4 Telltale Signs of Septic System Problems

While residential septic systems can provide years of reliable service, they require periodic inspections, maintenance, and proper handling. Even if you watch what you flush down the toilet or pour down the sink, you can still encounter problems that interfere with everyday life or even cause serious home damage.

Fortunately, your septic system has ways of warning you about a problem in the making. If you heed these warnings in time and schedule prompt service from a skilled technician, you can prevent them from getting worse and restore your normal plumbing function. Pay attention to the following four trouble signs.

1. Sluggish Drains

If your drains refuse to empty at a normal rate and no amount of drain cleaner can resolve the problem, ask yourself when you last emptied your septic system's tank. When a septic tank gets full, it can no longer accept wastewater from your toilets or sinks. The drainage will get slower and slower until you have the tank cleaned and emptied.

A blockage in the drain lines that feed waste to the septic tank can also make your drains sluggish. Don't try to unclog a suspected blockage with ordinary drain cleaning products. Instead, ask an experienced plumbing technician to inspect the system and use special cleaning solutions that consume accumulated waste.

If you ignore slow drainage long enough, the system may get full or blocked. Wastewater can then back up into your basins or toilets. If you experience a backup of sewage, contact your plumber immediately to solve this problem.



2. Strange Noises

If your plumbing makes gurgling noises every time to flush a toilet or run a sink tap, your septic system probably has too much solid waste sitting in its tank. This solid matter effectively reduces the capacity of the tank, interfering with the flow of water. A blocked line can also cause this trouble sign to occur.

Your plumber can often resolve these gurgling noises by either cleaning the tank or cleaning out a clogged line. If your system suffers from neither of these issues, you may have a malfunctioning drain vent, especially if sound seems to come from your tub or shower. You need to fix this problem to avoid toxic gas accumulation in your home.

3. Offensive Odors

The characteristic smell of raw sewage should alert you to a couple of possible septic system issues. In many cases, a foul odor may originate in a blocked vent pipe. These pipes normally direct waste gas safely out of your home However, a blockage or damage can cause the vent to fail, leaving you surrounded by stench.

If your vent pipe functions normally, your plumber will inspect your drain field for the other possible causes of those odors. Damage to your septic tank or its lines can allow sewage to leak into the drain field, making your yard smell foul. In the worst-case scenario, you may need to replace the tank.

4. Changes in Your Yard

Even if you don't notice any strange sounds, smells, or functional issues with your septic system, the yard surrounding your septic tank's outdoor components may tell a different story. One giveaway involves unexplained areas of muddy ground or standing water. These symptoms indicate that a breach in the system has saturated your yard.

Unusual grass growth can also point to a septic tank problem. While you may love to see your lawn thriving, patches of overly lush and green grass may indicate an underground leak. The wastewater leaking into the soil contains water as well as many nutrients that promote plant growth.

If you see any of the symptoms listed above, Express Plumbing & Septic can come to your rescue. Our plumbing experts can handle both municipal plumbing systems and septic systems with equal skill. We can evaluate the trouble signs, make any necessary repairs, and perform routine maintenance. Contact our team today.