While inspecting and maintaining many different brands of aerobic septic systems throughout the Hill Country, one thing always stands out “ODOR”! Many times you catch a glimpse of an unpleasant smell and automatically think that it standard due to the obvious fact that you have a small sewage disposal plant in your yard. Don’t let that be the case with you!
Weather you have a Clearstream, Jet, Hoot, Solar Air or one of the many other dozens of septic systems on the market, don’t settle for the answer from your service provider that it’s supposed to smell.
While we service many septic brands, they tend to all be driven with the same one thing in common, they use aeration to treat the sewage. If your given a proper orientation and are familiar with your system, you should have a clear understanding that some systems either need parts replaced on a regular basis or parts cleaned to allow for maximum aeration. Clearstream and Hoot systems either need the diffusers cleaned or replaced on a regular basis, where as Jet systems need the aspirator shaft cleaned every visit.
While aeration is only one key factor to keep smell at a minimum, other factors can play a key role as well. Next time your having odor issues you can do some detective work to help find out what the possible problem may be. If your service provider does more than kick on the sprayheads, he should be asking you a whole list of questions.
1. Have you switched cleaning chemicals or laundry detergents?
2. Is anyone on anti-biotics, receiving chemo or radiation treatments?
3. Any extra water usage? (example: Leaky toilets, bad water softener or extra guests)
4. Are you using liquid fabric softener or added rim hangers to the toilets?
While this list can go on and be extensive, the one thing we found is that keeping a constant means of communication with the customer and asking questions when we discover new habits can stop a small problem from becoming a big one. This can also save the customer an unnecessary expense of paying for premature pumping.
So next time you have an odor, just think if anything has changed or verify with your maintenance provider that your parts are being cleaned or replaced as needed to allow for the best results in the treatment of your septic system.