Septic tank Help!! When we drain the bath or have a long shower, the toilet & sink "bubble" and stink - HELP!

Question

We bought a house in September with a septic tank. We had it pumped last winter just to be sure everything was up to date. We add septic treatment regularly. Any ideas what the problem is? Please only helpful answers!!

Answer 1

It sounds like your tub and sink are not properly vented. You need to have both a trap and a vent on every drain in order to keep a guard against smells. The water stays in the trap to block the smells, and the vent (behind the trap) keeps the trap from being sucked dry.

If you don't want to cut through the roof of your house, you can try an auto vent. They're like $5

Answer 2

Our tank did this a while ago, it turned out one of the pipes had been damaged, and all sorts of drained bits and pieces had formed a blockage there. We had to dig up all the pipes to discover this, and I fixed it by shoving the cimney brush up there and dislodging the muck with some vulgar thrusting motions.

We had to raise the pipe up to stop the block from reforming, which was hard...ring your septic man/plumber and see if they have any suggestions first, then have a dig. It's smelly, messy backbreaking work.

The other possibility is you're using a lot of water at a time, and the pipes dont let it flow away fast enough. Try moderationg water use, and do some little tests to find out how fast your water is flowing away
or to see if you have a block, get someone to watch the tank, and then turn on the shower and get them to see how much water pours into the tank. If it seems very slow, or overly dirty youve probably got a block. Or a pipe has just moved too far to be effective anymore.

And remember consulting your houses plan, it may reveal an obvious answer.

Answer 3

Not long. I have this little spray bottle that I fill with warm water heated in a pot over a campfire or woodstove. I get it to just the right temperature, spray myself just enough to soap up, spray off. It's all good. I used this method on a daily basis when I was living in the bush. Every month or so I'd accept the invitation of the full-meal-deal from those who had all the amenties. Not because there were complaints about how I smelled or anything. And I'd accept more because it made them feel good to offer. Made me feel rather decadent. A lot of water wasted for the sake of luxury.

Answer 4

Chech your plumbing vents to see if they are plugged up, also if there isn't enought drop in the sewage line to the septic tank water is backing up in your sewage line as it can't drain fast enough to handle the large amount of water. Consult a plumber, he can let you know the correct amount drop per foot on the sewage pipe for the length of sewage line that you have.

Answer 5

Make sure any vents or valves or clean. If something is going into a closed space and displacing air, it has to have somewhere to go. If your sink or toilet is the only place air can come out when liquid goes in, that may be your problem.

Answer 6

Vent, vent ,vent you have a clogged vent or you need a vent.Without a good vent you are going to have problems vent should go to the outside above drain lines and unrestricted.

Answer 7

maybe your septic tank needs to be pumped out

Answer 8

If you did some additions without a plumber who know what they were doing, they may have attached your drain to the vent.

Answer 9

I would have to say that maybe you need to be pumped out again. Is your back yard, or where the tank is located or in its path, really saturated? If it is, it's not good.

Answer 10

You don't need us. You need a competent plumber. Sounds like the venting is somehow blocked.