Most people don’t think about their septic tank until it begins to cause trouble. This is very normal. When everything is working the way it should, a septic system is invisible. It works underground without you ever knowing it and you get on with your life. However, when something begins to go wrong, you are aware of it very soon, and typically in ways that cannot be ignored.
Fortunately, most septic issues follow a pattern. They all have their cause, their symptoms and their cure. They are easier and less costly to solve the sooner they’re caught. This is a simple explanation of the most common issues that arise and what needs to happen to correct them.
The Tank Is Full and Everything Is Draining Slowly
This is probably our most frequent call, and it’s one of the easiest to avoid. As the septic tank fills with sludge and scum, there is less room for the wastewater to flow through the tank properly, and all flow downstream starts to back up. Drains in the house slow down. Toilets don’t flush with the same force. Sometimes, the plumbing will make a gurgling noise that wasn’t present earlier.
The situation that has occurred is simple. The sludge is deposited at the bottom of the tank over time and the floating scum layer is formed at the top. When these layers fall too deep into the tank’s working volume, they will no longer be able to perform the separation of solids and liquids. Water starts to flow through the tank at a higher rate than desired, and partially treated wastewater is allowed to enter the drain field before it is ready.
The fix is emptying. A professional vacuum tanker comes in, removes the contents, and gets the tank back to working capacity. Most households should be doing this every three to five years depending on tank size and occupancy. If you have been putting it off for longer than that, the tank is likely well overdue.
Drain Field Failure
This one is more serious and more expensive to deal with, which is exactly why catching it early matters. The drain field, also called the leach field, is the network of perforated pipes in the ground where treated effluent from the tank disperses into the surrounding soil. When it fails, effluent has nowhere to go and starts surfacing.
You might notice soggy ground over the drain field area even when it has not rained. There might be a persistent smell outside near that part of the garden. In worse cases, wastewater visibly pools on the surface, which is both a health hazard and an environmental one.
Drain field failure usually comes from one of two causes. Either the field has been overloaded because the tank was not emptied often enough and partially treated effluent has clogged the soil, or the system is simply old and the drain field has reached the end of its useful life.
The fix depends on the extent of the damage. In some cases, resting the drain field and diverting load to another area for a period allows partial recovery. In others, the field needs to be replaced entirely. A proper inspection, including CCTV if needed, will give a clear picture of what you are dealing with before any decisions are made.
Blocked Inlet or Outlet Pipes
The inlet pipe brings wastewater into the tank from the house. The treated effluent moves out to the drain field through the outlet pipe. Both can block, and both bring about different kinds of issues if they do.
Sewage backup happens when the inlet is clogged, and usually creates backups in the house. Toilets may back up, drains can become completely clogged and in extreme instances, raw sewage can enter the premises. A clogged outlet results in a quicker-than-normal filling rate in the tank, but effluent is not able to flow out to the drain field.
These pipes can fill up with grease, non-flushable products like sanitary products or wipes that should not be put in a septic system, and tree root intrusion. Roots will follow any pipe that offers moisture and nutrients and they can work their way in and through even the smallest cracks and loose joints.
The answer lies in opening up the blockage, usually done through high-pressure water jetting. Once the pipe is cleaned, a CCTV evaluation will determine whether there is any damage that caused the blockage. If the roots have caused cracking, the affected pipe needs to be repaired or replaced before the problem happens again.
Cracked or Damaged Tank Structure
Septic tanks are underground and encounter constant pressure from the earth around the tank and the material inside the tank. This may cause cracking over time, especially in older concrete tanks. This includes ground movement, heavy traffic on the tank and the degradation of old materials.
A cracked tank is a problem for two reasons. The crack will allow groundwater to enter the tank, resulting in an unnecessary overload to the system. Partially treated sewage may also seep from the crack into the surrounding soil, posing an environmental hazard and a health risk.
In a few instances, the integrity of the concrete tanks can be maintained by sealing the hairline cracks from the inside by using a special product during the service visit. If there are more serious structural issues, the tank may need to be replaced. Leaving a cracked tank untreated is not a wise choice as it will only continue to get worse and contamination can increase over time.
The System Smells
When septic systems are functioning properly, they should be virtually odorless. Persistent odor is a sign that something is wrong if you smell it inside your home or around the tank or drain field in the garden.
Within the home, the source of odors is usually dried or damaged drain traps. All plumbing fixtures are equipped with a water trap, which prevents sewer gas from returning up the pipes. The trap dries out if it’s not used regularly. It is an easy problem to correct with the regular use of running water to clear the unused drains.
When the smell is outside near the tank or the drain field, the most common causes are a full tank, a surface effluent problem, or venting problems with the system. The vent stack used for septic gases to be distributed in a harmless manner to the atmosphere may become blocked or damaged, allowing odour to be pushed back into the surrounding area.
By having a professional inspection, you will be able to identify the source of the smell and what is required to address the issue. Don’t simply hope it will pass. A continuous smell is a system’s way of telling you that something is wrong.
The Problem With Waiting
All of the problems addressed herein become more difficult and more costly to solve as they are not addressed. If a tank was supposed to be emptied 2 years ago, and it wasn’t, it contributes unnecessary stress to the drain field. A blocked pipe that was treatable in January is a full sewage backup in March. A hairline crack that could have been repaired ends up being structural failure and the tank needs to be replaced.
Proper care and speedy response to early warning signs is truly the most cost-effective method of septic system management. From normal emptying and deep cleaning to an emergency callout or complete system inspection, OK Eco Pump can do it all. When things feel slightly out of the ordinary with your system, it’s always better to get a professional to take a look at it sooner rather than later.