Count Health Department. Do you believe this is best to do?

One other comment. The Septic Pumper Co. told me that the neighbors septic problems could be filling my ground due his apparent defective system and could cause or be causing my septic bed problems. Is this a possibility?

[speedball1]

My neighbor has told me for the last several years he will fix the problem, but has yet to due anything. I have looked up different sites on the internet about what to do to get him to fix his problem and it seems to come down to filing a complaint with the Count Health Department. Do you believe this is best to do?

You complain to both the Health Department and the Building Department. The Health Department for creating a health hazard and the Building Department for a code violation. His place will be red tagged until he gets the problem repaired

One other comment. The Septic Pumper Co. told me that the neighbors septic problems could be filling my ground due his apparent defective system and could cause or be causing my septic bed problems. Is this a possibility?

Very possible if he's discharging near your drain field,
Good luck and please keep us informed. Tom

[Frankie56]

Thanks for your reply speedball1.

The neighbors primary field bed is a distance away, however the more recent line that was run out the crest of the hill is within approximately 100 ft. from my primary field bed and all sloping down hill. The weather in my area has been very dry this past summer and there has been no visual leakage at ground level from the neighbors pipe, however I have noticed that the hill side next to the neighbors recent added line (my property) is very green as compared to the remainder of my drault stricken yard.

[ballengerb1]

I agree with Tom, call both departments. His system has failed and may not be built to code.