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6 SIGNS IT'S TIME TO EMPTY YOUR SEPTIC TANK
admin • Sep 22, 2017
Homeowners who move to a more rural location won't have the luxury that city sewer provides. Just like other aspects of your home, it is important to maintain your septic tank and have it drained from time to time. There are a few signs you'll want to watch for that will let you know it's time to call your local plumber and sewer service professionals to come help.
1. STRONG ODORS
One of the first signs you'll notice when it's time to call a professional is a nasty odor. Repugnant gasses are released from the waste in your septic tank. Once the level of waste rises close to the top, those gases will begin to enter the air around the tank. Talk a walk around your septic bed every once in a while and pay attention to how the air smells to identify if there is an issue.
2. GURGLING IN THE PLUMBING
If you don't smell anything, you may hear something. When the septic begins to back up and you flush a toilet or wash dishes, you'll hear gurgling within the pipes. This gurgling happens because the blockage is preventing proper air flow. Contact a professional to have the septic drained before any more unpleasant signs begin to surface.
3. TOILETS THAT FLUSH SLOWLY
Even if you don't experience any gurgling within your plumbing, you may start to notice that your toilets are slow to flush. Additionally, the water within your bathtub or shower make take much longer to drain than normal. These may be a sign that you have a clog, or that your septic tank is backing up. An expert plumber will be able to properly diagnose and treat the problem right away.
4. POOLING WATER
Standing pools of water and soggy patches of grass near your septic system are indicators that the tank has reached its maximum capacity. The solid waste begins to clog the system, and the excess liquid starts making its way to the top. This causes the soggy patches, which will turn into pools if not dealt with in a timely manner.
5. FASTER GROWING GRASS
There's a reason why gardeners mix horse manure into the soil when they're ready to grow plants and flowers. This ingredient actually adds nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium to the soil. When your septic tank is having problems, the backed-up waste can cause the grass to grow at a more rapid rate than the rest of your lawn.
As you conduct your yard maintenance throughout the growing season, be sure to check on the grass near the septic tank so you will notice if the thickness or growing rate has changed.
6. TIME HAS PASSED
Even if you haven't seen any of the signs mentioned above, have your septic tank emptied on a regular basis. The amount of time between drainings depends on the number of individuals in your home, and how big your tank is.
A family of five with a tank size of 1,000 gallons should get their tank pumped every two years, while a family of three with the same size tank only needs to have their tank drained every three years and seven months. When you have your tank emptied, be sure to ask your plumbing professionals about how often they would recommend for your particular situation.
If you notice any of the above signs, or you have any questions about your septic tank, contact
Ernie's Plumbing & Sewer Service. We offer a variety of septic services, including emergency services around-the-clock. We also install water heaters and even handle trenchless sewer replacement.
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