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OdorHog
Frequently Asked Questions about the OdorHog™ Septic Vent Pipe Filter.

  1. I don't like to enter my credit card number on the Internet. Is it safe to order your product on-line? If so how do I know if it is safe?
    With all of the security issues we hear about regarding the Internet, it's easy to be worried about what will happen to your credit card information if you enter it on our site. We certainly understand why you are concerned and we have taken every reasonable precaution to protect your information.

    Our web site uses a SECURE shopping cart from a company called Americart in Connecticut. You can read about their product at their web site, www.americart.com. It meets all of the security requirements for American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover, which means that your information is as safe as possible. If it did not meet these requirements, our company would not be able to accept these types of credit card payments on-line.

    When you get ready to "check out" from our site, you are taken to an encrypted, secure page on the Americart server. This page is called using "HTTPS" instead of just "HTTP" and you should see a picture of a padlock somewhere on your screen to indicate that the page is secure. Even though secure pages look normal to you on your screen, the information that you enter on them is converted into a high security format and this encrypted data can be transmitted over the Internet without anyone having the ability to read it even if they intercept it. This is the same system used by banks and credit card companies to keep your account information safe.

    In addition, we do not share the information you give us with any other companies. It will not be given, sold, or rented to anyone. We appreciate your business and respect your privacy.

  2. Is there any functional difference between the METAL cap and the MUSHROOM cap?
    There is NO functional difference between the two caps. It's just a matter of personal preference.

    Some customers like the METAL cap because it looks like their furnace vent. Other people prefer the MUSHROOM cap because it is made of durable PVC plastic.

    Although they function the same way, they are attached in a slightly different manner: the mushroom cap screws onto the filter, but the metal cap is attached by friction.
  3. Doesn't the filter restrict the airflow?
    The filters do restrict the air flow somewhat. The restriction is so slight that it shouldn't interfere with normal venting of the plumbing system.

  4. My plumber installed a vent pipe extension. Do I remove the extension or place the OdorHog ™ over the vent extension?
    Remove the extension. We have found that when an OdorHog ™ is placed over an extension, the whole extension and OdorHog ™ assembly act as a "sail" in the wind. The assembly will begin to oscillate in the wind. This could potientially damage your rooftop vent flashing and create a leak in your roof.

  5. Do I need to order replacement carbon with my initial order of a 3" or 4" OdorHog ™ ?
    Not typically. In cases where the carbons may become saturated quickly you might, e.g. commercial or restaurant applications. The OdorHog comes ready to install on your vent pipe with a carbon bag preinstalled into the housing unit.

  6. I have installed the OdorHog ™ , now I am getting the odors inside my house, why?
    Like stated above in FAQ 1, OdorHog ™ will restrict air flow somewhat. If you do not have a completely sealed venting system this restriction will expose those leaking points. We have found that there may be a variety of reasons why this is happening.

    1) The wax rings under your toilets may have become crusty due to age and are allowing the gases to leak through.

    2) While installing a picture on a wall, a screw or nail that is too long may have penetrated a vent pipe and thus damaged the venting system.

    3) P-Traps under sinks or in the floor have gone dry and need to be filled with water to seal the venting system.

    4) If you have an odor after installing the OdorHog ™ in the basement from a floor drain, your floor drain may not have a p-trap installed. If this is the case please go to www.trapguard.com. This product should seal the odors out from floor drains.

  7. How do I install the OdorHog ™ ?
    Simply slip the coupling end of the OdorHog ™ over the existing vent pipe. You are basically coupling pipe together, except you do not need glue as the connection is snug already.

  8. How do I replace the carbons in the 3" and 4" OdorHog ™ ?
    Pull the metal cap off gently, reach into the unit, grab the carbon bag, dispose of carbon bag, insert new replacement bag, and reinstall metal cap.

  9. You state that the units could last 5 years. How would I be able to tell when the carbons become saturated?
    Your nose will tell you. When you begin to smell the hydrogen sulfide or "rotten egg" smell, it is time to either replace the unit, or purchase a replacement bag of carbon.

  10. Can the homeowner change or replenish the charcoal in the filter?
    Yes the homeowner can. The 1.5" and 2" OdorHog s™ are designed as a disposable unit. You may purchase bags of replacement charcoal for the 3" and 4" units. We do not recommend that you come in contact with the saturated charcoal.

  11. I am a restaurant owner? I have a few 1.5" and 2" vent pipes. What do you suggest for me?
    Our experience with commercial users or restaurants is that it is more economical to order the 3" OdorHog ™ with a 3" reducer to the 1.5" or 2" . The reason for this is that the carbons in the filters have been known to get saturated with hydrogen sulfide quicker than one year. You would have to replace the whole 1.5" or 2" OdorHog ™ once the carbons become saturated. By ordering the 3" OdorHog ™ that is reduced, all you will have to replace is the carbon bag. There is no additional charge for this added service. Call us for special applications like this.

  12. I have a special situation, can you manufacture an OdorHog ™ to accomadate my special need?
    Yes we can. We will engineer, design and manufacture whatever vent pipe filter you may need. There are no returns on special order units. We created this special unit we call "El Gigante". This unit was used in a septic pumping facility.El-Gigante

  13. What is the expected life of the unit?
    The activated charcoal can only absorb so much hydrogen sulfide, the gas that causes the smell. The filters will last between 1 and 5 years, possibly longer, depending on your septic system. For example, if you put them on a restaurant they may last 2 years. If you put them on a residence they may last 5 or more years. If you use a lot of bleach in your laundry or if you have a water softener they may not last as long.

  14. For what situations is the OdorHog ™ filter intended?
    • For situations where the septic gas odor (hydrogen sulfide or "sewer gas") is coming out of the plumbing vent pipes on the roof.
    • Can also go on vents that are directly connected to the septic tank.
    • In some instances, city-sewer connections bring sewer gas into the home's plumbing vents. The OdorHog ™ filter has proven beneficial in those cases too!
    • Can be used on septic holding tanks.

  15. In what situations will the OdorHog ™ filter not work?
    The OdorHog ™ will NOT solve your odor problem if:
    - the odor is originating from inside the house
    - the odor is originating from the drain field
    - the odor is originating from any leaks in the septic tank or plumbing
    If our filters don't solve your septic odor problem, send them back within 90 days of the order date for a FULL REFUND. Click here for our Return Policy. (Please call to get a return authorization first.)

  16. Will the OdorHog ™ filter help indoor septic odor at all?
    Only if the outdoor odor from the roof vent pipe is being pulled in through windows or roof top air-conditioners. If you have just indoor odor, call your plumber. Check to see that all drains have traps installed. Check to see that all the traps have water in them to hold back the gas. When the water in a trap dries out, it lets the gas through. The plumber may have to do what's called a "smoke test" to see where the septic gas is coming in. If the odor is coming from around the toilet, it could be a dried out wax ring under the toilet.

    Again, we're not plumbers. We're filter makers. We've heard and read about many problems or reasons for indoor septic odor, that need a plumber to fix.

  17. How do I know what size to get?
    Measure your roof vent pipe's outside diameter to see which size OdorHog ™ filter you need.
    1 - 7/8"   outside diameter, get the 1 - 1/2" OdorHog ™ filter.
    2 - 5/16" outside diameter, get the 2" OdorHog ™ filter.
    3 - 7/16" outside diameter, get the 3" OdorHog ™ filter.
    4 - 7/16" outside diameter, get the 4" OdorHog ™ filter.
    6 - 5/8"   outside diameter, get the 6" OdorHog ™ filter.
  18. Do I have to get a filter for every plumbing vent on the house?
    Yes. Our experience has been that if you filter only one of the vents, the gas will find the path of least resistance and exit the un-filtered plumbing vent instead of going through the filtered vent.

  19. Why do some homes have this problem and others don't?
    We believe it's due to air currents.  Sometimes a "temperature inversion" puts a layer of air over your house and prevents the sewer gases from being carried up and away.  Another scenario is if you live on the down-wind side of a hill, then the downdrafts might bring the sewer gases down to ground level.

  20. What colors do the OdorHog s™ come in?
    We sell them in standard PVC white and ABS black plastic.  You may also paint your OdorHog ™ to match your roof.  However, we recommend that you don't paint the metal rain-cap, so as to keep paint from getting inside.  We suggest you try it out before painting it, as we cannot make a refund for painted or modified units.

  21. Do the OdorHog ™ filters freeze up in extreme cold?
    Even 3" vent pipes with no filters can occasionally clog up with frost if it is cold enough for long enough. This is called "hoarfrost" and you can read about it here.

    For cold climates (Northern US and Canada) where extended weather of sub-zero temps are likely, we recommend the black ABS models which will absorb a little more heat than the white PVC models.

  22. What about additives?
    The inventor of the OdorHog ™ tried additives, and they didn't work for him, so that's why he invented the OdorHog ™ .  There are two sides to the additive issue.  See our LINKS page for articles that say that additives are not necessary, don't work, and some could be bad.  Our webmaster could not find any independent studies, university studies, or government studies on the web that showed that additives are beneficial in terms of reducing the odor produced in the septic tank  Please email us a link () if you find an independent study that shows additives can help a septic tank odor problem. 

    We are not septic tank experts.  We have no idea what additives do to the tank chemistry or to the drain field.  Septic tank maintenance is not our specialty.  Please refer to a competent septic tank installer, septic tank pumper, or plumber for questions regarding septic tank maintenance.

    Our webmaster has made a list of books on septic tanks for your convenience if you want to learn on your own.  But we make no recommendations about them.

  23. Who uses your filters?
    Our customers are mainly home-owners, but also businesses, schools, and restaurants.  The vast majority are on septic tanks, but some customers are on city sewer, and report that the OdorHog ™ filter works for them.

  24. How tall and wide are the filters?
    1.5" filter is 13-1/8" high, and 4-5/8" wide at the T.
    2"    filter is 13-3/4" high, and 5-1/4" wide at the T.
    3"    filter is 14-1/4" high, and 5"      wide at the rain cap.
    4"    filter is 14-1/2" high, and 6-1/8" wide at the rain cap.
    6"    filter is 19"      high, and 10"     wide at the rain cap.
    The opening of the roof vent goes into the bottom coupler of the OdorHog ™ filter, so the "additional" height above the vent will be less than the height indicated above.

  25. Do you give discounts to contractors and builders?
    Sure. Resellers can get a wholesale discount. Call to place your wholesale order. We may ask you to fax us a copy of your retail merchant certificate or contractor's license.

  26. What is your DUNS number?  135180862.

  27. Why are some of your Filters shown with a "T" on the top.
    The 1.5" and the 2" filters use the "T" fitting as a cap. The "T" fitting keeps debris out of the filter and it keeps the activated charcoal inside the filter. Metal louvered caps and Plastic Mushroom caps are only available for the 3" and larger filters.


The OdorHog™ (patent pending) vent pipe filter is Manufactured and Distributed by:

A & M BIO-FILTER, LP
39 Sandia Mountain Trail
Edgewood, NM  87015

Toll Free: 1-800-963-6746
Local Phone: 505-220-0700
Fax: 801-454-4410
Email:

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