If you’ve never dealt with a septic tank before, you might not have known that it would need to be emptied periodically. Luckily, septic tanks have a way of communicating with you. If you pay close attention, this communication process will let you know when it needs to be emptied. Here are four ways that your septic tank will communicate with you.
Foul Odors From the Drains
When your septic system is working properly, everything you flush through the drains in your home will flow directly to the tank. However, if you don’t empty your tank on time, your drain pipes can fill with debris. When that happens, you’ll start smelling foul, sewage odors coming up through the drain pipes. That will be your first sign that your septic may need servicing.
Strange Sounds From the Toilet
Following the foul odors, your pipes will start gurgling with the excess sewage and wastewater. At this point you may start hearing strange noises coming up through the pipes when you flush the toilet. Those sounds are the sewage trying to fight its way through to the septic tank. These gurgling sounds will come from deep inside the pipes. If you don’t have your septic tank emptied at this point, you’ll start experiencing worse communication from your septic system.
Brown Puddles in the Yard
Once your septic tank has reached full capacity, it will start trying to find additional space for the waste that’s being flushed out of your home. At this point, the seepage pit may be filled to capacity with liquid waste. When that happens, the liquids will have nowhere to go but up. You may notice brown puddles developing over the septic tank and seepage pit. This is a sure sign that your septic tank is so full that it’s about to experience system failure.
Raw Sewage in the Tub
Raw sewage is the final communication your septic tank will send you. When your septic tank has overfilled, raw sewage will be forced to backup into your home. Unfortunately, that means you’ll find that raw sewage floating in your bathtub. You may also find it seeping out from around the base of your toilets. At this point, you’ll need to have your septic tank emptied, your drains cleaned and your bathroom sanitized.
If you have a septic tank, you need to provide it with the proper care. If you’re experiencing any of the communications described above, you should have your septic tank emptied as soon as possible. For proper preventative maintenance, be sure to have your septic tank pumped out at least once every three to five years by a company like Ace Sanitation.