Why does my septic tank smell like rotten eggs?

Odors Caused by Improper Tank Chemistry

Inside the septic tank, microbes work to break down waste solids. In order for this bacteria to survive and do their job, the pH level must be maintained between 6.8 and 7.6. If it becomes to acidic, a strong hydrogen sulfide gas odor (like rotten eggs) can develop.

What do you do when you smell rotten eggs?

When you smell the dreaded rotten-egg-sulfur-odor wafting around your house, caution is king. And we'll just say this now: If there's even the slightest chance that you could have a gas leak, leave your home and call your utility company or the fire department right away.

Why does my septic system smell like rotten eggs?

Sewer gas. Every type of septic system or sanitary sewer system produces sewer gas. Properly working systems vent the sewer gas away from households and businesses. But, when things are not in pristine working conditions, the gas begins to leak into your home, causing the dreaded rotten egg smell.

How do I get the egg smell out of my drain?

If your drain smells like rotten eggs, you must disinfect the pipes to get rid of the odor. You can eliminate the bacteria by pouring a ½ cup of bleach down your drains. However, if you would like an alternative, pour down ½ a cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar.

What does it mean if I can smell my septic tank?

The presence of septic tank smells in the yard usually means that your plumbing vent is not doing a good job of diffusing the odors. Homes situated in forested areas and valleys are especially susceptible to this problem.

Why Does My Septic Tank Smell Like Rotten Eggs

How do you fix a smelly septic tank?

Septic tank odors can be fixed relatively easily. The first step is to pour one cup of baking soda down any toilet or drain. This should be done about once a week to help maintain a good pH level in the tank of 6.8 to 7.6.

How do you get rid of sewer smell in septic tank?

Start by pouring ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain, and then leave it for about 10 minutes. Then, follow it with one cup of vinegar. Let the mixture fizzle and work for a few minutes, and then finish by turning on the water and running the disposal to clear out any leftover food waste.

Can I pour bleach down the drain?

You may permanently damage your septic system. Bleach and cleaning fluids create toxic gasses when mixed together. If you pour bleach and other cleaning agents down your sink drains, and they mix in your pipes, you can contaminate the air in your home with the resulting gas created.

Why does my sump pump smell like rotten eggs?

Why does my sump pump smell like rotten eggs? An unpleasant, rotten egg smell is usually because your pit has dried out and sulfur dioxide smells are coming up from the sewer. It can be eliminated with a small layer of water in the pit and cleaning the drain pipes.

Why does it smell like rotten eggs when I flush my toilet?

In technical terms, sewer gases are the result of the “breakdown of human waste and are made up of a mixture of gases including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.”¹ The rotten egg smell coming from your toilet is telling you that a part of your plumbing line is not functioning properly, and you should listen.

How do I clean my septic tank naturally?

How much baking soda do I put in my septic tank? You can mix about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon to make your own natural cleaning agent. The baking soda will fizz up to help get the dirt and grime in your tub and drains.

How often should a septic tank be emptied?

How often should you have your septic tank pumped? You should clean your septic tank every 2-5 years depending on how many bedrooms you have in your house as well as the local regulations.

Why does sewer smell come and go?

Clogged drains

One of the most common causes of sewage smells is a clogged drain. When your home's wastewater has nowhere to go, the odors will come back up the drain they should be going down.

What would cause my house to smell like rotten eggs?

1) Rotten Eggs

This smell is probably septic gas, unless you have a carton of eggs hiding in your living room. Septic gas has a strong, naturally occurring odor that smells like rotten eggs. The smell is hydrogen sulfide, which comes from sewage and indicates a potential issue with your plumbing.

What causes septic tank smell in house?

Usually, the escape of sewer gases out of the drains signals a possible backflow next. There are also times when the inlet, outlet, or baffles of the septic tank get clogged up, too. These also result in the presence of septic odor in the house.

How do you get rid of Sulphur smell in toilet?

Pour a half cup of baking soda into the drain and then a cup of vinegar. Or, if you prefer, you can use a half cup of bleach. If neither of those eliminate that rotten egg smell, give us a call and we'll help diagnose the problem and offer you a solution.

Can septic tank smell make you sick?

The fumes that waft out of a failing septic tank and into your home can carry airborne bacteria. These pathogens can make your family ill by triggering sinus infections and other respiratory illnesses when breathed in on a regular basis.

Does vinegar damage drain pipes?

The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.

Can vinegar unclog a drain?

Along with gravity, this pressure helps remove unwanted goop out of the pipes and unclogs drains. Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.

What causes black gunk in bathroom sink drain?

The black gunk that accumulates in your sink drain is created by a buildup of bacteria living on hair, hand soaps, shaving cream, skin cells, lotion, toothpaste, and phlegm (yuck!). The problem with this black gunk is it will not go away by itself.

How do you tell if your septic tank is full?

Can you use bleach if you have a septic tank?

The short answer is no. Pouring most kinds of household bleach and chemical cleaners down your drain and into your septic tank is likely to cause all kinds of problems for your septic system.

What does Ridex do for a septic tank?

Breaks down grease. RID-X® is designed to attack grease in your septic tank, breaking it down to slow the accumulation of the greasy scum layer, which, if left unchecked, can compromise the function of your septic system. Inexpensive and easy to use. Just flush it down the toilet.

Can a full septic tank make your house smell?

A properly-maintained septic tank should be odor-free, so if you notice a bad smell inside your home or outside near the leach field, it's a sign that there's a problem. A foul smell doesn't necessarily mean the septic tank needs to be pumped, however.

Why does my bathroom smell like sewage at night?

A sewer gas smell in the bathroom can be caused by: evaporation of water in the P-trap piping. broken seal around the toilet in the wax ring or the caulk. A burst pipe.