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.
