On average, a septic tank should be pumped every three years. If you have a large family, you may need to have your septic tank pumped earlier than that because it will fill up faster. Express Septic Services lists five signs below that your septic tank is full in the event that you can’t remember the last time you had it pumped, or in the event that your tank is filling up prematurely.
1. Odors
When your septic tank is full, the sewage odors have nowhere to go but back up through your drains. Depending on how full the tank is, you may have sewage seeping out of it, which will cause foul odors around the tank. If you do smell sewage outside, call us immediately. The more sewage that seeps out of the tank the greater environmental problem you have in your yard.
2. Water
Another sign that your septic tank is full is pooled water in your yard where the septic tank is located. This is a sign that the tank is overflowing and the most common reason why this happens is that the tank needs to be pumped. You may also have a blocked drainage pipe that is causing the water to pool, or there may be an issue with your drain field, which is the portion of your septic system responsible for treating wastewater.
3. Slowness
If your drains are suddenly taking much longer to drain, or if you notice that your toilet is not flushing as forcefully as it used to, you may have a full septic tank. Because the tank is full, the water and sewage have nowhere to go (as we mentioned above), and this will slow down your drains and toilets. You may even hear gurgling coming from the drains or toilets when you use them or flush them.
4. Growth
We’ve talked about this in previous blog posts but it bears repeating. If there is a portion of your yard that is growing like crazy, it’s possible that your septic tank is full and leaking out underneath the ground. This creates natural fertilizer off which your plants, lawn, and weeds feed. You will notice excessively lush growth above your septic tank or the drain field if either of them is leaking.
5. Backup
Finally, a full septic tank will have no choice but to back the sewage up into your home. The sewage has nowhere else to go, and you will end up with it in your toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs. This is a nightmare that can be avoided with annual septic system maintenance. This not only allows us to check the system for leaks but also ensures we pump the tank before it gets too full.
Call Express Septic Services in Greenville, SC, to schedule an appointment today.
