Just because your septic tank is located underground, it doesn’t mean that it is incapable of cracking. In fact, many people have to deal with cracked septic tanks and the environmental cleanup that goes with them. It’s a good idea to have your septic system inspected once a year to avoid this problem. Express Septic Services would be happy to do this inspection for you. To help prevent you from cracking your septic tank, we are also going to list the common things that do just that below.
Cars
Cars? Bear with us for just a second. If you don’t know where your septic tank is, you may be parking on it without realizing it. Many people park cars that do not work or recreation vehicles in the dirt in their yard. If you have parked your vehicle on top of the septic tank, it is not designed to handle this excess weight and it will crack. If the vehicle is particularly heavy, it may collapse your septic tank.
Concrete
Septic tanks that are made of concrete are more prone to cracking than septic tanks that are made of metal. If the concrete was not mixed properly and is water heavy, it will not be as strong and will be susceptible to cracks or collapse. All concrete septic tanks should be made from concrete that is below 0.45 in the water-to-cement content ratio. If yours is above that, it may crack.
Expansion
We may not get earthquakes here in Greenville, South Carolina like they do in California, but the earth still moves. Soil expansion and contraction can crack an old septic tank that needs to be replaced. This is especially true if your septic tank is located in ground soil that has high clay content. The clay absorbs more moisture so it expands and contracts more.
Trees
Finally, the number one cause of septic tank cracks is tree roots. This is especially true if you have older trees that are large in your yard. You know how big these roots can get and if they encroach upon the septic tank, they can crack it easily. Many trees will encroach upon a septic system to be fertilized by the natural fertilizer and water found in the system.
If you notice sewage smells outside around your septic system, it’s possible your septic tank has cracked. Express Septic Services is the best septic service in Greenville, SC, so give us a call today to schedule an appointment for a septic system inspection.
