Pumping a septic tank usually costs a few hundred dollars. The repair or replacement costs of a septic system failure can be substantial without even tackling the expense of cleaning up the sewage that may have seeped into your home.
That gap is the whole story, really. When a septic tank is full, it is a problem that is easy to deal with and inexpensive. An ignored one is not.
The problem is that you don’t know you have a full tank immediately. Things keep flushing. The yard appears to be in good condition. Thus, pushing it to next month, then next year, is easy. Here’s what’s really happening under the surface while you wait…and what it usually looks like.
What “Full” Really Means
This one is a surprise for many. Your septic tank is filled with liquid at all times. That’s normal. It’s designed that way.
What fills up over time is the solid waste. The heavier material will settle and become sludge. Scum forms on the surface of the grease and oils. The liquid in the middle drains to your drain field, where the soil purifies it.
Some of those solids are broken down by bacteria in the tank but not all. Therefore, the layer of sludge gradually increases in thickness and the layer of scum increases in depth. If no space is available in the tank for the waste to settle, then the tank is actually full. That’s when the trouble begins.
What Happens When You Let It Go
The Drains Slow Down
Typically, the first symptom is slow draining of sinks, tubs and showers. With a plunge, not much is helped. Nor does a bottle of drain cleaner. Flushing may also cause the pipes to gargle. That’s air moving around because the wastewater doesn’t have an easy place to go.
The Smell Shows Up
Next comes the odor. A foul odor may be detected around the tank, the drain field or even inside around floor drains. If it smells, something is wrong, a healthy system must not have any smell at all.
Solids Escape Into the Drain Field
It’s the big one, and you won’t see it happen.
When the sludge gets too high, solids no longer remain in the tank. These are pumped out through the outlet pipe and directly into the drain field. The drain field is simply a series of gravel trenches with holes in the pipes. It was built to handle liquid. Not sludge.
Those solids are fouling the lines and smearing the soil surrounding the lines. The soil becomes less permeable over time and is no longer able to absorb water. A lack of maintenance and failure to pump septic systems is the leading cause of early failure, and can cause the system’s field to become clogged to the point that it cannot be fixed, according to Michigan State University Extension.
A tank can be pumped in an afternoon. The typical solution to ruined drain field is to dig up and replace the drain field. The cost for a new drain field is estimated at $20,000 and is a mere speck in comparison to a routine pump out.
Sewage Backs Up Into Your Home
When the tank is overfull and the drain field can’t take any more, the wastewater has one place left to go. Move backwards towards home.
Raw sewage may back up through toilets, shower drains and basement floor drains. Normally, it first affects the lowest drains. It is not just messy, but it can damage floor, drywall and any items on the floor. Cleanout is in addition to septic repair bill.
The Yard Turns Soggy
On the surface, wet or spongy areas can begin to appear in the drain field, sometimes accompanied by dark, foul-smelling water in the area. Another clue is that the grass on the field is bright green and lush, even in dry conditions. It looks nice. Actually, it is fed with sewage that should be under ground.
Your Health and Local Water Pay the Price
If a septic system fails, untreated sewage can escape where it belongs and untreated sewage contains germs and other dangerous contaminants. It can be contacted by kids and pets playing in the yard. It can also seep into the groundwater and this is significant if you or your neighbors use a private well.
It’s not always a local thing, either. Washington State’s health department points out that nearby streams can become contaminated with sewage, which can lead to contaminated shellfish beds and swimming areas.
Signs Your Septic Tank Might Be Full
If you’re not sure, look for clogged drains throughout the house, for gurgling pipes and for foul odors of sewage inside or outside. It is also a warning if there is standing water or wet areas around the tank or drain field. Or a patch of green grass that’s looking a little bit too green. Another good sign is when toilets back up due to a heavy load of laundry or a long shower.
Well, if you just don’t remember when the tank was last pumped, then that should be a sign in itself.
What to Do If You Think It’s Full
First, ease up on water. Air out laundry, try to not use the dishwasher as much and take shorter showers. If there is less water in you, you’ll have some more time.
Don’t pour chemical drain cleaners down the drains. They won’t fix a full tank, and the chemicals can be harmful to the bacteria that is necessary for your system.
Then have the tank pumped. According to Michigan State University Extension, an empty tank will contain several days’ worth of waste, allowing some breathing room for your drain field. A good technician will also check whether the problem is just a full tank or whether the field is already damaged.
One safety note. Do not lean in to the tank and never climb inside. So leave the gas part of septic tank to the professional as the gases present in a septic tank may be life-threatening.
How to Keep It From Happening Again
It is rather simple to fix. The rule of thumb for most homes is to have the tank pumped every three to five years as a function of tank size and occupancy. A larger family empties it more quickly. Normal inspections will allow you to see the sludge gradually building up before it reaches the outlet.
In addition, it is good to be gentle with the flow down the drain. Food scraps, wipes and grease all contribute to the solids, and reduce the pump-out frequency. Keep a simple record of every service visit so you always know when the next one is due.
Conclusion
A septic tank that is full is not something that you want to ignore. Slow drains and an odour is the beginning of the problem, followed by a clogged drain field, sewage in the house and repair bills that can run into the thousands. The problem is that nearly all of it can be avoided with a simple pumping and inspection of the system every few years.
If you are overdue on your tank or if you are already noticing some of these symptoms, the OK Eco Pump can help. We have 10 years of experience in emptying septic tanks, cleaning septic tanks and inspecting septic tanks for both homes, businesses, and rural properties and work neatly so that your yard will not be left a mess. In the event that things have already gone wrong, you can call our 24 hour emergency service without having to wait until Monday for sewage to come up the drains.