Top 3 Signs Your Septic Tank Needs Pumping
Are you the owner of a house with a septic tank? Do you suspect that your tank is full but aren't sure how to tell? While you can't see a septic tank, there are some ways to know whether it's time to have your tank emptied. Some signs that your tank is ready for emptying include the following.
Slow-running drains: As your septic tank fills up with solids, there will obviously be less and less room for water to filter through. As a result, the drains inside your house will start to run more and more slowly. A single slow drain is most likely to be an issue within the pipe itself, one to be fixed by calling a plumber, but if your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and toilet all start refusing to drain at once, it's likely that you're in need of a septic-tank pumping. If you call a plumber out to "unclog" your pipes, it's likely that all you'll have as a result is drains that are still slow and a bill from the plumber for their having to come out to your house.
Odor: With less room for your septic tank to process and filter solids, some of those solids may start getting pushed out of the tank and into the drainage field. If this goes uncorrected, the drainage field can start to have a malodorous scent to it. Without timely septic-tank pumping, your drainage field will start to clog, necessitating a potentially expensive rebuilding of your drainage field. If you start to smell something in the vicinity of your septic tank, don't take any chances: call a local septic-tank company such as Zeb Watts Septic & Underground, Inc. for an inspection and pumping.
Damp ground: Similarly, having a full septic tank may result in the ground around your septic tank becoming soggy as the drainage field begins to clog. You may not notice any odor at all. However, you may start to see the grass over the drainage field starting to grow higher and more quickly as it has access to more water. When you mow the area, the ground may feel spongy and soft. There may eventually be puddles formed on the surface. If you notice this starting to happen, it's essential that you schedule a septic-tank pumping as soon as possible. The sooner you have the tank pumped out, the less likely it is that you'll have to have the drainage field rebuilt.