Septic Tank Smell

pollyantic

My septic tank smells when the toilet is flushed. I assume this is normal displacement of air in the tank.
I heard there is a carbon unit than you can attach to the air outlet on the tank that will get rid of the smell.

Such as this one here.

http://www.sweetair.com/

Does anyone know if i can get one in Ireland and if they work?

I'ld rather not use the stuffyou pour into the tank.

rooferPete

Hi Pollyantic,

The vent on the top of a septic tank is supposed to be a one way unit, that is it draws air in and closes preventing the smells escaping.

You could look at two things, first does the pipe coming from the bathroom extend up passed gutter level as soil stack ? that vents the system and stops the pipes from blocking and syphoning other toilets.

Second is there any vents around the percolation are to help the system work ? they are often like gully traps because they use the top off gully traps to stop dirt from blocking the pipe.

I would advise against using any of the fancy smell products because very few are designed for septic tanks and stop the bacteria from breaking down the waste.

tapest

rooferPete wrote:

Hi Pollyantic,

I would advise against using any of the fancy smell products because very few are designed for septic tanks and stop the bacteria from breaking down the waste.

Hi
There is a system that actually works, called odor control. It's not just carbon filters...that's the second stage. Foul air is firstly sucked (elec. fan) through a tree bark like material that is constantly dampened by water spray. In this tree bark there lives tiny spider like insects that "digest" the smell. I know of two installations that work.One is large and the other is huge, big as a small house ( 50 tonne of bark)...and of course cost an arm and a leg. Installed here by an English company. And the materials, bark and carbon, last only 3 to 5 years.
I know this is not practical for you but when you mentioned carbon I thought I better give you the full sp
regards
t

pollyantic

I dont think i have the space for something as big as a house
Thanks for the info though

YAPP

Poly,

As Roofer Pete says, ventilation is your main problem here.

A septic Tank is a settlement tank. The first chamber is for
solids to gradually settle down leaving (a) a top layer of scum,
and (b) a bottom layer of solids (papers/etc,.) and (c) the centre
clear layer of influent. This passes through the Baffle Wall centre
hole into the second (and last) chamber and again any solids carried through settle. The clear liquid in the centre now leaves through an outlet T piece
and effluent is discharged through several vented percolation (land-drain) pipes.

It is very important that both the Inlet and outlet pipes in the Tank are fitted with atleast 2ft of pipe. Inlet: Allowing the influent to enter the tank at a central depth and not shooting accross the top thus breaking the scum causing a smell!!! And OUTLET: leaving from the clear liquid in the centre of the 2nd chamber.

As roofer pete says the percolation area pipes should be terminiated at GL with gulley like vent caps! Very important. Further reading- 1991 SR6. Standards - Forbairt/NSAI.

Yapp

lomb

it all sounds messy to me and rather unhygenic. cant u guys get ur tank professionally emptyied every 2 months.

kadman

lomb wrote:

it all sounds messy to me and rather unhygenic. cant u guys get ur tank professionally emptyied every 2 months.

If you need to get your tank emptied every 2 months , there is either something wrong with your tank, or more worrying.....something wrong with you Lomb....lol.

kadman

lomb

kadman wrote:

If you need to get your tank emptied every 2 months , there is either something wrong with your tank, or more worrying.....something wrong with you Lomb....lol.

kadman

was pointing out discharging the crap into a 'percolation' area is not a good idea at all. i would prefer a large tank that was emptied regularly.

rooferPete

Hi lomb,

A good percolation area can be very useful especially if you have a vegetable garden just another reason to use the good ole septic tank.

Kinda recycling