A septic tank can hold gallons upon gallons of waste, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pump it out at some point of time. Here are some signs which indicate that you need to consider septic tank pumping sooner than later.
Tell-Tale Signs Your Septic Tank Is Full
It’s Been Many Years
The first and most obvious sign of your septic tank needing pumping is that it has been a long time since you’ve done it. A septic tank doesn’t need to be pumped or emptied for 2-3 years and you can go on without having to do any maintenance, but that doesn’t mean that it can last like this forever.
You need to maintain it by pumping it out and cleaning it after 3-5 years because if you don’t, problems will occur and your house will not only fill up with odor, but sewage problems as well. So, if it’s been years since you last pumped out your septic tank, then now is the perfect time to do it again. You won’t regret it.
There’s A Bad Odor
This sign goes without saying but yes, you will feel a very bad stench coming from your house. It can come from your bathroom, floors, pipes, and even your yard. Why does it happen?
Well, septic tanks are filled with all kinds of waste and if you haven’t pumped it out in a long time, there is no room for the waste, but to stand still and give off a very strong, pungent odor. The odor is sometimes similar to that of rotten eggs or socks, and it just won’t smell pleasant.
So, get the tank pumped out if you don’t want to live around a cloud of bad odor because that’s not the best thing to inhale as far as your health is concerned.
Drains Are Clogged
Another obvious sign that your septic tank needs to be emptied is when the drains are getting clogged. Well, they start by slow drainage where the water takes more than usual time to drain. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Once that happens, it will only elevate from there. There will come a time when the pipes and drains are completely clogged and there’s no way for water to go. This can also lead to the production of a bad sewer-like smell and it’s not what you want.
So, you need to call in a septic tank maintenance service and have them take a look at your drains as well as the tank because something is fishy besides the very bad smell that you, or anyone for that matter, can’t stand.
More Than Usual Greenery On Your Yard
Have you noticed your garden getting lush green all of a sudden? Is there grass growing in weird places you never saw before? Well, that might be the doing of the septic tank. Once the tank is overfilled to the point of spilling, it will start to make its way towards the yard.
Since the septic tank is filled with waste that is essentially manure, you will see a lot of growth and lush greenery in your garden. It might even get out of hand if you don’t do something about the septic tank right away.
Another very clear sign that your septic tank is overfilled is the appearance of water puddles in the yard and that’s alarming, to say the least. Your garden will go from a dry backyard to a saturated field that looks similar to rice paddy fields. This leads us to the next point.
Water Puddles
Are you seeing water puddles everywhere? From your yard to even inside the house where the drains and pipes are? They can also be in the bathroom or kitchen. This is an alarming sign regarding your septic tank. Either there is a crack in the tank that’s allowing the waste to accumulate elsewhere or it can be because of not pumping the tank for a long time. You should be more concerned in both cases.
Also, the puddles of water won’t be clear. They will be murky and they will smell extremely bad. Some puddles might even leave stains and those can be really hard to get rid of. So, if you haven’t noticed already, it’s time to have your septic tank inspected. The puddles will go away once the tank is inspected, emptied, and replaced, if required.
Murky Regurgitation
Also known as a sewage backup, this is the reverse process of drainage. Whenever you take a shower or flush a toilet, all of the water and waste go down the drain. However, the same doesn’t happen when the septic tank is full. Since there is no space for more waste and water, the tank will push the flushed water up and back where it came from and you’ll see a murky regurgitation occurring in your drains and even the toilet bowl.
If things get out of hand, then the wastewater can find its way into the faucets, taps, and even sinks and that’s not what you want to see when you screw open the tap. So, if you see this phenomenon, then it’s highly likely that your septic tank is overflowing and it needs to be pumped out.
If you have pumped your septic tank recently and water is backing up, then it could be a clogged drain.
The Toilet Won’t Flush
If your toilet is refusing to flush down and there’s sewage backup, then it’s also a clear sign that your septic tank is full to the brim and needs to be emptied.
In this case, you want to immediately call in a septic tank service Jefferson County and have them inspect the tank. Chances are that your septic tank will need a flush too, a.k.a. being emptied.
Weird Noises In The Pipes
You might also hear weird gurgling and thrashing noises in the pipes. They’re the most audible when you’re in the basement and if someone has flushed the toilet or used the shower. This is essentially the septic tank pushing air out, instead of water and this means that the pipes are filled with debris and are on the verge of getting clogged.
This can turn into a serious issue if not fixed immediately. This means you need to get a professional involved as soon as possible so that your drain pipes don’t crack or burst.
Increased Activity of Flies And Midges
It’s not a great sign to notice an increased activity of flies and midges because they are known to thrive near wastewater. When there are blocked drains due to a full septic tank, the standing water will be a perfect place for midges to lay their eggs. Moreover, the organic matter in the waste is where drain flies lay eggs. All in all, if you notice flies and midges, consult a septic tank expert.
Conclusion
A septic tank is an important part of the drainage system of homes, but you need to maintain it for it to work flawlessly for years to come. These signs will let you know that your septic tank must be pumped. This process should be done by experts from septic companies Berkeley County who have the right tools and skills to perform the job without any mistakes.
