Sewage Pump Odor FAQs

Causes & cures of smell at or blamed on the sewer or septic pump

Sewage Grinder Pump Odor or Smell FAQs

Tip: see SEWAGE ODOR SOURCE LOCATION 

Also see DRAIN PIPING & SEWER ODORS 

Sewage grinder pump smells; can I put a deodorant in the pump?

We are having a problem with odor with our grinder pump in the basement. Is there something that you can flush down the toilet to help with this. (Aug 25, 2014) karen

Reply: seal the tank lid and check for leaks; don't waste time on a deodorant

I think I'd look first for a leak, bad venting, a failed check valve or a pumping chamber that does not have a suitable and tight cover.

If you have not always had odor complaints it makes sense to find and fix what's wrong rather than to just try to deodorize it - a temp fix.

Consider that anything you added to the pumping chamber is going to simply be pumped out at the next sewage pump-on cycle.

Sealant for lid on a duplex Liberty grinder pump to stop smells

Help please! We have a duplex Liberty grinder sewge pump system and the basin located inside a "finished" basement.

The house is less than a year old. We have a lot of vapour and smell which seems to be escaping through the lid which will not sit properly on top of the basin .

It was suggested that the concrete floor is "to high" and is preventing the lid from sitting tight. The plumber has put a new gasket end sealed it with new bolts but it still leaks .

Can you recommend a sealant that can be used to caulk around the outside of the lid that will adhere to both the concrete of the floor and the metal of the lid? Of course it also has to dry or cure under damp conditions. (Oct 3, 2015) A.L.

Reply:

Something is wrong with this system: a bad lid, bad gasket, damaged pump chamber.

You should not have to use a caulk or sealant on the lid. If you must, clean the surfaces and use a silicone caulk, understanding that every time you inspect or repair the system you'll have to cut away the caulk.

Why not give the product manufacturer a call to ask for advice?

Noise and odors from kitchen sink when sewage pump cycles

We have an ejector system, sump pump and septic tank. Our house is a quad level with a half bath on the lower level.

When using the lower level toilet, about every 5th flush the kitchen sink makes a noise and there is slight septic smell. We have had a master plumber out, added a Oatey sure-vent, and have checked the venting.

There was a slight crack in the lid of the ejector pump but we caulked it. The problem continues. HELP!! Sept 20, 2015) Jerry

Reply:

Jerry:

I'd look for a sewer line blockage first. Sometimes the first few flushes are simply filling the waste pipe up to a point of blockage that is a bit far down the line. The next flush fills the line enough that the slow passage of waste past the partial blockage causes the gurgling you describe. Just guessing.

Also check for leaks in the vent system for the grinder pump.

What's causing a rotten egg smell from the sewage pump?

Rotten egg smell coming from upstairs sink EVERY TIME my sewage ejector pump runs.

It is connected to my downstairs bathroom, and no smell coming from downstairs just the kitchen sink. I have flushed the vent on the roof but no joy. any tips? (May 17, 2016) Patrick

Reply:

I'd check the pump's venting piping as I suspect it's clogged, leaky, or absent.

Also follow the sewage pump piping to be double sure that there's no leak that's spraying sewage into a building cavity such as a wall or crawlspace.

Can I use a chemical in my sump pump pit to keep it from smelling?

I have 1/3 HP Zoeller sump pump. Can I use a chemical like the ones used to keep black water odor under control in travel trailers and motor homes,,to keep my sump pit from smelling, w/out damaging the pump...Thanks in advance for you help. Pete On 2016-06-06 by Pete Beck

by (mod) - that won't work

Pete, you don't indicate which Zoeller pump you have instaalled, nor am I sure (since you use the term "sump pump") if we are discussing a de-watering sump pump installation or a sewage (blackwater) ejector pump

I'm guessing the latter since you refer to "black water odor". In that case odors shouldn't be coming out of your pump system.

For **example**, referring to Zoeller's Instruction Manual for the company's effluent/sump/de-watering pump (notice this is not a sewage grinder pump), for a wide range of Zoeller pump models

( Zoeller Pump Model 55 / 59, 70, 73, 75, 139 Series, 140 / 4140, 145 / 4145, 160 / 4160 Series, 180 / 4180, 191, 371, 372, 373 Series effluent & de-waatering pumps

as well as Zoeller pump models 211, 212 Series, 270 / 4270 Series, 280 / 4280, 290 / 4290 Series sewage pumps (again these are not grinder pumps), available from the company's online literature library, you'll read that to control odors the company cites two features:

1. Gas-tight seals are required to contain gases and odors.
and
2. Vent gases and odors to the atmosphere through vent pipe.

So I'd start by checking those features of your installation.

Use of chemical additives and treatments, depending on the chemical, might not harm the pump but shouldn't be necessary.

And additives wouldn't have any lasting deodorizing effect in the pump chamber anyway because the pump pretty-much empties that small wastewater volume at each on-cycle.

And harsh or caustic chemicals may also damage the pump. Zoeller includes this warning in the service checklist for the example manual we cite:

Abrasive material and adverse chemicals could possibly deteriorate impeller and pump housing

You don't say if you're connected to a private septic or public sewer - beware of dumping treatments in volume into a septic system.

See details at CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS

If you don't have the manual for your Zoeller pump, contact the company at P.O. BOX 16347 • Louisville, KY 40256-0347 or at Zoeller.com or at (502) 778-2731

Septic / Sewage Pump Odors FAQs

Tip: See the diagnosis and remedy for septic or sewer pump odors at SEWAGE PUMP ODORS 

Also see

• ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER - guide to tracking down and curing building odors due to plumbing drain, waste, vent, fixture, or septic systems:
• PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS: problems with open sewer lines, plumbing vent systems, plumbing fixtures, plumbing drain traps, and septic systems can produce troublesome indoor or outdoor sewage smells that are sometimes dangerous or unhealthy.
• SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS 

How do we control smells or odors at a sewage sump pump?

What can be poured into the comode, to go through the ejector pump or grinder pump, to eliminate smell? This is in a basement and pumps up to the tank system. - Don Votaw

Reply:

Don, Cloroben and other manufacturers produce drain cleaning liquids that are enzymes that should not harm a septic system.

But I'd expect the smell to return as the system is used. Better to find the exact odor source and fix that - assuring good plumbing venting, no leaks at toilets or equipment, etc.

Might our basement ejector pump cause smells from this floor drain? What's the fix?

I have a floor drain in the back room that leads into the basement.

The basement has an ejector pump that seems to be functioning properly. If the odor is coming from the floor drain what is the best way to remedy this?

The drain goes down into an area that is blocked in adjacent to the basement so there is no access except if i ripped out the drain. On 2022-12-06 00:28:08.813102 by Ron

by InspectApedia (Editor) (mod) - mineral oil in the floor drain trap, or buy a special floor drain that includes a check valve

@Ron,

Since I see stairs to the left of the floor drain I understand that this drain is inb an upper floor above your basement.

So yes it's certainly plausible that smells from the basement sump pit or under-floor drains down there might come upstairs and out at the drain in our photo - where I added a red arrow.

If this floor drain includes a trap you can put some simple mineral oil in the Trap to prevent odors from coming up through the drain line.

If there is no trap, you may need to have one installed.

There are special floor drain traps that are designed to prevent sewer gases from coming back out of the trap provided it normally remains un-used for long periods. Unlike water, the mineral oil forms a trap seal that won't evaporate.

An alternative is to install a floor drain that includes a simple check valve.

See complete details at FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS 

by Ron - what about sealing the floor drain with concrete?

@InspectApedia (Editor), this drain is not in use. Could I just fill it up and seal the hole with concrete?

by InspectApedia (Editor) (mod) - bad idea

If a drain is not in use but might be needed in the future it may be better to cover it with a simple plastic cap, or if it has a trap, just pour in mineral oil.

Probably it's better to simply cover the drain with a plastic cap or pour mineral water into the trap if it has one. I don't assume, over the life of a building, that a particular floor drain will never again be needed.

Odor complaints from Liberty Lo-Pro pump in our basement; smells when pump runs.

Above: the LIberty Lo-Pro sewage pump described by the manufacturer as

For addition of a toilet without breaking concrete floors. Mounts freestanding or can be built-in using 2" x 6" joists for a more professional looking installation. Additional fixtures such as a shower or sink can be easily added using the optional inlet seal (provided).

We have a Liberty lo pro pump in our basement. Recently taken of wet vent and and placed on its own dedicated vent.

Smell occurs when pump activates. It’s sealed. Could the pump suck fumes from rest of house, bad check valve? - On 2022-06-28 by David O

by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@David,

First I'd check with the company, as they describe an "optional inlet seal (provided)" that, if omitted or mis-installed, could explain your odor complaint.

Otherwise, indeed have a bad or leaky check valve but the symptom would be waste flowing back into the pumping chamber.

If there's an older, more likely there's a leak somewhere in the pumping chamber or piping, or perhaps from a prior spill that wasn't adequately cleaned up.

Do you have a previous sewage back up and has there been sewage on the floor?

Contact

• Liberty Pumps [Website]
• Phone: 1-800-543-2550
• Fax:  1-585-494-1839
• Liberty@libertypumps.com
• Liberty Lo-Pro Sewage Pump IO MANUAL [PDF]
  Excerpt
  Low Profile Sewage System 2" Solids handling Liberty Pumps LowPro41LP offers an easier solution for adding a basement bathroom. Unlike traditional sewage pump basins, the LowPro is designed to sit directly on the floor eliminating the costly task of breaking-up concrete.
  
  Its low profile tank can be framed around with standard 2" X 6" floor joists, totally concealing the unit for a complete finished appearance.
  
  This unit from Liberty Pumps can also save hours of installation time because it arrives fully assembled from the factory with a 2" solids handling sewage pump. Additional features include a powerful internal spray that helps break down solids and a split cover for easy access to the tank and switch without disturbing the discharge or vent pipe.

Our septic pump smells after we use the shower.

I get a strong smell from my pump only after using the shower. Flushing the toilet and using the sink does not create an odour. It’s vented properly and everything seems sealed, so I do t know what the problem is. On 2021-11-10 by Dan N.

by Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod) - odors from septic pump related to wastewater voume & partial blockage?

@Dan N.,

Do you think the problem could be related to the volume of wastewater or its temperature?

For example a remote drain blockage that might affect drainage rate and odor backups may be obvious only when a larger volume of wastewater enters the system in a short time.

 

How to get rid of smells from the basement septic pump?

My pump is in the basement. How do I get rid of odor On 2017-03-23 by patty nolan

Answer by (mod) -

IF the odor is coming from a sewage ejector pump in your basement you'll want to

1. check for leaks

2. be sure that the sump or pit cover is both safe against fall-in and sealed against gas leakage

3. ask your plumber to confirm that the plumbing system is properly vented