3 Signs Your Septic System Is Full

The waste that collects in septic tanks must be pumped out when a tank becomes full. If you are a homeowner whose house uses a septic system, you should know how to recognize when a septic system is full. Discover three signs to look for.

1. Pools of Standing Water Form

When water pools near a septic tank and you do not have an obvious reason why, a full septic tank is the most likely culprit. This is especially true if you have not had rain recently or if the water has visible waste in it.

When this happens, the pools of water form near where your septic system's drainfield is. The drainfield is a series of pipes that drain water that flows through the system into the soil. They are not intended to handle solid waste, which should get trapped in the actual septic tank.

If your septic tank becomes too full of solid waste, however, the sludge can move into the pipes of the drainfield. Once solid waste clogs up these pipes, the drainfield will not work properly. As water gets into the field, it will not flow through the pipes as designed and instead can pool in a particular area.

Should you ever notice pools of water near your septic system's drainfield, make sure no one goes in that part of your yard. The water is likely contaminated with human waste, so avoid the area until you can properly address the problem. You will need a professional septic tank service provider to both pump out the tank and unclog the drain lines.

2. Unusual Smells Emit from the Ground

Hopefully, you realize that your septic tank needs pumping before the drainfield actually clogs. One way to monitor for a forthcoming problem is to periodically sniff the air around where your septic tank and the drainfield are.

The waste that enters a septic tank does not smell good. In fact, it smells downright nauseating because it is full of kitchen waste, human waste, and general wastewater.

When a septic system works properly, these foul smells are not an issue because they are trapped within the system and underground. Should you notice a foul smell where your septic tank and drainfield are, however, the smell suggests that gases may be escaping from the drainfield.

These gases themselves are not a problem, except that they are unpleasant to smell in your yard. They are a sign that your septic tank has started to get full, though. When odors first become noticeable, waste is near the drainfield and emitting gas into it. The waste will not immediately be in the drainfield, however.

As long as you have a septic tank service provider pump out your septic tank soon after you initially notice a foul smell, you should be able to prevent the drainfield from clogging. This will keep the service simple, since no pipes need to be unclogged. You also will not have wastewater collect in your yard.

3. Multiple Drains Become Slow

When just one drain becomes slow, a clog has likely formed in the pipes directly connected to that drain. If multiple drains in your home start to slow down, however, the blockage is not limited to a single localized area. Instead, it has affected most of your house - and could be in your septic system.

As waste builds up in your septic system, water will pass through the system more slowly. If the waste is not cleared out, the problem will only get worse. In this situation, you should pump your septic tank relatively soon.

If you need to pump out a septic tank, contact Pete’s Outflow Technicians.