It's often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when it comes to maintaining your home's septic system, it's absolutely true. Keeping an eye out for warning signs that you're headed toward a tank failure is incredibly important, as the resulting unpleasant flood could lead to severe long-term consequences.
Below, you'll find a guide to some of those signs and some steps you can take to alleviate them. By committing yourself to proper vigilance, you can make sure that you receive the service you desire from your septic tank without falling into an unfortunate repair cycle that may be difficult to break out of.
Slow Flushing
Some parts of your day-to-day life may seem so uneventful that they simply fade into the background. In many cases, the speed of your toilet falls into this category, as most people don't linger long enough in the bathroom to notice any unusual activity.
However, if you find yourself with a toilet that continues to run, flushes slowly or weakly, or otherwise behaves in an atypical fashion, it's important to seek out a septic service. The direct connection your toilet has to your septic system makes it the proverbial canary in the coal mine, and you should make sure that your ears stay open.
Damp Ground
Your septic system should be entirely self-contained until you drain it, so any overrun might be a sign of a potentially serious issue. Your tank valves and connection points are typically not designed to relieve pressure by releasing fluid, and usually only end up in that state when a problem is imminent.
Maintaining a regular tank pumping schedule should allow you to avoid any leakage or overflow. Make sure that you conduct regular inspections of the ground under which your tank sits, and note any changes in the topography that may betray a sudden and unexpected movement of water underneath.
Unpleasant Odors
Since your septic system, as mentioned above, is self-contained, it should also not allow any unfortunate smells to escape. However, if you notice odors that remind you of sewer gas or other pollutants escaping through either your plumbing or outside near your tank, you might have a serious problem on your hands. The buildup of methane is a serious issue, and without proper ventilation, it can risk a tank explosion or even damage to your health. Make sure that you schedule immediate service as soon as your nose tells you it's time.
Share15 May 2017
Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Heather, and a few years ago, my partner and I got a very cheap property up in the mountains practically in the middle of nowhere. I knew we had to build, but there were many elements that I overlooked. I never even considered the idea that we wouldn't be connected to a town sewer system for example. However, I learned quickly as we built our septic tank. Through the process, I also researched a lot of alternatives to ensure we got the perfect septic system for our needs. If you are building on a new property and you don't have the option of sewer, this blog has everything you need to know about septic systems. I truly love to help others, and I hope these posts help you.
