3 Warning Signs That It Is Time To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped
Posted on: 19 January 2023
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An overly full septic tank can cause a variety of serious problems such as contaminating your well water or causing sewage to back up into your home. That is why it is so important to know when it is time to have your septic tank pumped. Unfortunately, you cannot simply take a look inside your septic tank to find out how full it is. Thankfully, some warning signs can help you determine when it is time to have your tank pumped. You can learn more about some of these warning signs below.
Puddling Water In Your Drain Field
When your septic system is working properly, you will never see the wastewater that is released into your drain field. However, if your septic tank is getting full, the solid waste inside this tank can begin to close drain field pipes, causing wastewater to build up and rise to the surface. This results in puddling on the surface of your drain field. This puddling will often become worse after it rains since the surrounding soil is too saturated to absorb any of the falling rainwater. This will often be the first warning sign that your septic tank needs to be pumped.
All The Drains In Your Home Are Running Slowly
A septic tank has a limited amount of storage space. Once the tank is full, it will be unable to accept more waste until some waste has been removed. This is done by releasing wastewater into your drain field. When your tank is close to maximum capacity, you will often notice that your drains start running slower. This is because your tank must make room for incoming waste. This problem will typically impact all of the drains in your home, including your toilet. You will also find that this problem cannot be corrected using drain cleaners or a plunger.
Your Well Water Has High Nitrate Levels
Many homes that utilize a septic system will also utilize well water. If your home uses well water, you could find evidence of a full septic tank in your water supply. This is because when your septic tank becomes full, solid waste will start to leak out into the soil surrounding your tank and can make its way into your water supply. This will result in an unhealthy level of nitrates in your well water. If you do not currently test your drinking water for purity regularly, you will want to make this testing part of your maintenance routine to ensure you do not miss this important warning sign that your septic tank needs pumping.
For more information, reach out to a septic tank pumping service near you.