Recognize the Signs of Septic Tank Damage

When you rely on your septic system to collect and treat the sewage waste from your home, it is important to keep an eye on its condition to watch out for problems in its workings. Your home is not connected to a city sewer line so there is no one else that is keeping an eye on your system if you do not. The condition of your septic system and how you take care of it can make a big difference in its service to you and its need for emergency repairs. Here are some recommendations to help you take the best care of your home septic system for a well-running waste system.

Keep an Eye on Your Septic System

Watch for signs that your tank is full, which can show up in a few different ways. For example, you might begin to smell sewer gas odors coming from your home's interior drains that are connected to your septic tank. This happens when the tank becomes full and traps the gasses that end up coming back into your home. 

Another sign that your septic tank is full is when your home drains don't empty as quickly as they normally do. This can also happen because you have a clog in the line leading from your home to the septic tank. If you are unable to unclog the line, contact your septic professional to use their professional snake to remove the blockage and also check your tank level.

When the sewer backs up into your home drains, this is also indicative your tank is full. This may not occur on a regular basis or continually, but it can come and go as you use your septic tank and it slowly makes room for the excessive waste. Anytime sewage backups occur in your home, contact your septic professional immediately to remedy the situation and pump your tank.

Overfilling your tank can also push a larger amount of waste into your drainfield lines. When the sewage overflows the waste lines it will drain into the surrounding soil in an excessive amount, which will cause any vegetation in the area to grow lush and green. However, it can also leave the site swampy with ponding sewage waste and a bad smell on the site. 

Use Your System Properly

Along with keeping an eye on your system's condition, keep it maintained by using it properly. If you have a kitchen garbage disposal, use it wisely or not at all, and don't pour grease down your drain. 

If your home's rain gutters drain onto the site of your drainfield, divert this runoff into another area of your yard. Excess moisture in the soil of your drainfield site can cause the lines to back up and not work properly.

For more information, reach out to a company like Autry's Backhoe & Septic Service that provides septic services.