If you have a septic tank on your property, then you may think that the tank is permanent and indestructible. While septic tanks rarely need to be replaced, they can form leaks over time that must be plugged or repaired. Leaks need to be repaired as soon as possible or you may inadvertently contaminate your property and local waterways with fecal wastes. To keep this sort of issue at bay, look for the following leak signs.
Dry Drainage Field
Drainage fields are where the liquid wastes drain out of your tank and enter the earth. Since the wastes contain a great deal of water and organic compounds, they often feed the greenery in the area. The field area will often be covered with green and lush grass and other plants. Also nearby trees will be noted with a substantial amount of growth.
The grass, trees, and other plants in the region will get used to the supply of water and nutrients. If these nutrients are not supplied to them, then they may dry. If you notice trees with far less growth than usual or grass that quickly becomes dry over the drainage field, then you likely have a septic leak. When a leak develops, the waste water will typically flow out of the tank through opening and cracks. The fluid in the tank will remain at a low level and it will not accumulate enough to reach the outlet or drainage pipe. This means that water will not flow into the drainage field like it once did.
While the fluid level in the tank will remain low, the level will remain the same or even rise as the tank is drained. In this situation, the leaked fluid that has escaped into the nearby soil will enter back through the hole or opening and congest in the tank. Your septic professional will typically note that this is happening based on the volume of liquid and solid wastes that are removed from the tank during a cleaning.
Water Backflow
Water entering the tank is not only an issue when it is drained; problems can also arise when it rains and the soil around your home becomes drenched. As the soil around the leaking septic tank becomes congested with fluid, pressure builds up on the exterior of the tank. The pressure forces the water through the crack in the tank. Since the outlet pipe is unable to deal with the large volume of water entering the tank, some of the fluid may flow back through your wastewater system. This is often an issue that develops when the leak is large or if it worsens over time.
If you notice a backflow issue, then avoid the use of your drains and use your toilet minimally until the rain stops and your property starts to dry out. When this happens, contact a septic plumber right away to investigate the issue.
Share28 June 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.
