So far, all the frequent sniffing of septic system fumes hasn’t struck your family’s health evidently. This makes you wonder if septic system fumes are indeed hazardous. There is only one obvious answer to that—YES.
Septic system fumes are wicked blends of various gases that really pose as detriments to your health and safety. First, there’s methane, which can cause an explosion when ignited and even asphyxiation when inhaled in excessive amounts. Sulfide gas is one of the septic system fumes that irritate your nasal passages because it does smell like rotten eggs. Airborne bacteria is also present in the septic system fumes that you inhale. This causes detrimental respiratory infections like sinus infections. Spores of mold could also be carried by septic system fumes that could cause harm to your home and to your respiration as well.
But how could you possibly know where these odors come from? Here are some of the common places in your house where septic system odors spew out:
1. Leaks in sewer piping joints
Of course, it is a given that if the sewer pipe joints have leaks or are not even attached to the floor, ceiling, or wall, you will have septic odors floating about. This can be determined by pressure testing.
2. Leaks in electrical conduits
The electrical conduits in your home may be pathways for the septic gases into your very own home straight from the pumping station.
3. Heaters and ACs
Your own heaters and air conditioners can be sources of foul septic odors because of the blowers and air ducts. These features tend to pick up the smells and move them throughout the house. If your sewer pipes have leaks or if your house has defective toilets, surely, you will experience the unwanted septic system odors everyday.
4. Leaks in toilet seals
When your toilet has a bad seal (not properly installed on the floor)then it can be leaking smelly gases or sewage at its base.
5. Leaks in septic pipes
If there are leaks in the septic pipes, then you will definitely get septic system odors for breakfast until dinner. The leaks are caused by rust, mechanical damage, improperly installed vents, missing vents, and pipe corrosion.
6. Failures in septic system
If your septic system fails, the sewer gases leak outside and the wastewater backs up. This could be anywhere in or out of your house and it could be very embarrassing and off-putting if it reeks at the front yard.
7. Punctures in sewer piping
Sewer pipes should be properly sealed but there are times when a stray nail from unplanned or unplanned constructions or installations can puncture them, giving way for the septic odors to crawl out.
8. Marsh or swamp gas
As you know, marsh or swamp gases are very detrimental because of the methane. It is very toxic and flammable. But there are some buildings and houses that have sewage lines that divert the gases from the marshes or swamps. This has to be attended to immediately.
9. Odors in drains
When the water traps in the drains are not installed correctly or if there is a blockage somewhere, then the septic fumes will waft through your house like there’s no tomorrow.
It can be very upsetting to have all these in your home without you even knowing about it. But calm down. You could very well find a cure to the septic system fumes that bother and harm you once you look at the root cause.