If you have a septic tank on your Northern, Virginia-area property, you may sometimes find it 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.
Whether you live in Fairfax Station, Virginia or Springfield, Virginia you can rest assured the trained technicians at SES are certified to work in your area and on your system. Contact us today!