Wet Weather or Cold Weather Sewage or Septic Odors: Diagnosis and Repair Guide
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Cold-weather-related sewer or septic system odors: this article describes how to diagnose and correct sewer gas or septic odors (and other building smells and odors with focus on diagnosing odor sources and causes in cold weather. This article on diagnosing sewer gas or septic odors is a special cold-weather edition of our more general advice on finding and curing sewage odor problems.
Here we focus on sewage or septic odor problems that occur during cold weather or wet weather. Also see Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors This article describes sewer odors due to a combination of wet weather and building back-drafting. Also see our broad-scope article on diagnosis and cure of sewer gas and septic odors: Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells.
Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
How to Track Down & Fix Sources of Septic Odors that Occur in Cold Weather
Some of the diagnostic steps pertain to all seasons. The photograph provides a lot of septic odor diagnostic information if you look closely: there is a home made septic tank nearly touching the
building wall (by those steps), and in the foreground is a pony pump that the owner was using to try to move septic effluent uphill to his
drainfield. This system would not work reliably: the tank is too small for normal use and the pump is exposed to freezing. Our sewer gas odor diagnosis articles are grouped into SEWER GAS ODORS and SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER - the article found below on this page
- Locate the outdoor private septic or public sewer line components - septic tank and fields, or their probable location. Melted areas of snow can be helpful
as they often mark the location of even properly-working septic system components - the soil is warmer at the septic tank
and at the drainfield lines.
As in the two photographs of snow over septic fields (left) and over a septic tank (right),
if you see snowmelt, the system is probably not frozen. Warm effluent is entering from the septic
tank and bacterial action is progressing in the soils.
If you do not see septic effluent coming to the surface of
the yard and if drains are not backing up inside the outdoor parts of the septic system appear to be working.
But how do we know if the septic system is frozen and not accepting waste from the building? What if we think the
septic system is blocked by freezing? See Septic Inspection Testing for details.
- Before doing anything costly it's important to do your best to properly diagnose the problem. Do NOT hire a company to "rejuvenate" your septic field nor to install or flush or use any other magic product. It would be a better investment to take the cash you'd have paid them and rip it into small pieces and flush it down the drain.
- Blocked plumbing vents? check for a plumbing vent that has become blocked by snow, ice, or even a dead animal
- Frozen septic fields: A septic system can become frozen in prolonged very cold weather if the system is also not in regular use. If the septic field froze and stopped accepting effluent, or if it were totally blocked and in failure (see below), your entire septic system would back up as you used the building drains, and you'd see drains backing up into the lowest areas of the home like a basement toilet or sink. I don't mean odors, I mean sewage backup.
- Partial septic blockage: If a building drain or septic system or system drainfield is partially blocked, it's possible for that condition to generate odors in or out of the building. In this case odors often correspond to surges in system use, and odors should not correspond particularly to cold weather, except insofar as cold still air may permit gases to fall (from a plumbing vent stack, for example) , or different seasonal wind patterns may cause gases to move to areas where they're not noticed in warmer weather.
Cold Weather Sewer/Septic Odor Clues that do Not Point to a Frozen Drainfield
If you're using the building plumbing, drain, and septic system and it's not backing up it's not so likely that the problem is a frozen septic field.
There could be a drain vent line problem such as a frozen vent line (frost from moisture moving up the vent line above the roof from use of that drain for laundry or showering).
Be sure the traps in the lower bath are not dry as a dry trap will often send sewer gases into a building.
Cold Weather Sewer or Septic Gas Odor Sources
Check out the above items first. But take a look at these cold weather sewer gas or septic gas sources that may show up more noticeably when temperatures outside are falling or when the outdoor air is still such as in evenings.
- Blocked septic systems::
The photo shows red septic dye in the snow during our test of the septic system shown in the photo at the very top of this page.
This septic system was in failure, as indicated first by the septic loading and dye test (with less than 50 gallons
of water run into the septic system in this case. The septic absorption field would not accept any effluent not due to freezing but because it had become
saturated and clogged.
In fact the combination of home-made too-small septic tank, no working effluent distribution system,
a septic effluent pump that sprayed effluent on anyone nearby when it operated, and sewage flowing to the yard surface, this
unfortunate property had no working septic system at all.
- If a septic tank is blocked, outdoor drain lines are blocked, broken, or clogged, or if a drainfield has failed and won't accept septic effluent,
the system may partially back up when loaded (extra visitors, doing laundry), and is well on the way to a complete failure requiring further
diagnosis, drain repair, tank repairs, or field replacement.
A sluggish septic system can also cause septic gas backups in buildings. If the septic tank is blocked because of a failing drainfield, pumping the septic tank may give temporary relief - and a false sense that the problem has been fixed.
See Septic Inspection Testing for details.
- A blocked septic tank outlet baffle can cause sewer gases to back up into the building drain system any time, cold weather or not. Pumping the septic tank may "cure" this problem by removing the blockage at the tank outlet, but we suspect the building also has a leaky or defective vent piping system or leaky defective toilets or fixture traps as well
- Sewer/Storm Drain Flooding: Tracked indoor sewer gas odors to a combination of wet weather, flooding sewer and storm drains, and backdrafting in the building due to improper bathroom exhaust fan vent installation - see Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors This article describes sewer odors due to a combination of wet weather and building back-drafting.
Tips for Tracking Down Hard-to-Find Sewer Gas Odors in buildings
Other Sources of Sewer Gas or Methane Gas Odors in buildings
Others with whom we have worked on tracking down sewer gas odor problems have
- had a plumber pressure test the drain waste vent piping to find sewer gas leaks
- found sewer gas leaks at a toilet with a bad seal
- found sewer gas leaks where plastic pipes had never been properly glued in a wall
- found sewer gas leaks where drain waste vent pipes had been perforated by a nail from flooring or in one case from hanging a picture on the wall
- found sewer gas leaks outside due to a failing septic drainfield and/or blocked sewer piping causing backups that leaked outdoors. In a case where odors were traced to leaks at a septic tank, odors from the septic tank were strongest at the front entry door to the home, perhaps in part because the system was in failure and backing up.
- found sewer gas odors at plumbing fixture traps whose water trap was lost due to trap siphonage due in turn to missing, improperly installed (too distant), or blocked plumbing vent piping. Where dry plumbing traps pass sewer gases back into a building the problem may be worse in cold weather or when building vent fans are decreasing the in-building air pressure, drawing gases out of drain piping
- tracked indoor sewer gas odors to a combination of wet weather, flooding sewer and storm drains, and backdrafting in the building due to improper bathroom exhaust fan vent installation - see Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors This article describes sewer odors due to a combination of wet weather and building back-drafting.
- found methane gas in the building water supply from public or private wells - see METHANE GAS SOURCES
- CONTACT us to add other sewer gas odor sources you've found - it will help others
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on tracking down cool weather and night time sewer gas / septic tank smells
Question: on cool summer nights we smell septic gas, always at the same place, how do we fix this odor?
Have septic system in mountain area of NC. Only on COOL summer nights do we smell septic gas (always in same place) at rear of house. Also noted that either dishwasher or bathtub or washing machine is emptying into system when smell is detected.
The roof vent pipe is located on backside of house roof where we detect the smell below. Have concluded that smell is associated with vent gas being displaced by emptying water from an appliance and since outside air is COOL the gas "falls" to ground level where it is detected.
Do you have any thoughts on what might be causing problem? If agree with my conclusion there are vent mounted activated carbon filters that mount on top of vent pipe that are claimed to solve the problem, any comments will be appreciated.
- S.T.
[Our photo at left shows a common source of septic gas odors at an older home. This add-on plumbing vent may be a bit too close to that bedroom window, and also in cool weather its exhaust may be noticed by people on the ground below or on a nearby deck.]
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Reply: Cause and Cure Suggestions for Septic Tank Smells in cool evening hours
 A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem in the septic tank, drainfield, or plumbing venting system. That said, here are some things to consider:
A basic tenet of tracking down odors is just what you have done - relate the smell to other conditions like time of day, weather, etc. Without knowing details about your home I am just speculating:
If you have a slow plumbing drain, a sluggish drainfield that is failing, or a plumbing vent defect, pushing water into a drain at high rate can in turn result in an increase in the level of sewer gases (or septic tank gases) that are back-venting up the drain/waste/vent piping. Those gases should vent through the roof and should not be noticeable to building occupants.
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But in the cool of evening not only do temperatures fall, but typically wind velocity falls as well. Under those conditions even a modest smell problem can become more noticeable because the gases are not being dissipated by air movement, and may even be falling towards ground level as escaping plumbing gases are cooled in the night air and, counter intuitively, might even ride descending air currents that during warmer daylight hours, would instead be rising air currents.
Your suggestion of adding a filter to try to reduce odors is a band-aid approach that has some risks: you might be better off to track down the odor source to see what it means. For example, improper plumbing venting can be unsanitary or even dangerous; and obtaining an early warning that the septic drainfield is failing may be useful in planning for repair or replacement of the system.
Tracking Down Sewer Odors Outside
Because you notice the odor at a particular location - at the rear of the house, and at a particular time - in evenings, that's a good time and place to start tracking the odor to its source.
If by "rear of the house" you mean outdoors, sniff towards the septic tank, drainfield, or any sewer line vents (see our photo at above left) or sewer line cleanouts that might be installed between house and septic tank.
Tracking Down Sewer Odors Inside
 If you meant that the odors are noted inside the house, see if you can track the smell to a particular room or plumbing fixture or drain. Sometimes we find that sewer odors are traced to a leaky plumbing drain, loose toilet, or even a poorly connected dry plumbing vent running through the ceiling.
In both old and new construction we also occasionally come across an orphaned drain or waste vent line that was just chopped off and forgotten (photo at left).
A plumber can pressure-test your drain-waste-vent piping if that step becomes needed in tracking down the odor.
Also remember to have an expert take a look into the septic tank to see if it's sewage level is normal, if the baffles are intact, etc.
See SEWER GAS ODORS for our checklist of sewer gas or septic smell odor track-down details. |
Question: neighborhood sewer gas smells
our whole section of town often smells of sewer gas! it is noticible for 2 or 3 blocks. what's up with that? p.s. - most often is worse when it cools down after a warm day or during the monsoons.. - Sharon 7/22/11
Reply:
Sharon when there is a sewer odor in the neighborhood, if your homes are on private septic systems I suspect someone's drainfield is in failure. If we're talking about a community where every home is connected to a municipal sewer, there could be a burst line, effluent breakout, a problem with a pumping station, or the odor could be from something else.
Question: cesspool odors that stop when the rain stops - smells during heavy rains
I would like an opinion. I have a cesspool, it has been pumped out even though the gentlement said it did not need it. Everytime we have heavy rains in our area I get a foul smell inside my home;. when the rain stops the odor goes away. I had it poumped thinking that was it but the cesspool man said it was not Can you give me any ide of what it might be the system was installed in 1964 and even though old still works perfectly whith this one exception. Thank you - Carol 8/15/11
Reply:
Carol
Possibly your plumbing vent system is not working properly and/or there are downdrafts from a plumbing vent into or around the home in wet weather;
More likely the cesspool is flooding and forcing sewer gases back into the home, perhaps leaking out around toilet seals or from un-vented or poorly-vented sink or tub traps.
Rain could be flooding the cesspool, causing a breakout of septic effluent and odors - more likely if that were the case the odors would be strongest outdoors at the cesspool; It would be stunning if there were a 1964 cesspool that was still working. In what part of the country/world are you located - what soil conditions?
Question: bad sewer smell early in the morning - landlord says system needs to be broken in
We moved into a doublewide in western NC last March. We noticed, mostly late evenings and early mornings, a really bad sewer smell. Our landlords said that sometimes, as a system gets used to new people and new system uses, it can be a little smelly. Anyway, soon, spring and then summer arrived and the smell had gone away completely. At the very first sign of fall, however, the smell has returned. Now that all of our nights are in the 40's or below, we are smelling it again every morning and evening, but not during the heat of the day when temps reach the 70's. There is no smell coming from inside the house, only what drifts in through open windows. Everything seems to drain fine in the house. Totally clueless and really frustrated at this point. - Jeff 10/6/11
Reply: nonsense!
Jeff,
That's a new one on me - I don't think septic tanks and drainfields know who is using the system. There might of course be a difference in the level of usage - if the new occupants are using more water or if there are more occupants than previously, that may be causing a septic failure to show up. The fact that you smell odors outside only sounds as if there may be a failing septic drainfield.
Question: smell in unfinished bathroom
I hope that some help be given as we are at our wits end. I have and unfinished bathroom in the basement
and we are haven s sewer smell that is very promment in the unfinished bathroom. Could this smell be coming from were the fixtures are plumbed but not in stalled I would love some feed back as we are so confused on what to do - Laila 10/20/11
Reply:
Laila
I'm not sure what is the state of affirs in the new bathroom, but here are some possible reasons you'd smell sewer gas there:
1. If you have an open drain line without a trap, such as a mount for a toilet, sewer gases would come out there - use a rubber plug or a large rag to stuff that opening until a toilet is ready to install. Don't let the rag or opening-closer fall down into and clog the pipe however.
2. If you have fixtures like a sink or tub or shower that are installed and have plumbing traps but they have never been used, the trap will be dry and sewer gases can come out at those points. Just pour some water into each trap to form a seal. A cup or two will be plenty. If you are not going to use the fixtures anytime soon you can pour in clean mineral oil instead.
3. If fixtures were installed improperly you could have a leaky toilet wax ring seal
4. If the plumbing was amateur or incomplete you could be missing a plumbing vent connection or the plumbing vent piping could be incomplete, disconnected, or leaky.
Keep us posted - what you report will help other readers.
Question: sewer odors coming out of interior perimeter drain in dry basement
Ok I have an issue... I own a bi-level home. One of the bedrooms is in the lower level. The entire lower level is finished. There is a french drain that run around the entire basement, however most of it is covered. There is no water, nor has there ever been any water in the drain. Over the past week, out of the blue the odor that is coming from the drain is mind blowing. It smells like ammonia and other things. The room that smells is closest to the septic tank. Thinking that there might be a problem I had the tank emptied and still no releif from the smell... When it rains the smell only gets worse... Any suggestions on what I might be looking at. - Brian D 11/29/11
Reply:
Brian, on occasion I've found that a leak in the sewer line or even at the tank itself it it's near the house can leak into the foundation drain or perimeter drain and even enter the basement. As you've not seen a problem at the tank itself I'd check the condition of the sewer line between the house and the septic tank next.
Also, if the building's vent system has become clogged (animal, insects, etc) that could be a source of local smells.
Question: raw sewage odors in very cold weather
I read your article and I would like to explain my problem to see if I have come up with the problem. I live in Cheyenne Wyoming and when it is very cold (below 25 degrees Far.) we get a very strong raw sewage odor from our basement bathroom. I have narrowed it down to the bathtub. We did not finish the basment, it was finished when we moved in. The odor was not disclosed to us when we moved in 3 years ago and this winter it is worse but it is colder. We have smelled it every winter since we moved in. Now tonight I decided to try an experiment. I closed the drain on the tub and put water in the tub and this seemed to fix the problem. So my opinion is that they did not put a "P" trap on the tub. So what do you think?
I do not smell the odor from the sink, the toilet, or the floor drains.
Thank you - John 12/6/11
Reply:
John,
There may be a corroded leaky P-trap that thus doesn't maintain its water seal. Try pouring water into the trap and inspect with a good light to see if it remains in the drain; Unfortuately some demo and digging may be in order to fix this odor source.
Question: septic tank under the garage
OUR SEPTIC TANK IS LOCATED UNDER OUR GARAGE WE HAVE A SEALED HOLE WITH A CAP ON IT DURING THE COLD MONTHS WE GET A SEWER SMELL IN SPECIFICALLY ONE PART OF OUR BATHROOM ITS THE AREA WHERE ALL THE PIPES ARE LOCATED THE TOILET SHOWER AND SINK WATER ALL GO INTO THE SEPTIC TANK WE TORE UP OUR FLOOR AND REPLACED ALL THE PIPES WE HAD OUR TANK CHECKED ITS WORKING FINE NOT MUCH IN IT BUT AS SOON AS IT GOT COLD IT STARTED TO SMELL DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT WE COULD DO - Cheri 1/14/12
Reply:
oh why do people type in all caps.
A septic tank under a garage floor sounds like a bad idea to start with - but in any case if it smells the system may be backing up; check for drainfield flooding;
Watch out: accumlated sewer gases indoors (in your garage) can cause an explosion or can be an asphyxiation hazard - i.e. fatal
Question: septic works but smells when it's cold and damp outside
I have a septic system that works fine, however I have an unpleasant odor...usually when its cold and/or damp outside. I originally had a single wide mobile home then moved it out and put in a double wide....thats when the problems started. I've tried everything with no luck. I've tried suggestions from plumbers, had plumbers out and no one can narrow down what the problem is.
When the double wide was installed the plumber put in a clean out trap....could that be part of the problem? I had the tank pumped in the summer and it seemed to help....but not get rid of the problem. I'm now trying to sell my house, but can't sell til this issue is resolved. Please can you offer any suggestions for me.?
Oh...in the tub and at bathroom and kitchen sinks there are those stink pipes (?) with vented tops....I've put new ones on all sinks. It helped a bit but didn't solve the problem. The shower in the master bath (the drain holds water) seems to harbor a bad bad odor. I'm at my wits end. - Linda 2/8/12
Reply:
When you changed your mobile home, is it possible that someone drove across and crushed a septic drain line or damaged the drainfield?
Question: sewer gases when weather turns cool
After a change in weather to cooler temperatures, we are smelling sewer gas which we believe are coming from both bathrooms. My husband says the bathrooms are on separate ends of the house. The smell of gas is throughout the house. - Gail Gilbert 9/10/12
Reply:
Gail, check the odor track down suggestions above
Question: odors from mobile home worse when furnace is running
My furnace in my mobile home sits in front of a lot of my plumbing in the bathroom. i believe because as the weather gets colder, we use the furnace, and then thats when it smells the worst. i have also noticed that while the furnace is running and then run water in the kitchen, its the worst! - Anon 10/31/12
Reply:
Look for a blocked or missing plumbing vent that is causing drain gases to back up out of a drain near the furnace return air intake
Question: sewer smells near washer during heavy rain
Last may I installed a washer in the basement. Everything has been fine until we had over 6 inches of rain during a 24 hour period back in September - at that time, I noticed a septic odor in the basement and also in the cabin. Since then, the odor has appeared during cold damp weather, but only in the basement. I don't smell anything outside, just in the basement. My tank was cleaned out four years ago and I live alone, so I would think the tank is fine. Before calling the septic service and spending money I don't have to spare, I would appreciate your opinion and suggestions. - Diane 10/31/12
Reply:
Check our suggestions about bad plumbing vents as well as flooding septic systems in the sewer gas odor article links found at page top
Question: sewer gases picked up by furnace during cool weather
Now that the weather has turned cooler and the furnace is on, we are experience sewer smells thru the heating floor vents on the upper levels of the house. We also have smelled the same odor from the drain in the basement bathtub. There was no odor throughout the summer or spring months. Can't figure it out so far. - Deborah 11/17/12
Reply: check for sewer gas draw into cold air returns; try using a sniffer person or a TIF8800 combustible gas detector
Deborah, if sewer gas odors come out of heating supply registers I suspect that sewer gas is being drawn in at a cold air return. That may help you start looking.
Reader follow-up:
Thanks Dan
We can smell the same smell in the cold air return by our front door main level but we have very few cold air returns in this house. There is none in the basement bathroom and we have never isolated a smell from the furnace room. We did get a smell in the upstairs bathroom although that seems somewhat abated after we have constantly poured vinegar and hot water and bleach down all drains for the last week.
Last winter we had $10,000 worth of drain work done to replace the old clay ones under out house. They put in all new clean outs to meet regulations. This was done in December and we survived the winter season without any problem with sewage smells, although it was fairly mild. Prior to this work being done our daughter lived in the basement for at least 10 years without problem.
We called the drainage company who did the work back and he checked all the drains for P traps and dry/wetness. He claimed all was fine. Could it be the old city pipes coming into our new connection that might be a problem? Thanks for any and all help. We are in the process of getting someone to climb our roof to check the stack for some kind of animal blockage (nest) perhaps. It's driving us crazy. The contractor said to call him back if the smell still persists which we will do. - Deborah 12/5/12
Reply:
Deborah,
I just can't hazard much of a guess at this point; I think the next approach is to use someone as a "smeller" who spends some time away from the site so that their sense of smell is fresh, then comes to the home and walks the outdoor site first, starting at the edges of the property and spiraling in towards the home to see if s/he can spot the source of strongest odor.
A similar approach can be taken using a TIF8800 combustible gas detector provided that you initialize it well away from the suspected odor source or property. See TIF 8800 GAS DETECTOR for details about this instrument. Many home inspectors have them as do some plumbing inspectors;
I also agree with the use of checking for vent blockage or vent piping leaks; typically if the plumbing vent were actually blocked your drains would gurgle when draining.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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Herb Reed County Extension Director, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, Calvert County Maryland - private email to DF 9/5/2006 adding comments about odors and partial blockages.
- Onsite Wastewater Disposal, R. J. Perkins;
Quoting from Amazon: This practical book, co-published with the National Environmental Health Association,
describes the step-by-step procedures needed to avoid common pitfalls in septic system technology.
Valuable in matching the septic system to the site-specific conditions, this useful book will help you install a reliable system in
both suitable and difficult environments. Septic tank installers, planners, state and local regulators, civil and sanitary engineers,
consulting engineers, architects, homeowners, academics, and land developers will find this publication valuable.
- Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewater treatment systems a very useful reference for both property owners and septic system designers.
- Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [ copy on file as /septic/Septic_Operation_USDA.pdf ] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf
- Percolation Testing Manual, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, PO Box 501304, Saipan, MP 96950
- Planting Over Septic System Component", Daniel Friedman (author/editor, InspectAPedia.com), The Innovator, Winter/Spring 2008, BCOSSA, British Columbia OnSite Sewage Association, 201-3542 Blansard St., Victoria BC V8X 1W3 Canada
- Save the Septic System - Do Not Flush These Items Down the Toilet, Daniel Friedman, InspectAPedia.com - PDF document, printable
- Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP;
Quoting from Amazon's description: For the homebuilder, one mistake in estimating or installing wells and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars. This comprehensive guide filled with case studies can prevent that. Master plumber R. Dodge Woodson packs this reader-friendly guide with guidance and information, including details on new techniques and materials that can economize and expedite jobs and advice on how to avoid mistakes in both estimating and construction. Chapters cover virtually every aspect of wells and septic systems, including on-site evaluations; site limitations; bidding; soil studies, septic designs, and code-related issues; drilled and dug wells, gravel and pipe, chamber-type, and gravity septic systems; pump stations; common problems with well installation; and remedies for poor septic situations. Woodson also discusses ways to increase profits by avoiding cost overruns.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006). Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going for homeowners but is a text I recommend for professionals--DF.
- Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP;
Quoting an Amazon reviewer's comment, with which we agree--DF:This book is informative as far as it goes and might be most useful for someone with an older system. But it was written in the early 1980s. A lot has changed since then. In particular, the book doesn't cover any of the newer systems that are used more and more nowadays in some parts of the country -- sand mounds, aeration systems, lagoons, etc.
Onsite Wastewater Disposal Books
- Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. Both new and used (low priced copies are available, and we think the authors are working on an updated edition--DF.
Quoting from one of several Amazon reviews: The basics of septic systems, from underground systems and failures to what the owner can do to promote and maintain a healthy system, is revealed in an excellent guide essential for any who reside on a septic system. Rural residents receive a primer on not only the basics; but how to conduct period inspections and what to do when things go wrong. History also figures into the fine coverage.
- Test Pit Preparation for Onsite Sewage Evaluations, State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland OR, 800 452-4011. PDF document. We recommend this excellent document that offers detail about soil perc tests, deep hole tests, safety, and septic design. Readers should also see Soil Percolation Tests and for testing an existing septic system, also see Dye Tests
- US EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm
- Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook, R. Dodge Woodson. This book is in the upper price range, but is worth the cost for serious septic installers and designers.
Quoting Amazon: Each year, thousands upon thousands of Americans install water wells and septic systems on their properties. But with a maze of codes governing their use along with a host of design requirements that ensure their functionality where can someone turn for comprehensive, one-stop guidance? Enter the Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook from McGraw-Hill.
Written in language any property owner can understand yet detailed enough for professionals and technical students this easy-to-use volume delivers the latest techniques and code requirements for designing, building, rehabilitating, and maintaining private water wells and septic systems. Bolstered by a wealth of informative charts, tables, and illustrations, this book delivers:
* Current construction, maintenance, and repair methods
* New International Private Sewage Disposal Code
* Up-to-date standards from the American Water Works Association
- Wells and Septic Systems, Alth, Max and Charlet, Rev. by S. Blackwell Duncan, $ 18.95; Tab Books 1992. We have found this text very useful for conventional well and septic systems design and maintenance --DF.
Quoting an Amazon description:Here's all the information you need to build a well or septic system yourself - and save a lot of time, money, and frustration. S. Blackwell Duncan has thoroughly revised and updated this second edition of Wells and Septic Systems to conform to current codes and requirements. He also has expanded this national bestseller to include new material on well and septic installation, water storage and distribution, water treatment, ecological considerations, and septic systems for problem building sites.
- The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules available from their website or by telephone 800-624-8301
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