For many homeowners, the first sign that prompts them to call the septic cleaning company is seeing sewage water spew out of a toilet or drain. It is true that if your septic tank backs up, you need to call a septic company. However, if you pay close attention to your plumbing system and yard, you will often notice earlier signs of septic trouble. Make the call if you notice any of these signs, and avoid the mess of a stinky backup.
A Wet Yard
If you notice unusual wetness in the area of your yard that surrounds the septic tank, this could be because the tank is full and is overflowing into the yard. The water may or may not have an odor, depending on how full the tank is and how long the water has been able to sit before flowing out of the tank. Grass growing abnormally tall in the area around the tank is another potential sign of a leaking or overflowing tank.
Gurgling Drains
When you turn on a faucet or a bathtub, water should flow freely down the drain. If the drain instead makes a gurgling noise or if you see some bubbles come up before the water drains down, this could indicate a problem with the septic tank. It could also indicate that your sewer pipes are blocked or that there's some sort of obstruction in your drain, but don't take your chances; call the septic service.
Odors Coming from the Drain
Have you noticed weird, unexplained odors coming from your bathroom or kitchen? Stand over the drain and take a whiff. If the strange odors are coming from the drains, then there is a chance something is wrong with your septic tank. When you're smelling is probably some sewage that has flowed back into the line leading to a septic tank. You are well on your way to a full-blown sewage backup if you don't call the septic company soon.
Double Flushing
If you find that you are needing to double flush your toilet more and more often, this could be another sign of impending septic failure. There may be some sewage backing up in the lines, keeping what you flush from making it down completely. You should not have to double flush more than once in a blue moon.
If you keep your eyes out for the signs above, you should be able to call a residential septic service before a major calamity occurs. This should result in less damage overall.
Share22 October 2020
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
