Is there a problem with my septic tank?
Many people with septic system problems such as odor, slow draining sinks and tubs, gurgling pipes, backups and sewage water ponding in their yard mistakenly assume the cause of these issues is their septic tank. This, however, is not true.
What causes a septic tank to become overloaded?
Once there, any harmful bacteria gets absorbed by the soil or digested by naturally occurring microbes. But if your tank receives lots of water very fast—either because of heavy rain or maybe you’re using much more water than normal—the tank or the drain field can become overloaded.
Do you have to replace your septic field?
The drywell and mound designs are subject to the same failure mode over time; they eventually become impermeable so that the sewage outflow from your septic tank cannot be absorbed into the ground. Fortunately, you do not have to replace your drainfield to return your septic system to an operational condition.
What should I do if my septic tank is flooded?
A septic tank may also float out of place if it’s pumped while the ground is flooded. This can damage inlet and outlet pipes. Your system does need to be pumped as soon as possible after the water table is lowered. Before this happens, don’t drive any machinery near the septic area to avoid compressing the soil.
Why is water pooling on the surface of my septic tank?
The reason there’s water pooling up onto the surface is because when septic tanks fill, the solid waste can occlude the outlet pipe that leads to the septic system’s drainfield. When this happens, and the septic system begins to overflow, the sewage has no place to go other than up! It’s time to call and have it emptied.
Many people with septic system problems such as odor, slow draining sinks and tubs, gurgling pipes, backups and sewage water ponding in their yard mistakenly assume the cause of these issues is their septic tank. This, however, is not true.
Can a septic tank be dug up under ground?
Most tanks are buried under ground and are not easily accessed. It’s a good idea to have the septic tank dug up and have risers with lids installed at ground level. If a problem does occur, septic tank risers and lids allow repairs to be made faster and at less cost.
How often should I pump my septic tank?
Here are some preventative maintenance steps you can take to take to keep your septic tank working smoothly: Pump your septic tank every 3-5 years. Pumping the septic tank every 3-5 years will keep the solid side of the tank from over flowing into the liquid side of the tank that drains to the leach field. Install septic tank risers and lids.
