How can I make my septic tank smell better?

Author: Delilah Prosacco  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Avoid pouring fats, oils, coffee grounds, cleaning products, paints, or other chemicals down your sink or tub drains. These can disrupt sewage breakdown inside the tank and cause a foul odor. Adding a cup of baking soda to a sink drain or toilet once a week will help maintain the correct pH level in the septic tank.

What can I put in my septic tank to stop it from smelling?

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda: Pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drains. This can help neutralize odors. Bleach Solution: Mix a solution of bleach and water (1:10 ratio) to clean surfaces, but avoid pouring bleach down drains if you have a septic system, as it can harm beneficial bacteria.

What neutralizes sewage smell?

Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain, followed by hot water, to neutralize odors. Use a plunger to clear any blockages in the drain, ensuring proper water flow. If the smell persists, try placing a drain cover or stopper over the drain when not in use to prevent odors from rising.

Why do I have a constant smell from my septic tank?

Your septic tank can be smelly for a few different reasons. If your septic tank is full or the pipework is faulty, it will leak, leading to a foul smell on the property. Main sewer line leakages and clogged drains in your property are significant reasons you might have a bad smell on your property.

How often should I put baking soda in my septic tank?

Use Baking Soda

By flushing 1/2 cup of baking soda down the toilet weekly, you can help to maintain the pH balance in the tank and encourage beneficial bacteria to break down waste.

Homemade Septic System Treatment

What is the best thing to put in your septic tank?

Your septic tank naturally contains good bacteria, and you won't really need to do much to put good bacteria in the septic tank. You can use additives like active yeast, rotten tomatoes, or store-bought septic enzymes or chemicals if you'd like, but typically, the system will produce beneficial bacteria on its own.

What happens if you put too much baking soda down the drain?

If you put too much baking soda down a drain onto a clog, it can sit on the clog and become a solid mass as it is subjected to more and more water. This will make the block worse and even harder to remove.

Who to call for septic smell in house?

If you cannot identify or eliminate the source of the sewer gas smell on your own, it's best to call a professional plumber or a sewer and gas odor specialist.

How much does it cost to empty a septic tank?

The average cost to pump a septic tank is about $395, but prices can vary widely, from $294 to $514. Several factors can influence the final price, including: Size of the tank: Larger tanks require more time and effort to pump, which can raise costs.

What is the best bacterium to put in a septic tank?

The best bacteria to add to a septic tank is anaerobic bacteria, which doesn't use oxygen to break down solid waste. Because there is less oxygen in a septic tank, anaerobic bacteria can decompose sludge in a sealed environment.

How do I get my drain to stop smelling?

To do so, pour a little dry baking soda into the affected drain. Then, slowly add vinegar until all the baking soda reacts. Keep running small amounts of vinegar into the drain until you don't hear any bubbling and your drains smell fresh and clean.

Will lime get rid of septic smell?

Hydrated lime from the hardware stores gardening section will kill the smell. Used to work at a septic company and this is what we did. Don't get it on your skin or let the kids play in it, it will cause chemical burns, wear gloves and a mask and wash up after handling it.

Is it safe to stay in a house that smells like sewer?

Answer: Only under extremely unusual circumstances. Although hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas, it will not harm people at the concentrations that exist in a house with sewer gas odor problems. Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide has a depressant effect on the central nervous system in concentrations above 150 ppm.

What neutralizes the smell of sewage?

To eliminate sewer gas smell, you can use a combination of hot water, baking soda, vinegar, and even lemon to run through the drain to fix the problem.

What is a home remedy for septic tank maintenance?

For ages, vinegar has been a very popular cleaning tool. It contains acetic acid, which is a strong agent that can dissolve a variety of sludge, including the ones in your septic tank. Take a cup of vinegar and a cup of water and mix them in a ratio of 1:1.

Can you get sick from septic tank fumes?

These gases are not only foul-smelling but can be extremely dangerous to your health if inhaled in large amounts. They can cause symptoms ranging from headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even asphyxiation in extreme cases.

What are the signs that your septic tank is full?

How can you tell if your septic tank is full?
  • You have trouble flushing your toilet, or it's constantly backing up. ...
  • Your pipes make a gurgling sound or drain very slowly. ...
  • Your lawn is suddenly growing lush, green grass. ...
  • Water starts to pool in your yard. ...
  • Your home or yard smells like… well, sewage.

What time of year is best to empty septic tank?

Spring: Spring is an excellent time for septic tank pumping. As the ground thaws and snow melts, accessing and servicing your system becomes easier. This season also prepares your septic tank for increased usage during the summer months.

How often do you really need to pump your septic tank?

Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year. A service contract is important since alternative systems have mechanized parts.

How to fix a stinky septic?

The awful smell that comes from a septic tank can mean the tank is simply too full, so pumping it out can ensure the odour disappears. Clean the bottom of your septic tank: As your septic tank collects matter, a 'crust' forms and separates the sewage from the air (which is known as a scum blanket).

What are the symptoms of sewer gas poisoning?

Irritated eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system, including tearing of eyes, cough, or shortness of breath. Effects may be delayed. Severe eye and respiratory irritation such as coughing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may be accompanied by headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and more.

Do septic tanks need to be vented?

Can a septic tank function without a vent? No, a vent is essential for the proper functioning of a septic system. Without a vent, gases can build up inside the system, leading to pressure issues and potential damage.

What is the best drain smell remover?

Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution

One of the most popular and effective home remedies for smelly drains involves the use of baking soda and vinegar.

Why is my drain worse after baking soda and vinegar?

Baking soda is abrasive, which, when used in large quantities, will cause the drain more damage. Additionally, the acidic nature of vinegar can eat away rubber and metal, damaging the plumbing. As these products break down the pipe and connectors in the plumbing in your home, it will cause more clogs over time.

How do you fix a smelly drain?

Tip one cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by two cups of hot vinegar. Let it fizz, then flush the drain with hot tap water after one hour. The fizzing reaction of the vinegar and baking soda together may kill odor-causing bacteria and help clean any gunk stuck in your drain.

Previous article
How should a bathroom be ventilated?
Next article
What is the oldest detergent?