After struggling for quite some time with our septic system, I realized there might be a problem with the way we were approaching various aspects of plumbing. For starters, we didn't think too much of putting things down the garbage disposal, which created some serious issues later on down the road. We were left struggling with drains that just didn't work properly, and so we started carefully considering ways to change things. We talked with a plumber about septic system maintenance, and they had some tips that improved our experience. Check out this website for awesome tips on managing septic tanks.
Even if you've just recently had your septic tank pumped, it's still possible for your system to exhibit symptoms that look very much like a full septic tank. Your septic system isn't very complicated, but there are a few different issues that could cause a backup to occur.
Saturated or Damaged Leach Field
Believe it or not, your septic tank is supposed to be full most of the time — that is, full of water. This is because while sludge sinks to the bottom, water floats on top, and easily drains out through your tank's leach field, letting excess water be absorbed harmlessly into the surrounding soil. Without this mechanism in place, your tank would fill up much faster.
This means that if anything has damaged your leach field, or if the soil around it is saturated with water, the excess water has nowhere to go. This can happen occasionally if you have frequent rainy weather, but it can also happen if you have plants growing above the leach field; if their roots grow deep enough, they can clog up the pipes. Finally, if your tank hasn't been pumped or maintained in a long time, there's a chance that some of the scum from your tank was forced into the leach lines, gradually clogging the lines.
Fixing or replacing a leach field can be delicate and complex work, so if you think this might be the problem, call a professional for help.
Clogged Inlet Pipe
One possibility is that your tank and leach lines are working perfectly fine, and your tank even has plenty of room — but that the water and waste coming from your house isn't making it to your tank. A clog somewhere in your tank's inlet pipe will cause wastewater to back up into your bathtubs and prevent drainage for your whole house. The good news is that this is a much easier problem to fix, and that fixing this one clog will restore proper functionality to your entire house.
This pipe can usually be accessed via a vertical vent that rises from the outflow pipe roughly halfway between your house and your septic tank. Without the right tools it can be a challenge to reach the source of the clog, but at the very least, you can narrow down where the clog is by looking down this vent with a flashlight. If the pipe below is dry, that means the clog is between your house and the vent. On the other hand, if you see standing water, the clog is between the vent and your tank.
Overfilled Tank
Even if your leach lines and tank work fine, there's a chance there's simply too much water going into your tank. This can be affected by everything from the weather to how many appliances you have hooked up to drain into your tank. This can also lead to the saturation of your leach lines, but the difference here is a problem with the basic setup of your septic system rather than one of the components.
Whenever possible, try to keep the total number of appliances and drains connected to your septic system to a minimum. Toilets, sinks, bathtubs, dishwashers, and washing machines should be connected, but everything else can be left out. For example, make sure your rain gutters don't drain into your septic tank; that's a lot of extra water that can be safely diverted elsewhere.
You may also need to re-evaluate how much water is being used. If you just recently installed a new appliance, try to observe how much water it's putting down your drain. Consider that you should only be sending a few hundred gallons of water at most down your drains daily. It may also be worth it to check for leaks that could be sending a constant supply of water down into your tank. If you aren't sure, have a plumber examine your water meter to make sure you don't have any leaks somewhere that could be contributing to this problem.
For more information, contact a company like River City Septic & Excavating.
Share4 August 2018
