Your septic tank is a water-tight container that’s buried on your property. It holds the contents of the waste that comes from your home for long enough that the grease and oil can float to the top and the solids can settle on the bottom to form a sludge. This tank plays an important role in the sorting of your home’s waste, but it’s not uncommon to have problems with your septic tank. In fact, there are several signs that you should look for to determine whether your septic tank might need to be repaired. If you have a septic tank and think that it needs to be emptied, replaced, or repaired, contact Express Septic & Drain Cleaning to get an estimate.
1. Bad Odors
If your septic tank needs attention, one of the first signs that you’re likely to notice is a foul smell coming from your drains. If you smell rotten eggs, hydrogen sulfide is backing up into your home through the pipes because the air can’t move to the sewers. You don’t want to ignore this smell because it can make the inhabitants of the home sick. Plus, hydrogen sulfide is also flammable. While it’s rare for it to start a fire, it’s technically possible if there’s a spark and enough buildup of hydrogen sulfide. If you notice this smell, there are a couple of potential things that your septic tank might need, including a simple septic pump, which you should have done every three to five years.
2. A Spot of Really Green Grass
When you see a patch of your lawn that’s particularly green, think about where your septic tank and the pipe leading to it is located. Your lawn might be getting some extra fertilizer and water in the form of your own waste as it seeps up into your lawn. Green grass likely means that you have a crack in your septic tank or the pipe that leads to the tank, and repairing it sooner rather than later will save you from even more lawn and landscaping damage.
3. Slow Drains
One of the telltale signs of a bad septic tank is slow water drains. As the tank fills, there’s less room for more solid waste and water. You’ll often notice that the water runs slowly down shower drains and sink drains, and you might also notice that water backs up into tubs, toilets, and sink drains when you run the washing machine and the water is draining. Roots of trees and large bushes are also attracted to the water and sewage coming from your home, and slow drains could also be a sign of roots clogging the pipe line as they can burrow into even a small crack and make it even larger.
4. Puddles in the Yard
If you’re seeing puddles in the yard even though it hasn’t rained recently, there’s a good chance that your septic tank needs to be checked. Puddles in the yard often indicate that there’s a crack in your tank and the water is seeping into your yard. You might also notice that some of your stone pavers have shifted because of the extra water. And if your yard smells like rotten eggs, which is the smell of the sewage seeping up back into your yard, there’s an even greater chance that the puddles are sewage from a crack in your septic tank. When we come out to your property, we’ll gladly help you find the crack.
5. Your Toilet Won’t Flush
When your toilet isn’t flushing properly, there are a number of possible problems, including mechanical problems with the toilet and clogs in the pipes. But another one of the top reasons that a toilet won’t flush is that the septic tank is full. When there’s too much solid waste in the tank, your toilet won’t flush properly as there’s no room for the waste to go. There’s also a possibility that you have tree roots in the pipe line leading to the septic tank, which cause an obstruction even when the septic tank is empty.
6. Contamination of Well Water
If you’re installing a new septic tank, you should try to have it installed away from your well system, if possible. But you should be testing your well water at a minimum of once a year to ensure that it’s free of contaminants and safe to drink. While there’s more than one reason that your well water might become contaminated, your septic system should be at the top of your list of things to check out. If your well water is showing high amounts of bacteria, nitrates, and other types of contaminants, your septic system might be to blame. Unfortunately, you’ll need to have your entire well system checked out, too, because bad well water is very hazardous. As for your septic tank, you should also check to see if there are cracks in the system.
7. Gurgling Sounds
Gurgling sounds in your plumbing could be attributed to a range of problems, including a clogged vent stack or a clog in the toilet. But a problem with your septic tank is also at the top of the list of potential problems. If you’ve begun to notice gurgling sounds in the pipes when you flush the toilet, there’s a good chance that your septic tank is full. Otherwise, you might have tree roots in the line or tank, which can also cause backup of fluids that will cause a gurgling sound as sewage tries to pass through the tree roots.
When Pumping Doesn’t Help
Say that you’ve had your septic tank pumped, which you should be doing every three to five years, depending on the size of your family. But then imagine that you’re still having problems with the toilet not flushing and slow drains. If this happens, it’s more likely that you have a crack in your septic tank or tree roots in the main line. Oftentimes, when there’s a crack in the tank, it will fill with water, so pumping the tank doesn’t help in the long run. In fact, the more you pump out the tank, the more you’re inviting ground water into the septic tank.
Contact Us About Getting Your Septic Tank Serviced
An overflowing or faulty septic tank can cause a variety of repercussions, some of which can be unsanitary, hazardous, and expensive. Proper maintenance and repair of your septic tank are essential, and when we come out to your property, we’ll take a look at the problem and provide a diagnosis. Then, we’ll either empty your tank or provide a plan for the repair or replacement. There are a few methods for repairing your tank if it’s possible, and we’ll help you determine which method is the best for your situation. Additionally, there might be times when repairing the tank simply isn’t possible. In instances like these, we’ll determine the best method for replacement, and we’ll help you better understand the timeline for completion.
If you suspect that your septic tank needs servicing, contact Express Septic & Drain Cleaning to talk to an experienced septic tank repair company serving Nampa and the surrounding areas. We can also perform inspections and tests.
